Advice on contract for child

chocolatepennyfarthing

Son currently has a mobile on contract, it was taken out for £18 months at a cost of £15 per month. Current contract ends in November and am wondering what are my best options from there.
Unfortunately son has continually abused contract and I have had to pay bills of £40 plus some months. I have told him that when this contract is up it is likely that he will be put on PAYG.
Having looked at various websites it does seem that you do get better deals on contracts, son needs a new phone as well as his does not work properly all the time.
Is it possible to get a limit put on phone contracts so that if he goes up to a set amount he will not be able to use the phone any more that month unless he pays to top up? Also what are the best deals around at the moment in regards of minutes/texts in the £20 - £25 per month region?

£note

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Unfortunately son has continually abused contract and I have had to pay bills of £40 plus some months.

If your son can't be trusted to stay within limits on a contract then put him on PAYG and let him spend his own money, he'll soon set his own limits.

456789

You shouldn't have paid his £40 bills - he would have soon learned

chocolatepennyfarthing

Unfortunately he didn't, even after his birthday money went on bill instead of footie boots.

McKneff

456789 wrote: »

You shouldn't have paid his £40 bills - he would have soon learned

If he's a child, under 18, then the contract would have had to have been in someone elses name who wouldnt have any choice in the matter but to pay it.

Edinburghlass_2

Have a look at the o2 Simplicity, £100 cashback from Quidco until 30 September. £20 a month for 800 minutes, 1600 texts plus you can add on a bolt on for a 12 month contract. This comes without phone but you can buy a PAYG phone pretty cheap and let him save up for the phone he wants?

DarkConvict

There was someone else on her this week were their sister ran up huge bills at the age of 19.
Whilst they paid it off the only real option for those who want a phone but aren't responsible enough is a pay as you go phone. So that way if they want to use it more they have to put credit on it. As others say its the only way they will learn.
I believe costs on PAYG are cheaper per text/minute but better value for money is achieved by those included in a package.
i.e. T-mobile are 3p per text on PAYG, but then on contract over the limit can be 10-15p each.

If he uses text alot then for £10 a month you can get unlimited texts, so that the £10 can go on phone calls.

I seem to have rumbled on but i hope some of the advice helps.

456789

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Unfortunately he didn't, even after his birthday money went on bill instead of footie boots.

In that case make him go on payg until he is old enough to have a contract on his own name - otherwise he might not learn

onetomany

check out the family bolt on o2 for £7.50 per month unlimited texts, calls and pitchers messages between 5 people , on pay as u go and contract, putting y son on pay as you go because he can even use when he has no top up on phone that way he can pay his own calls

dduk

Have a look at T-Mobile Solo Fixed (make sure you select the Solo Fixed tab). It's SIM only so if you wanted to get him a new phone you'd have to find it elsewhere. There's no lengthy contract so you could cancel with only 30 days notice. And for £20 a month you get 600mins, unlimited texts and free internet and he can't run up any bill because the usage is capped to those allowances only.

elljay20

you could consider three as you can effectively cap their contracts so he can't go over at all. you have the best of both worlds then. contract, free phone and no high bills!!!!