Technology

The $2,000 Mistake: A Child's Coding Adventure Gone Wrong

2025-07-07

Author: Sarah

A Mistake Worth Remembering

Every Monday, The Register brings you the entertaining column ‘Who, Me?’ where readers share their hilarious blunders. This week, we meet ‘Helen,’ whose innocent coding endeavor spiraled into chaos, racking up a $2,000 phone bill for her local library back in 1991.

The Early Coding Days

At just seven years old, Helen discovered a passion for coding, ignited by a struggle in school. Diagnosed with dyslexia, her advanced comprehension skills often clashed with traditional teaching methods, landing her in the library for ‘tutoring’ sessions. But instead of reading, she was dusting shelves and arranging books.

A Librarian’s Insight

Recognizing her potential, the librarian invited Helen to assist with an inter-library loans project. But uploading data was no small feat in 1991. Limited by a 56 kilobyte buffer and a balky modem, Helen quickly grew bored. That’s when her curiosity led her to a book about DOS and batch scripting.

The Script That Caused a Storm

Before long, Helen had crafted a script that would prepare her uploads and auto-dial the modem at midnight, cleverly bypassing daytime connection issues. However, unaware of the cost implications, she unknowingly triggered a series of expensive long-distance calls.

The Librarian’s Shock

The library's phone bill soon revealed the disaster, and chaos ensued. Arriving at school one day, Helen found the librarian furious on the phone, trying to explain the mysterious late-night calls. As reality dawned on her, she realized the culprit was her script.

Facing the Music

With her heart racing, Helen confessed to the librarian, who was momentarily speechless. But instead of rage, he calmly asked her to show him the script. After a brief review, he debugged it to stop the costly mishaps.

A Lesson Learned and a New Path

Though she never learned how the library coped with that enormous phone bill, Helen’s youthful error taught her invaluable lessons. Today, she is a consultant specializing in resolving technical crises. Reflecting on her early days, she admits she still strives to emulate the librarian’s patience under pressure.

From a Little Bug to a Big Lesson

Helen’s tale is a reminder of how even the smallest oversight can lead to major consequences. But more importantly, it highlights the importance of mentorship, resilience, and learning from our mistakes.