I need a capped phone contract quick!

TEssery

Picture the scene: 16 year old daughter says "I could save a fortune if you'd get me a contract rather than pay as you go - and I promise not to go over budget". Right. I can hear parents everywhere screaming "don't do it!!" - well, don't worry, I won't. So far the record mobile bill run up by a teenager of my acquaintance on a contract underwritten by parents was a staggering £1100!

3 do a cunning capped contract which includes lots of lovely free minutes and texts but we all know the coverage is cr*p and besides none of her friends have 3 so no opportunity for free "same network" minutes. Anybody know of a Vodafone/O2/Orange offer which includes capped contract charges with top-up facility?

If so please let me know before said teenager spontaneously combusts with indignation at the sheer injustice of it all!

bbb_uk

I believe the other networks have stopped their capped prices (it's not in their interest) but T-Mobile do a U-Fix which reads that it is a fixed plan but I would ring them for further clarification.

TEssery

Thanks for your reply. I tried to talk her into T-Mobile but apparently inter-network calls are expensive, coverage poor in our area and none of her friends are on T-Mobile so that won't wash. It's a great offer though and they deserve lots of business. Apparently the only mobile provider who actually cares about customer interests!

bbb_uk

Their £15 plan is for 300mins offpeak any network, the £25 plan is for 750 offpeak any network plan. I also believe that T-Mobile is the only one where their offpeak starts at 6pm that is assuming you can survive with the poor quality reception.

The only other alternative (but it is NOT capped) is that o2 are doing double mins and texts on their SIM only contracts. Click here for more info (their cheapest offpeak is £20 that provides 600 xnet off peak mins, and 1000 texts per month).

The SIM only contracts don't include a phone but you are NOT tied down to a 12 month contract but only 30 days (yes only 1 month minimum term contract applies). Therefore, providing your daughter can use her existing phone you could say to her that if she goes outside her tariff (therefore additional charges) you will cancel her contract and will have to go back to PAYG or something.

UPDATE: Changed link above as I accidently included the T-Mobile link again!

TEssery

Sounds like she's been exaggerating the drawbacks of the T-Mobile plan, although she'd probably consider even 6pm rather late for off-peak when school finishes at 3! But the 30-day O2 contract could be a possibility, at least we wouldn't have 11 payments left to make when we confiscate her phone! Will check it out. Many thanks!

bbb_uk

TEssery wrote:

....although she'd probably consider even 6pm rather late for off-peak when school finishes at 3!...

You could maybe say why can't see text her friends between 3pm and 7pm (only 6pm on T-Mobile) as what are the chances of her going over 1,000 texts? Or there is the anytime plans but these aren't really value for money but it depends on the average mins she would use per month. The cheapest anytime plan is £25 but with only 200mins, 400mins for an extra £5.

Also, this is the link I was meant to refer to above.

allthatmularky

I know this doesn't quite fit the bill - its not a contract - but why not try Easymobile a PAYG service. Calls are 6p a min xnet and texts 2p till the end of June - worth a try - even if its 600xnet minutes it would come to £30. Fresh are cheaper again at 5p but their offer finishes 12th of June. You can port/transfer your teenagers number to them.

seaniboy

the o2 deals are the best, just call explain your senario and ask for a credit limit of whatever amount (bear in mind how much your price plan is as this is included!) I have put a set credit amount on my 30 day contract as I use mobile data for internet access away from home and that gets expensive with overuse:mad: