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Price of habit chokes US smoker Price of habit chokes US smoker
(20 minutes later)
A man in the United States popped out to his local petrol station to buy a pack of cigarettes - only to find his card charged $23,148,855,308,184,500.A man in the United States popped out to his local petrol station to buy a pack of cigarettes - only to find his card charged $23,148,855,308,184,500.
That is $23 quadrillion (£14 quadrillion) - many times the US national debt.That is $23 quadrillion (£14 quadrillion) - many times the US national debt.
"I thought somebody had bought Europe with my credit card," said Josh Muszynski, from New Hampshire."I thought somebody had bought Europe with my credit card," said Josh Muszynski, from New Hampshire.
He says his appeals to his bank first met with little understanding, though it eventually corrected the error.He says his appeals to his bank first met with little understanding, though it eventually corrected the error.
It also waived the usual $15 overdraft fee.It also waived the usual $15 overdraft fee.
"It was all back to normal," Mr Muszynski told his local television station, WMUR. "They reversed the negative balance fee, which was nice.""It was all back to normal," Mr Muszynski told his local television station, WMUR. "They reversed the negative balance fee, which was nice."
Debt crisisDebt crisis
His nightmare began when he checked his online bank account a few hours after buying the cigarettes.His nightmare began when he checked his online bank account a few hours after buying the cigarettes.
He thought he would be a couple of hundred dollars in the black. But his overdraft had pushed him into the red - by an amount equivalent to many times the entire US national debt.He thought he would be a couple of hundred dollars in the black. But his overdraft had pushed him into the red - by an amount equivalent to many times the entire US national debt.
"It is a lot of money in the negative," he said. "Something I could never, ever, afford to pay back."It is a lot of money in the negative," he said. "Something I could never, ever, afford to pay back.
The 17-digit amount on his online bill shocked Mr Muszynski
"My children could not afford it, grandchildren, nothing like that.""My children could not afford it, grandchildren, nothing like that."
In panic, Mr Muszynski rushed back to the petrol station, but they were unable to help. He says he then spent two hours on the phone with the Bank of America.In panic, Mr Muszynski rushed back to the petrol station, but they were unable to help. He says he then spent two hours on the phone with the Bank of America.
Eventually, it assured him it would be fixed - and the next morning, it had been.Eventually, it assured him it would be fixed - and the next morning, it had been.
But no-one has yet explained to Mr Muszynski how such a astonishing error could have been made.But no-one has yet explained to Mr Muszynski how such a astonishing error could have been made.