Teenager & Mobile Phone Bill

4Chickens

Thank you for all your replies.
I was going to spend £100 on buying some driving lessons for him for his birthday but I would rather not now.
I can see my husband giving in to him, he has for the last 6 times. The 18 month contract has only just begun. I am inclined to pay off and cancel the contract but as it's not my contract I can't. I know this is wasting money but I feel that it will be cutting our losses in the long run.
My son does work with his dad at least 1 day per week and usually gets £40 but this has to cover his petrol for the week for college and whatever other !!!! he decides to buy. Maybe I should deduct £10 per week from him until the bill is paid off. What would you do?
I know that when my son gets in from college today there will be more rows and it will probably carry on until he gets his own way, i.e Dad gives in. I don't want to go home.

Zazen999

Can I point out that as far as I can remember, several people in the past have been to college without a phone on them; and still made it through to graduate. It's hard to imagine in this day and age of course, but it did happen.

Edinburghlass_2

One thing to check with Orange is that it could be he is paying 1p per text receipt, you need to contact Orange for this to be switched off.

reehsetin

Orange wont let you cap the bill, he can still call 999 with no credit and he can still get incoming calls, I had my own phone since I was 13ish. A big bill I had (£80) I paid off myself

a8amg

Irresponsible parenting to allow a young person a contract phone, who isn’t earning enough to pay their own bills. Even adults have trouble with their bills. All you’re teaching him is how to get rid of money the quickest way possible. My son doesn’t receive EMA so I said I’ll cough up £20/week if he does all the washing up, if he misses a day a deduct £3.00. He has to fund his own mobile & everything else.
He walks to college… so no expense there.

kjmtidea

This is the kind of thing that I did when I was younger, my parents paid it off everytime. Needless to say, I got into a lot of debt with credit cards and catalogues as an adult. It was a bit of a shock when my parents were no longer around to pay for it! It took years to pay off my debts.

If he gets £40 a week, then give him enough for petrol and the rest goes towards the debt. Although depending on how far college is, I would make him walk!

Reggie_Rebel

cindiedunkley wrote: »

My lad has a contract phone that is billed alongside his dads'. I received the Orange bill yesterday and he has run up a bill of £200 inc vat. Now, this is not the first time, it's about the seventh time, the highest amount being about £300 incl vat
He owes me about £450 from when his dad and I went on holiday in September when he messed about with his scooter and needed it repairing. Also, we pay his scooter insurance at £40ish per month and he doesn't receive EMA
Needless to say I hit the roof when I got the bill yesterday. I have told him he now owes me £550 and the other £100? Happy birthday son (it's his birthday on 2 March).
I have taken his phone off him and told him to get a pay as you go. There were huge rows last night. Him shouting and swearing and being agressive.
I spoke with my husband this morning and said I am not giving the phone back and my husband came back with: what if he has an accident on the way to college. My response was: what makes you think we can get to him quicker than an ambulance and if he's knocked out he won't be ringing anyone anyway. I overheard my son trying to emotionally blackmail my husband last night, so I know where this has come from.
I am so angry I could cry. Angry at my son and my husband. I do my best to control our finances so that we can all enjoy treats etc. But I feel like I am being undermined. I don't earn anything near what my husband earns so feel my arguments about money saving are weak. I worry now where this will all end, the three of us are barely talking to each other.
Please help with some advice:(

My advice is you and your husband need to stop letting him take you for a pair of mugs

timberflake

Just get Orange to cap the contract. He'll only be allowed to use his allowance and after that will only be able to receive calls.

How can he run up a bill of that much!! On PAYG you get unlimited texts and internet for £15 a month, surely thats got to be the way to go!

minimoneysaver

It's bad enough that he has done it once, but to let him do it over and over again.... what on earth is that teaching him?

hbloomers

^ Exactly, I get unlimited o2 texts and calls for £15 a month. The balance is then enough for everyone who isn't o2. If you search around you can get really good deals to suit your circumstances