Bloody Kids!

$17mma

Can you not get one of those blocking codes so that anytime someone wants to use the phone you have to unlock it so to speak..I would make the culprit earn it back by doing chores etc or cutting pocket money..

MrsTinks

Looking at that site about Habbo then would be tending to agree with you! That is just plain scary how open to abuse it is, not to mention rip offs!

Tell them they can have a computer again when they are 30!

Rikki

Toto wrote:

The computer being sold is a punishment for keeping this whole thing from me. As you say kath, they knew it was wrong otherwise they wouldn't be getting up at 5 am to make the calls. They will do the chores to pay off the bill as well. I intend to come down on them like a ton of bricks.

And yes,it goes to show how dumb kids can be, they go to all the trouble of getting up at the crack of dawn, but they don't think I might just spot 200 premium rate calls on my bill LOL

What age are the children?

Is selling the computer a bit harsh?

Spendless

lynzpower wrote:

My sympathies for you toto.

this puts me in mind when my dad found premium rate numbers on our phone bill, they were in the daytime, he accused me of wagging school & calling sex lines. he went spare, I was grounded and had to stay in myroom until I *admitted* who we were phoning. this went on for some weeks.

Amazingly the number came up on the next phone bill, cue shouting argy bargy and more tears. Mother had us all sat round then "for proof" and she phoned the number. It was the "snowline" telling what the snow cover is like world wide. Culprit- dad.

I lived at home till my late 20s and the phone bill was always a row with my parents accusiing me of making the bill high. They also got a bill with a premium rate no on and insisted it was me. very cross I rang the number-from work;) and discovered it was the trouble-shooting hotline for the shower they had had installed and had been playing up. took great delight in telling them so:rotfl:

Last summer hols my then 5 yo came in and said I'm going to win some Scooby Doo stuff cos I knew the answer to their competition and I've rang the number:eek: (cordless phone, used whilst I was out of room) and then added I hope it turns up this time cos each time I've rang before the prize hasn't turned up:rolleyes:

Around the same time we had registered him for the Scooby Doo fan club, so when the stuff came through, we let him think it was his prize and barred premium rate numbers

Mirtos

HI. I really sympathise with you. - Your post reminded me of something and maybe telling you about it will make you laugh and feel a bit better? - In my immoral student days, I was desperate for extra cash and got a job working on an "adult" phone chat line at crazy premium rates. One day I got a call from a man and his wife whose son had been calling the number - they wanted to know what it was. After I explained, somewhat embarrassingly what it was all about, the lady launched into a huge tirade at me for corrupting her little darling (who was 17). I felt really bad for the cost, but of course had no power to do anything. Anyway. After the moral lecture, they hung up to give sonny jim a good telling off. I thought no more of it until a couple of hours later, when dad called back after everyone had gone to bed, for some fun of his own!!! (maybe it was him all along?)I felt even more sorry for poor mum then, as it looked like the bill would keep going up even after her son had been told off!I hope you sort out the kids - definately get them to pay it back - maybe ebaying the offending game would help?

southernscouser

Can you send me the link for Haboo Hotel? Oh and can you get the kids to post all the hints and cheats they got? Thanks!

Sorry! I'm only kidding!

How old are they? Can they do paper rounds or go car washing or something?

Failing that send them down the coal mines!

Toto

Hey SS I will be getting all the hints and setting up my own preimium rate line lol.

The culprits are 15 and 10, the oldest will do some babysitting and yes, as they seem to be great at getting up early a paper round is a great idea.

elona

We got even worse bills and it turned out there was a "rogue dialler" on our computer. We phoned BT and got all premium lines barred.

I was about to suggest that this may have ben the case for the kids but if they were setting the alarm to do this then they do not have that excuse.

I would definately sell the computer and would feel inclined to tell them that what they had done was "steal " from you and how ashamed and hurt you are.
If you do sell the computer then still check they are not doing this to someone else e.g. a friend's house.

milliejon

God this is worrying. My kids are tiny at the moment, but what kind of technological advances will take place in the next ten years! I've had a look around that site and found out that you can get them banned for not asking your permission. Worth looking into without selling the computer.

Perhaps you could box the computer up while they're at school and then hide it. They'll think it's sold and may learn their lesson.

There's also a £25 per week limit for credits, so they must have both had accounts. At least that gives you a target for paying you back. I reckon dish washing is worth £2! That should teach them a lesson.

Also with all those chores they'll be doing, they won't have the time or energy to be using the internet.

I hope you get this sorted.

SeeWeed

I can totally sympathise with this, I caught my neice out last month when our phone bill came. She had been ringing up for Habbo Credits to buy furniture for her habbo room or something equally stupid. Thankfully it was only £20 and she has paid it back already from her pocket money. I personally think it should be banned.
Hope you can work something out with your telephone company.

SeeWeed