
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992                   TAG: 9203270314
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                                LENGTH: Short

AT&T WON'T REQUIRE PAYMENT OF $8,600 BILL

A woman who received a monthly telephone bill of $8,600 won't have to pay the charges, American Telephone & Telegraph Co. has decided.

The 160-page bill that arrived at Virginia Melvin's house Tuesday included a two-hour call for $301 between New York and Syria. Melvin said she hasn't been to New York in two years and she doesn't know anyone in Syria.

AT&T said it believes someone got Melvin's calling card number illegally and distributed it across the country. Other countries on her bill included Iran, Egypt, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

The calls were made during a five-day period in February.

- Associated Press

by CNB