Mobile Ignoramus Needs Help!

tazzie2shoos

Hi All - about 6 months ago my son trundled into town and irresponsibly signed up to an orange mobile deal with a free blackberry. (we did have the necessary 'discussion' and he has assured me he won't do anything like this again). He was 18 at the time, at college and in part-time work. Unfortunately I have been paying this at £40 per month and it does not end until September 2012 - is there anyway we can get out of this?

grumbler

Not much you can do besides selling the phone, adding some money and cancelling the contract with paying the early termination fee about 12x£40. With some networks (including Orange I think) apparently you can save VAT by doing this.

Also, AFAIK Orange allow you downgrading to the next tariff after passing the middle of the minimum term. This can save you about 9x£5.

Personally, I don't understand why you are paying for him and why it is you, not he, who is asking the questions here.
He is an adult. If he cannot pay, he will have the line disconnected and default(s) reported to his credit file(s). This will stop him from getting any credit in the next few years (good for him - and does he need it anyway?) and will teach him a lesson.

Hammyman

He is 18 and an adult. Stop fighting his battles and bailing him out. He won't learn a damned thing whilst you continue to do so.

OldGreyFox

Hardly a FREE Blackberry .When your paying £40 x18 for it.

Transformer

The lad needs to learn, your good intentions putting yourself under stress to pay it, will not help him in the long run.

At least if you continue get him to repay you some how, cleaning cars on a weekend, windows etc.....

Snakeeyes21

Wish I had a parent like you, sign up to contracts then get you to pay for them.

Christ, in what kind of family does this thing happen?

Stop paying it, tell him to get a job or he gets his credit rating trashed.

Really it shouldnt be on your shoulders at all, he signed it, he should pay for it
or face the consequences.. whats next? credit cards, a car loan? nip it in the bud
now or he will be forever running to mummy to bail him out.

pmduk

OP, I understand it may feel that everybody is against you, however he needs to learn that a contact of any sort is serious stuff. It's entirely your decision what lengths you go to to help him out of this, but he should be made to realise (probably through experiencing) that there are consequences to such foolish actions.

tazzie2shoos

Its OK, its nothing I haven't said or thought myself and I was expecting those sorts of comments, it hasn't offended me at all - and I am grateful for the practical solutions.

Guys_Dad

I am not sure if you or other members of the family have mobile contracts, but if you do, then if one runs out before Sept 2012, don't renew one of them, and let that member of the family take over the BB contract.

You may be able to PAC code over the transferred contract to preserve your number. Son would lose his number.

He can then go PAYG.

That will save you some money at least.

llyamah

Guys_Dad wrote: »

I am not sure if you or other members of the family have mobile contracts, but if you do, then if one runs out before Sept 2012, don't renew one of them, and let that member of the family take over the BB contract.

You may be able to PAC code over the transferred contract to preserve your number. Son would lose his number.

He can then go PAYG.

That will save you some money at least.

That to me sounds like a really good suggestion but would the contract have to remain in the son's name. I can foresee a few problems if it does - such as running up expensive bills abroad, etc. etc.

I'd say that 'other member of the family' should really be restricted here to mum or dad.

Hammyman

llyamah wrote: »

That to me sounds like a really good suggestion but would the contract have to remain in the son's name. I can foresee a few problems if it does - such as running up expensive bills abroad, etc. etc.

No. As long as the person is able to pass a credit check, the remainder of the contract can be transferred to them.