A Florida man has been hit with $31,000 in roaming charges from calls made with his phone. In Nicaragua. One problem. The 77 year-old retiree has never been to Nicaragua. From the AP:

“I told them this is impossible,” DeSofi said.

DeSofi complained of fraud, but Cingular disagreed and tried to collect the money, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported Saturday.

Cingular canceled DeSofi’s account, saying its fraud department did not find any problems with the account. The company reversed its decision after a Herald-Tribune inquiry Thursday.

“We are researching how it was handled from beginning to end,” Cingular spokeswoman Kelly Starling said.

A company representative told DeSofi that his bill had been credited the full amount and with an additional $120, which he could use if he wanted to resume service.

DeSofi said he did not plan to return to Cingular.

Guess that’s another way to get out of your Cingular contract? —MEGHANN MARCO

Florida Man Wins $31,000 Bill Dispute With AT&T’s Cingular [CNN Money]

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