Unhappy with Vodafone and a childs phone.

unhappymum

My husband and I got our son a mobile for his birthday. We weren't happy that we were told the contract couldn't be capped...Why not other firms do?? Maybe this should of been a point we said no.
We used Vodafone as both our mobiles are through them, and haven't had issues. So we added him onto my account. £15 a month. Which we thought would be sufficient.
We were advised in the shop the account holder would get a text message if mobile data was running out, which we thought would be a good idea.......
Totally not the case !! I have just been and checked the bills on line, to at which point I screamed. He has £96 of charges......... Extra mobile data.
My son received a text on the 9th April, to inform him he was close to his limit...Why was I not informed as the account holder? We are now looking at £150 bill just for his phone.
We haven't got this money, which leads to the question..what can we do??
Why when other mobile phone companys (Tesco) to name one cap bills when such a big profit making company like Vodafone can't ?? Doesn't make sence.
Have learnt a very valuable lesson.
Have spoken to son, to which he said he didn't know when the bill was paid or had no other text messages to check if he was willing to pay, he would have declined as we had stern words before he was allowed it. I am now an unhappy mum, trying to do what what I thought was right. Can anyone please advice me what I can do.....Please x

keith1950

Sorry but your only real option is to pay this bill.

Tesco is the only network that will automatically set a cap.....the others seem a bit and miss.

You knew the risk and you took it....you might be able to get a goodwill reduction or a payment plan but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Theres not a lot you can do.

grumbler

unhappymum wrote: »

My husband and I got our son a mobile for his birthday. We weren't happy that we were told the contract couldn't be capped...Why not other firms do??

Very few in fact. Tesco Mobile is only one I know from relatively big 'firms'.

Maybe this should of been a point we said no.

Surely it should if your son wasn't trustworthy.

We were advised in the shop the account holder would get a text message if mobile data was running out, which we thought would be a good idea.......
Totally not the case !!

I wonder what number "the account holder" expected to get the text to...

My son received a text on the 9th April, to inform him he was close to his limit...

Wow! I was right then.

Why was I not informed as the account holder?

You were. It was your phone and your choice to give it to your son. If you have several numbers, none is the 'main' one.

We haven't got this money, which leads to the question..what can we do??

• borrow
• call Vodafone and ask for a goodwill and/or a payment plan. The latter, if granted, will be reported to CRAS. And while you keep paying, Vodafone can disable outgoing calls/texts and data on all mobiles the 'account holder' has.

Why when other mobile phone companys (Tesco) to name one cap bills when such a big profit making company like Vodafone can't ??

This is a good rhetoric question. My guess is that this is because the main profit Vodafone make is from out-of-allowances usage. It's their business model.

grumbler

keith1950 wrote: »

Tesco is the only network that will automatically set a cap....

Not 'automatically' AFAIK

want_to_save

why give a contract phone to a child! if you want to put a cap on what a child can spend then get a PAYG or dont complain when they spend huge amounts on your bill

keith1950

I did say "will" not " do" !.... when completing an online order it asks you if you want it capped and you can set the level you require.
I meant you don't have to bother ringing them to try and get it capped.

BadBehaviour

Yes, the number they sent the text to of course is the contract number given to your son! You misunderstood that and expected to be sent a text to your own number.

This is the risk in giving the contract phone you're paying for to someone else... Your son has shown he cannot be trusted with sticking within his allowance. Maybe check the account online everyday to see how he is doing with it from now on.

I have unlimited data and pretty much unlimited texts and minutes and still check my account very often...

If you wanted a capped contract that bad, then why didn't you just go with Tesco?

Herongull

Your son is ignored the warning and went over the limit despite knowing that it would result in a huge bill for you. This means that he is not to be trusted with a contract phone in your name.

These huge bills will happen again and again unless you take action now.

Contact vodafone and get that sim blocked now. This will mean that you son will no longer be able to use the included allowance each month.

But if you allow him to continue to run up huge bills he will not be able to learn responsibility and you will be reinforcing irresponsible behaviour.

ZhugeEX

unhappymum wrote: »

My husband and I got our son a mobile for his birthday. We weren't happy that we were told the contract couldn't be capped...Why not other firms do?? Maybe this should of been a point we said no.

And this is where I stopped reading.

unhappymum wrote: »

Have learnt a very valuable lesson.

Good.

Herongull

One possibility is to sell the son's mobile. I don't know what model it is, but hopefully it should generate at least some cash towards paying off this bill.

Big_Tree

you have teach your son about personal responsibility and take his hone away until he has repaid the money......