Tesco SIM only - any way to stop child going over limit?

smallbiznewbie

Last month we got hit with a massive phone bill as my teenage daughter had been making millions of calls out to her friends (on their mobiles).

She also rings me on 0800 hundred reverse from her mobile (we don't get connected, of course, she just leaves her name) and I then ring her back. Looking through the the costings I realised that ringing her back several times a day, no matter how briefly, is costing a fortune.

The Tesco's SIM only deal (not allowed to post full link yet but search for tesco sim only deal ) might work out cheaper for me if my daughter can ring me up or (when her limit's reached, which won't be long with her) text me when she needs collecting, or to tell me where she is. (It might not - I'll have have to try it).

BUT - I can see her blithely going over the limit with the number of phone calls or number of minutes she uses in a month, and me getting hit with a massive bill (again).

Is there any way of putting a block on so that she can't exceed the limit?

thatsean

I don't think Tesco do - It's not in the interests of the operator to do this. If you're on a sim only why not migrate her to payt and let her have the responsibility of managing her own account?

DarkConvict

Even if you can set credit limits, the t&cs state it should not be used as a budgeting tool. So it won't stop it anyway

My advice is get her on a T-Mobile solo fixed contract instead, either on 1 month or 12 month tie in. Basically its like a contract with allowances, but if you exceed the allowance you have to make top ups like PAYG in order to keep using it.
The disadvantage is its not as competitive as other contracts, but it stops people running up a bill. If all contracts were like this it would be better however they would make less money by doing it, so they don't. To discourage it you get lower allowances per £ spent.

smallbiznewbie

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If you're on a sim only why not migrate her to payt and let her have the responsibility of managing her own account?
>

If you mean payg (typo?) that's a complete disaster. It disappears within one day, two days at most. The only way she can then contact me is 0800 reverse, and I have to ring her back.

I'll take a look at the T-Mobile fixed contract, thanks !

Added: I've emailed Tesco, because some of their other plans are capped. we'll see.

kjmrascal57

Could i possibly suggest giffgaff pay and go. At minute they doing half price unlimited one month for £17.50. and that would allow your teenager unlimited calls, texts and internet on her phone. after end august it will cost her £35 a month, since it totally unlimited pay and go no limits to go over and you would never need to call her back again

maxtweenie

kjmrascal57 wrote: »

Could i possibly suggest giffgaff pay and go. At minute they doing half price unlimited one month for £17.50. and that would allow your teenager unlimited calls, texts and internet on her phone. after end august it will cost her £35 a month, since it totally unlimited pay and go no limits to go over and you would never need to call her back again

Isn't £35 a month far too much to be paying for a teenager's inability to control her tongue? Wouldn't it be better to teach her some responsibility or take the phone off her? We never had phones. If we wanted to talk to our friends we went round and knocked on their doors or arranged to meet at the park. Kids have it easy enough without soft parents making it worse by giving in to them all the time.

Barneysmom

I'd take it off her altogether, we never had phones....
It looks like no matter how much you give her she'll use it all and want more.
Get her a PAYG then if she uses it all she'll have none left till next pocket money day?

jebervic

Barneysmom wrote: »

I'd take it off her altogether, we never had phones....
It looks like no matter how much you give her she'll use it all and want more.
Get her a PAYG then if she uses it all she'll have none left till next pocket money day?

True, we also never had colour tv or central heating

Sublime_2

Barneysmom wrote: »

I'd take it off her altogether, we never had phones....
It looks like no matter how much you give her she'll use it all and want more.
Get her a PAYG then if she uses it all she'll have none left till next pocket money day?

PAYG is the way to go. If she uses it up, hopefully she'll learn in future.

lozzaman

If going for T-Mobile SIM Only, make sure you choose the Sim Only fixed
£15/mo gives 350 minutes any network, 300 text + booster (could be unl. txt)
£20/mo gives 600 minutes any network, 500 text + booster

These are both 30 day contracts. The 12 month equivalents are not fixed cost

Zazen999

smallbiznewbie wrote: »

If you mean payg (typo?) that's a complete disaster. It disappears within one day, two days at most. The only way she can then contact me is 0800 reverse, and I have to ring her back.

No you don't - you choose to!

If she uses it up then tough!