I am guessing your %messagerecbin = {$VAR1 => $VAR2, $VAR3 => $VAR4, etc.}. If this is the case, the program is doing exactly what you asked it: there are three keys, so it prints each one for a total of 3 prints. If the overall looping of the group of 3 is the problem, it is caused by something higher up in your program which you have not allowed us to see.