Tell me why I shouldn't get my son a BlackBerry on contract!

MORPH3US

watcherman wrote: »

Weird all these stories of kids running up hundreds of pounds of bills, my 13yr old has had an iPhone for 6mths, and has had PAYG prior to that. Never ever goes over, I monitor her usage online, and she understands the costs involved both here and abroad when she's taken it to the U.S.

Don't be smug yet, there's plenty of time.....

Tech_Wiz_Kid

I wouldnt, contract for 18+ only. Plus its easy to run up a big bill and there maybe other insurance based complications. There are other phones similar to the Blackberry which do the same thing

Tech Wiz Kid

OneADay

I am not sure why people are worried about adult content - SEX (just highlighting the word) education is important .................. eherrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmm!

Pokerlad

Just a thought but would the insurance cover him losing or having the phone stolen? It is your phone in name and most insurances state that it must be in the owners possession to be covered. Read the T&C's carefully.

pimento

OK, he won't be getting a contract. This is actually my nephew and I have posted here for my sister as she was teetering on signing on the dotted line. We have shown her the light

My 17 year old son has a SIM only deal in my name and I pay £9.97 a month for 100 mins and 300 texts. I can check online daily to see what he has used and in nine months he has never gone over (and mostly is way under) so I have recommended this to my sister and she will buy my nephew a nice handset.

Thanks for all your down to earth advice. I knew I could depend on you...

dot111

To be honest I think a bigger issue is 24 month contract, phone will be so out of date by then, and how many 17yrs want old technology. Well in my experience not many.

Both my children have had contracts from when they were 15 with no major over spends.

MORPH3US

I still think a "sim only deal" for anyone under 18 is a crazy idea, but its obviously your / your friends choice.....

You / she can't be logged in checking your / her sons usage 24/7. This is the type of situation PAYG is made for and with the likes of Tmobile and others now, if you top up £10 per month you get free texts / internet... so why the need for a contract sim at all!??!!?

anonymousie

I'll just say what I say everytime some one wants to buy (and be responsible for) a contract for someone who can't get their own (teen/grannie/partner with a poor credit score etc) LOOK UP THE THREADS ON HERE WHERE APPARENTLY RESPONSIBLE ADULTS HAVE COME TO GRIEF.

Yes, there LOTS of sad tales from people who thought they understood what they were doing but have had fingers burned re calls abroad/prenium numbers/texts/internet abroad orexcess home net use/theft which wasn't discovered/notified fast enough/ "emergency use abroad" that insdurance didn't cover/other person abusing the contract and not paying the extra etc etc etc

Harsh I know, and probably a bit more expensive initially but P+G all the way for my teens!

anonymousie

anonymousie wrote: »

I'll just say what I say everytime some one wants to buy (and be responsible for) a contract for someone who can't get their own (teen/grannie/partner with a poor credit score etc) LOOK UP THE THREADS ON HERE WHERE APPARENTLY RESPONSIBLE ADULTS HAVE COME TO GRIEF.

Yes, there LOTS of sad tales from people who thought they understood what they were doing but have had fingers burned re calls abroad/prenium numbers/texts/internet abroad orexcess home net use/theft which wasn't discovered/notified fast enough/ "emergency use abroad" that insdurance didn't cover/other person abusing the contract and not paying the extra etc etc etc

Harsh I know, and probably a bit more expensive initially but P+G all the way for my teens! (just moved them to the O2 deal for £15 top up get a month free txts and internet...

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anonymousie

Pokerlad wrote: »

Just a thought but would the insurance cover him losing or having the phone stolen? It is your phone in name and most insurances state that it must be in the owners possession to be covered. Read the T&C's carefully.

THat is a verrrry interesting point- also the phone has to be looked after appropriately- a coat over the chair in a pubic place wont do!