Mobile Phone contract for teenager

DrScotsman

Flummaxed wrote: »

Dr Scotsman - I'm not sure I understand your comment. If Virgin are able to cap at £50 as a minimum - then why can't they do it at £10?

I imagine they can't cap at any limit with full accuracy, including the £50 minimum. If a customer asked to cap at £10 and it got to £11 they'd probably get mad, but if a customer capped at £50 and it got to £52 they'd probably just shrug it off.

Flummaxed wrote: »

I can only assume that the reason is because they want to get as much money as possible from their customers

That's the sole purpose of every single successful company, why would you expect any different?

Why didn't you ask about credit limits before agreeing to the contract?

Flummaxed

"That's the sole purpose of every single successful company, why would you expect any different?"

Yes DrScotsman - That was my point.

"Why didn't you ask about credit limits before agreeing to the contract? "

Because I didn't know about them. I've never had a contract before so I had no idea about credit limits. That's why I am pointing it out to the OP - perhaps they are as green as I was about mobile phone contracts (having only ever had PAYG)

And as you can see - I also don't know how to quote things on here - something else for me to learn

boo_star

Flummaxed wrote: »

"That's the sole purpose of every single successful company, why would you expect any different?"

Yes DrScotsman - That was my point.

"Why didn't you ask about credit limits before agreeing to the contract? "

Because I didn't know about them. I've never had a contract before so I had no idea about credit limits. That's why I am pointing it out to the OP - perhaps they are as green as I was about mobile phone contracts (having only ever had PAYG)

And as you can see - I also don't know how to quote things on here - something else for me to learn

Your contract says otherwise, trust me it does.

[Deleted User]

BillScarab wrote: »

not all teenagers are idiots. Some are actually sensible, repsonsible, trustworthy people.

Indeed, this is true. By the age of 16, my mum had taken out a credit card purely for my use with me as 2nd cardholder, purely for buying online and for big purchases to save carrying large amounts of cash (next to nowhere took Solo at the time when it launched!)

I paid the bills off in full every month, and everyone was happy.

DrScotsman

Flummaxed wrote: »

Yes DrScotsman - That was my point.

You were pointing out to us that Virgin - a *very* successful company - do what a company that wishes to be successful would do?

Um, thanks?

Because I didn't know about them. I've never had a contract before so I had no idea about credit limits. That's why I am pointing it out to the OP - perhaps they are as green as I was about mobile phone contracts (having only ever had PAYG)

Are you saying that you originally assumed you couldn't go over your allowance, and hence had no reason to ask about credit limits?

Virgin_Mobile wrote:

3.3 Use of our Services outside of your Contract Allowance: All use of our Services that is in excess of or not included within your Contract Allowance will be charged for separately at the rates specified for Pay Monthly customers in our Tariff Table.

Did you read your contract?

And as you can see - I also don't know how to quote things on here - something else for me to learn

Okay, being a forum newbie is absolutely fine, however are you really telling me you've made 34 posts and not spotted any of the many quote buttons on each page?

spinningsheep

Coming from someone who works for 02 in retail, I cannot count the number of times we get ranting parents in about little jonny running up a massive bill, and why didn't 02 cut it off earlier, or they lost the phone an someone ran up £100's in call charges to some far flung destination.....simple answer....dont do it! If a child has a contract phone is causes more problems than it solves.

As someone on here has already mentioned, £10 top up, £5 gets taken off you for unlimited texts and they still have £5 left for calls, or £10 taken off your credit and you get unlimited texts and 100 anyone/anytime mins too. If you topped up £15 you would get 300 mins instead. Loads of different combos, and once its gone, its gone. No bills, no risk.

fiscalfreckles

spinningsheep wrote: »

Coming from someone who works for 02 in retail, I cannot count the number of times we get ranting parents in about little jonny running up a massive bill, and why didn't 02 cut it off earlier, or they lost the phone an someone ran up £100's in call charges to some far flung destination.....simple answer....dont do it! If a child has a contract phone is causes more problems than it solves.

As someone on here has already mentioned, £10 top up, £5 gets taken off you for unlimited texts and they still have £5 left for calls, or £10 taken off your credit and you get unlimited texts and 100 anyone/anytime mins too. If you topped up £15 you would get 300 mins instead. Loads of different combos, and once its gone, its gone. No bills, no risk.

O2 Simplicity seems a good option for my DD; can you clarify that I just get a free simplicity PAYG Sim and the options you outline above will kick in automatically, depending on the amount we top up by?

lurkylurky

seaniboy wrote: »

To relieve shock later (hope you have not got auto recharge against a card) I will provide a buffer now, at high school they comminicate via text between classrooms - that will soon be £10 per 3 days

Hey Seaniboy - how right you are. DS has used £40 in credit since Christmas and £10 In the last 2 weeks.

Never did sign up for the O2 deal. We're now looking at a contract with a Blackberry. Have just been offered 300 minutes with unlimited texts, internet a BB e-mails with a Blackberry Curve on Orange for £17.50 a month. Has anybody seen any better offers?