3 contract given to 17 year old!

hongkongfooey1970

Hammyman wrote: »

Why does that not come as a surprise?

It is obvious that the OP is failing in their duty to educate their daughter about finances. Looks like she's in for a world of hiding behind the sofa when the door knocks like her parents.

Who are you to judge my parenting skills? Or are you just attempting to provoke a reaction?

Either way, at least the others who have commented have had something constructive to say and not to throw around insults. Not that it is any of your business, but the reason I do not have the money to lend her is that my OH works full time for minimum wage which is hardly enough for a family of 5 let alone pay out for extras such as mobile phone contracts!! :mad:

It must be pretty nice in that ivory tower of yours looking down on the rest of us!!

**Thank you so much to everyone who has TRIED to help me with my query**

hongkongfooey1970

Scott_HKR wrote: »

How the hell did she manage to get a contract under your nose like that?

Did you not question where this new phone came from?

I may be out of line with this, and so be it, but you are to blame as much as your daughter. How she got away with that is beyond me.

As for the future, she has a big problem on her hands, as people have said, borrowing money will be a massive no no.

I understand your obvious frustration, however, I posted the original question to ask for advice, NOT to be blamed, insulted or any of those. Anyone who knows kids knows they do stuff behind their parents backs.

Naf

As a qualifying addendum to my previous post: I USED to work in a Phones 4 U and it is their standard sales procedure to get a customer/potential customer as excited as possible about the phone so they will take a deal. This works better on younger customers, and better still on those naive about entering into contracts. And they use it as they are targeted much more heavily on contract sales than pay as you go.
I NOW work in a bank, and know that the rules around ensuring the customer is FULLY aware that they are entering into a credit commitment, and UNDERSTANDS what that entails are extremely strict...

OneADay

Naf wrote: »

I NOW work in a bank, and know that the rules around ensuring the customer is FULLY aware that they are entering into a credit commitment, and UNDERSTANDS what that entails are extremely strict...

Don't be too sure about that - I would rather walk into a phones4u than a bank because I would lose a little less in phones4u .

Let me say my beloved bank (who shall remained un-named) phoned me on my mobile today asking me about the dosh I have in fixed rate accounts and how they might help me in spending it. And how if the sky fell to the ground today, I might need life assurance and what if the money I have I had to start using and it all went down. And not for the first time they have done that. Wasted her time on the phone before telling her not interested.

Naf

OneADay wrote: »

I would lose a little less in phones4u

What is it you'd be losing in the bank? Unless you have money to put into Stocks & shares investments and risk your deposit (although over 5years on a moderate portfolio your risk is extremely minimal [in fact over the past 25 years you would have made money over ANY 5 year period with money invested with low/moderate risk], its only people who worry when the value drops, and don't have the patience/foresight to listen to the advisers and wait as the stock market trend has always been up overall) or you have £85k+ with any one institution, you've no risk.

Rev

Hammyman wrote: »

I wouldn't. Judging by the fact she applied for a catalogue basically on her 18th birthday, she is someone incapable of controlling her finances.

I think a bit of hounding by debt collectors, county court letters and bailiffs turning up to remove her possessions may just send the message needed.


Why does that not come as a surprise?

It is obvious that the OP is failing in their duty to educate their daughter about finances. Looks like she's in for a world of hiding behind the sofa when the door knocks like her parents.

How obnoxiously condescending. And just downright rude.

You have absolutely zero idea about the OP's situation.

Just because she can't lend her daughter the cash to pay her bill does not mean they're hiding behind the sofa. I'd imagine, like the majority of people, the OP pays bills and has some play cash/savings, does mean they have god knows how much sat around to pay for a massive bill that they never ran up. And since the price of the bill hasn't been mentioned it could be £1000's.

I also assume you have no kids, if you did, you'd know kids love paying absolutely no attention whatsoever at all to their parents. 17 year olds know everything, they don't need advice, they don't need you 'moaning' at them. They know everything. And any advice you give is just you having a go.

And since we're talking parents failing, as already stated. Obviously your parents failed to teach you manners and social skills and basic respect. Perhaps take their failings up with them before having a go at others.

OP. I'm sorry but I'd have to go down the tough love route here. Tell her it's her debt, she'll have to pay it. If you help out, all you'll be doing is teaching her you'll bail her out when she does something daft and stupid. Thus she'll continue to do so. What happens next time when she gets that catalogue and runs up £20,000? She'll assume you'll bail her out then too.

Don't do it. You'll end up doing it for her entire life.

hongkongfooey1970

Rev wrote: »

How obnoxiously condescending. And just downright rude.

You have absolutely zero idea about the OP's situation.

Just because she can't lend her daughter the cash to pay her bill does not mean they're hiding behind the sofa. I'd imagine, like the majority of people, the OP pays bills and has some play cash/savings, does mean they have god knows how much sat around to pay for a massive bill that they never ran up. And since the price of the bill hasn't been mentioned it could be £1000's.

I also assume you have no kids, if you did, you'd know kids love paying absolutely no attention whatsoever at all to their parents. 17 year olds know everything, they don't need advice, they don't need you 'moaning' at them. They know everything. And any advice you give is just you having a go.

And since we're talking parents failing, as already stated. Obviously your parents failed to teach you manners and social skills and basic respect. Perhaps take their failings up with them before having a go at others.

OP. I'm sorry but I'd have to go down the tough love route here. Tell her it's her debt, she'll have to pay it. If you help out, all you'll be doing is teaching her you'll bail her out when she does something daft and stupid. Thus she'll continue to do so. What happens next time when she gets that catalogue and runs up £20,000? She'll assume you'll bail her out then too.

Don't do it. You'll end up doing it for her entire life.

:T

Thank you for your constructive input. It seems that some people are just here to throw around accusations and judge others!

I will be taking your advice (and that of the others on here who've said the same) - she will have to make arrangements to pay the money back in installments.

OneADay

Naf wrote: »

What is it you'd be losing in the bank? Unless you have money to put into Stocks & shares investments and risk your deposit (although over 5years on a moderate portfolio your risk is extremely minimal [in fact over the past 25 years you would have made money over ANY 5 year period with money invested with low/moderate risk], its only people who worry when the value drops, and don't have the patience/foresight to listen to the advisers and wait as the stock market trend has always been up overall) or you have £85k+ with any one institution, you've no risk.

I fear you have just proven my point why I trust banks less than phones4u.

macman

To get back on-topic here, the contract is surely invalid, as a 17 year old cannot take out a legal contract.
Whether she has committed fraud here is another matter.

Techhead_2

macman wrote: »

To get back on-topic here, the contract is surely invalid, as a 17 year old cannot take out a legal contract.
Whether she has committed fraud here is another matter.

Why can't a 17 year old form a contract?

In crude terms , you can't chase a child for the debt, but the child can form a contract.