Daughter can't get a phone contract

Buzby

She most certainly does not need any mobile contract. Irrespective of how responsible she is, her circumstances can be seriously affected by a mobile company ruining her credit file (or yours) because of any unfortunate events (theft, fraud, loss, roaming, job loss etc).

Getting on the first rung of a credit file simply for a mobile is a false economy. Since she can be mobile just as easily on PAYG, and stay fully in control - why not do this instead?

Guys_Dad

JethroUK wrote: »

Just get it in your name for the whole term

If she is straight as you suggest you'll have nothing to worry about

Are you serious, Jethro ?????? You have just been posting numerous posts on the thread "£1300 vodafone bill in one month!!"

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4113327

This is where a parent landed in trouble because of their teenage daughter running up a big bill on a contract in their name and you are recommending, without any qualification, that other MSE members put themselves in the same potential situation.

Completely barmy!!!!

JethroUK

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Are you serious, Jethro ?????? You have just been posting numerous posts on the thread "£1300 vodafone bill in one month!!"

Yeah i post a lot - My argument there is against Vodafone

My point here is if you don't trust your own adult daughter to make timely payment to you then you can't expect a company/stranger to trust them more than you do

If you cant see the value in both points then I cant help it

Guys_Dad

JethroUK wrote: »

Yeah i post a lot - My argument there is against Vodafone

My point here is if you don't trust your own adult daughter to make timely payment to you then you can't expect a company/stranger to trust them more than you do

If you cant see the value in both points then I cant help it

It isn't a matter of trust, as you know. The problem is that, with uncapped mobile contracts, there is no brake on your ability to clock up out of bundle charges. The networks will demand their money regardless, which was the whole thrust of your argument with Vodafone.

18 year olds have the exuberance and lack of experience/control of youth, as per the other thread. They are more likely to run up large bills through thoughtlessness and then don't have the funds to pay, even though they want to.

If the contract is in a parent's name, then it is the parent's credit record that will be trashed if there are no funds to pay.

As Buzbysaid, PAYG is a good option, although Keith1950 gives a good alternative to getting a foot on the credit ladder and why I suggested Tesco mobile.

Your initial post on this thread would expose a recently divorced Mum to the potential problems of the other parent in the thread I quoted, hence my comment.

Shah79

I'm sure she will be able to get a contract if she puts a bigger deposit down for the phone. I have a friend who was from Germany and hadn't lived in his permanent address for 3 months - and they just asked for a bigger deposit.

lazer

I remember i had to put a £50 deposit down - that was refunded after 3 months to get my first contract.

IMO - a cheap contrcat is always better value than PAYG, especially as it isalways available for emergencys.

JethroUK

Guys_Dad wrote: »

It isn't a matter of trust...

Thats precisely what it is - byyyyyyy definition!

phone companies wont give her a contract because they do not "trust" her to make the repayments

her mother is pleading she is worthy of 'trust'

my point is therefor if Mum trusts her then trust her

Its only about trust

I put my 18 year old son on my car insurance because companies didn't 'trust' him as much as I did and that was reflected in price of the policy - btw he's now 29 and has pays his own insurance

Guys_Dad wrote: »

.....The problem is that, with uncapped mobile contracts,....

So get a capped one! (ring-fence your liability) - I didn't exclude that and I think it's a great idea as expressed 'in the other thread', especially if you're signing for someone else - 'in the other thread' i actually go on to suggest it be made law so that companies will stop metering out £1300 calls 'willy-nilly' knowing full well they aint going to get paid for it - ergo will impose their own capping

grumbler

JethroUK wrote: »

...I put my 18 year old son on my car insurance because companies didn't 'trust' him as much as I did and that was reflected in price of the policy

Do you really think that this is even remotely relevant to the topic? Regardless of your trust it is the insurer that bears almost unlimited financial liability for your sun's accidents, while you possibly just lose your NCD.

Pure demagogy IMO.

Your trust can result only in the highest voluntary excess that you can cover. Unfortunately the premium depends very little on the voluntary excess.

Neil49

She could consider using giffgaff rather than Orange as they offer various monthly goodybags (based on number of voice minutes) which are similar to what you would get when contracted with most other operators. Texts and data are unlimited.

There is no contract as such, you just keep renewing your goodybag each month with the added advantage of being able to switch to another provider whenever you wish.

They use the O2 network.

https://www.giffgaff.com

grumbler

Neil49 wrote: »

She could consider using giffgaff rather than Orange as they offer various monthly goodybags (based on number of voice minutes) which are similar to what you would get when contracted with most other operators.

Unfortunately, giffgaff don't give away 'free' iPhones (and like) that she obviously wants, but doesn't have money to buy outright.