Phones for children going to high school

prettypennies

My sons transfer to high school in September and I would like to get them a phone each so they can keep in touch, should they miss the bus or need to stay at school for any reason.

They haven't had a phone before and I'm not sure what sort to get them. I don't want anything too flash (much as they would love an iphone :rotfl:) but not totally bog standard either.

Their dad and I are both on orange, so should I stick to orange phones or consider all options? Also is it better to stick to PAYG or is there some kind of capped contract available.

aaranj

Do you have a budget in mind?

BillScarab

Do you get cheaper calls Orange to Orange?

It may be worth looking at Giff Gaff as their call charges are cheap and they do free calls and texts between Giff Gaff phones so if you all moved to them it wouldn't cost anything to call and text your family.

My daughter is on Asda Mobile as that was the best deal when she got her phone last year. 4p per text and 8p per minute for calls.

No idea on which phoens to suggest although I'd go for something reasonably basic. My daughter just ends up having my old cast offs when I change mine.

Exhortation

PAYG is the only way to go with kids. I would also make them do chores around the house to earn credit. ;P

jamespir

theyve got phones for 90p at the moment would be a perfect starter ophone plus you get 10.00 credit with it

prettypennies

My budget would be around £50 per phone if paying upfront.

OH will want to stick to orange for his phone as he uses it for business and everyone else he calls is on orange. I don't really mind what I'm on. My current mobile is ridiculously old nokia (green screen, the lot!!) on PAYG. I don't use more than a fiver a month on my phone, but am reckoning I will be using it more when the boys go to high school to check up on them

reisse03

my son just started high school and we are both on t mobile.
i wanted something with unlimited texts so he could text me and i would call him back as i have 900 minutes.

i phoned t mobile as id been with them for a while and got a nokia 5800, unlimited texts, unlimited internet and 100 minutes for £5 a month cos id been with them for a good while.

might be worth bargaining with orange for low extra contracts

4743hudsonj

reisse03 wrote: »

my son just started high school and we are both on t mobile.
i wanted something with unlimited texts so he could text me and i would call him back as i have 900 minutes.

i phoned t mobile as id been with them for a while and got a nokia 5800, unlimited texts, unlimited internet and 100 minutes for £5 a month cos id been with them for a good while.

might be worth bargaining with orange for low extra contracts

We would see the op back in a month when their kids run up excessive data charges!

Under no circumstances should a child be given a contract phone. Would you give a child your credit card and pin number to go shopping? Giving them a contract is exactly that, not only can they run up charges, but they can purchse apps on better phones and pay via the monthly bill.

seaniboy

Kids going to HS will no doubt have new friends and a new teenager social life, if you want the flexablity of contract without one I'd lay ground rules & home duties, and get them working part time to pay half and get them both a £35 unlimited calls/text/internet on giffgaff......unlimited calling & texting to all UK networks and responsability of life, work and bills included.

dot111

Sorry to hijack thread, but both my adult children had contract phones from 13/14 yrs of age. My daughter never went over her contract and apart from an odd pound my son only went over his contract massively once when he was "in love" in Prague.

It's a learning curve, responsibility.

And reading some of the threads on here it's not just teenagers that have problems with usage.....many adults.

SomeOne_2

Like others have said before don't go for contract unless you want to risk having some excessive bills. Start off with pay as you go.

As for a mobile I would suggest a Nokia 2330, its basic but more than adequate as a first phone + its cheap so not too much worrying if it gets lost/stolen.

Another vote for giffgaff.