My Son's Girlfriend Can't Afford Her O2 Contract

Beanynut2

Hi


Can anyone offer any advice on what we can do about my son's girlfriends O2 mobile phone contract.


She is a young single, 19 year old currently living on benefits with a 9mth old baby. She has no parental support and lives in small rented house about 5 miles outside of town and signed up for the phone when she was feeling particularly down and alone.


The problem is - that she can't really afford the contract and is struggling to pay it each month. She has had the phone for about 3 months and couldn't afford to buy herself out. Is there anything she can do?


Grateful for any help
Beanynut

notanewuser

Beanynut2 wrote: »

Hi


Can anyone offer any advice on what we can do about my son's girlfriends O2 mobile phone contract.


She is a young single, 19 year old currently living on benefits with a 9mth old baby. She has no parental support and lives in small rented house about 5 miles outside of town and signed up for the phone when she was feeling particularly down and alone.


The problem is - that she can't really afford the contract and is struggling to pay it each month. She has had the phone for about 3 months and couldn't afford to buy herself out. Is there anything she can do?


Grateful for any help
Beanynut

Not really. She's not really single either. If baby is your son's then perhaps he could up his maintenance payments.

Silk

Try to find someone to transfer the contract to

If it's a decent phone sell it towards contract

Buy cheap phone to use sim in

Beanynut2

notanewuser wrote: »

Not really. She's not really single either. If baby is your son's then perhaps he could up his maintenance payments.

Very quick judgement - the baby isn't my son's and he helps as much as he can but he isn't working either. Both have learning difficulties and I believe his girlfriend is quite vulnerable.

Beanynut2

Silk wrote: »

Try to find someone to transfer the contract to

If it's a decent phone sell it towards contract

Buy cheap phone to use sim in

Thanks Silk - selling the phone is a good idea

McKneff

Beanynut2 wrote: »

Very quick judgement - the baby isn't my son's and he helps as much as he can but he isn't working either. Both have learning difficulties and I believe his girlfriend is quite vulnerable.

I didn't see it as 'judge' at all, when you posted you gave the impression by omission that the baby was your sons.


And if you note, the poster said IF the baby is your sons.


Silk gives good solid advice.

DUTR

Beanynut2 wrote: »

Hi


Can anyone offer any advice on what we can do about my son's girlfriends O2 mobile phone contract.


She is a young single, 19 year old currently living on benefits with a 9mth old baby. She has no parental support and lives in small rented house about 5 miles outside of town and signed up for the phone when she was feeling particularly down and alone.


The problem is - that she can't really afford the contract and is struggling to pay it each month. She has had the phone for about 3 months and couldn't afford to buy herself out. Is there anything she can do?


Grateful for any help
Beanynut

The things should could do, you wouldn't want some to post on here, if it were my son I would be suggesting he find a new GF, it's too early to be taking on other people's problems.

Earthworm

They could sell the phone, pay out of the minimum term and learn a lesson. When juggling benefits, a child and bills a mobile phone contract shouldn't be an option. Sorry to be so blunt but benefits are not designed to be high enough to allow recipients the luxuries of a long term contract for a mobile phone.

jenniewb

She should try going to speak to her social worker if she has one who should be able to put her in touch with a welfare rights person who could then help by getting the contract cut in price (normally the handset would have to go back) and then paid off bit by bit but as she'd no longer have the phone it would be at a far lower cost. It is likely to mess with her credit report though.

Beanynut2

DUTR wrote: »

The things should could do, you wouldn't want some to post on here, if it were my son I would be suggesting he find a new GF, it's too early to be taking on other people's problems.

How can I walk away or encourage him too either? Its not just his girlfriend but her baby - they don't have anyone to help them. I want to help her sort out her money without becoming dependant on me or my son.

Beanynut2

jenniewb wrote: »

She should try going to speak to her social worker if she has one who should be able to put her in touch with a welfare rights person who could then help by getting the contract cut in price (normally the handset would have to go back) and then paid off bit by bit but as she'd no longer have the phone it would be at a far lower cost. It is likely to mess with her credit report though.

Thanks Jenniewb that's a good suggestion too