A Xiangtan teenager has received a phone bill for over 350 yuan after sending 3 , 500 text messages in just one month. Tan Wei has had his new mobile phone for only three months, but now his father has taken it away. “ He’s been asking me for a mobile for years because all his friends have got one.” explained Tan Wei's father, “I finally bought one for his birthday because he's been doing so well at school, but he and his friends are crazy about sending text messages. They do it all the time.” Tan Wei said, “ I thought texting was much cheaper than phoning , so I've been texting my friends all day long and even into the early hours of the morning. Sometimes my hand hurt because I pressed the buttons so much, but I was having such good fun that I couldn't stop !” His father said, “I am angry with the phone company as they are encouraging this crazy behavior.” He has made his son promise to pay back the money, so Tan Wei has been working on Saturdays. He has found a part-­time job in a shoe shop. “I think it will take me about a year to clear this debt .” he said.