How to prevent child's usage of landline

rach_k

Tell her she can only call a mobile if she asks first and only say yes for a good reason. Or if she's happy to pay for calls herself, put a timer and a money box next to the phone and get her to pay as she uses it - if it's short when the bill comes, deduct it from pocket money. In the olden days of dial up internet, that's what we used to do after our free minutes were up - DIY pay as you go I suppose.

Alternatively, warn her that if she calls mobiles without permission, you will start calling her friends for a chat when you get their numbers from the phone bill. Suggest that they might like to hear how great you are at singing her favourite songs or stories about how she still wets the bed (make something embarrassing up!)

HappyMJ

I'd disconnect the phone from the wall socket and throw it away (or at least put in under lock and key). If you ever need to use it then plug it in yourself and use it. If she finds it and plugs it in to use it then you need to discipline her if she refuses to pay for the calls.

A home phone is nice for people to be able to call to have long conversations on but your workplace can call you on your mobile.

You could get a wireless one with an answering machine in it and hide the handset. If someone calls they can leave a message. If you're in you'll hear it and can call them back from your mobile.

I did have a handset years ago where you could block ranges of numbers but I have no idea what it was now.

teddysmum

greatgimpo wrote: »

If I was your daughter, and decided to carry on calling mobiles, I would buy a cheapo handset from Argos and plug it in just to carry on calling, then hide it.

I, too, had thought of the option of keeping the handset away from her, but she could do what this person suggests.

Indie_Kid

Is there an option within your package so that for a small fee each month, you can have free calls to mobiles?

[Deleted User]

This phone has a 'parental controls' section - http://www.bt.com/includingyou/products-phones-bt-callcontrol-6500.html

You can actually set it up to block calls to mobiles and only allow calls to specific numbers

£25 doesn't seem to bad - http://www.telephonesonline.co.uk/bt-6500-digital-cordless-answer-phone-with-nuisance-call-blocking.html?utm_source=GoogleFeed&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=FroogleCordless&gclid=CjwKEAjw9LKeBRDurOugs43jnlgSJACUXqHxIcT6pq-4IwS64OaikCcMdmBjZL2mxQnTrndMy9tIthoCFBfw_wcB

embob74

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

I thought such "advanced calling features" were available from all providers? It is certainly possible to block all calls to mobiles and premium numbers with a PIN to unlock if required.
Is it certain that Sky Talk don't have this?

Absolutely certain, there's lots of threads on the sky website asking if they provide this feature and the answer is always no

embob74

I know it comes across as I don't punish my child but I really do....she's just very difficult
She's been trying to get a job but we do live in a rural area so any job will mean I have to take her and pick her up. Paper round is definitely not an option as it's not a service provided in the village and I am not getting up at 6am to drive her to work and pick her up after. It just isn't feasible time-wise or financially with the cost of petrol.
I did consider keeping the handset with me at all times but it loses charge quickly and so if anybody phoned I may not be able to answer without the battery dying and she doesn't use the phone when I'm at home so it's controllable then.
She tends to call me if I am ever out when she gets home and we have had numerous arguments about why it's just not acceptable or necessary. But she still does it.....and now progressed to calling friends mobiles.
I thought I could take the handset with me if I go out but there are occasions where she babysits her younger siblings and I would prefer her to have access to a phone in case of emergency.
She did have a mobile but (a) there is very little reception in the village so can't be used at home and (b) we took it off her for inappropriate behaviour!

embob74

HappyMJ wrote: »

A home phone is nice for people to be able to call to have long conversations on but your workplace can call you on your mobile.

Not in my village there's very little signal and my job involves strangers contacting me and my number is advertised - I'd prefer strangers not to have my mobile number.

embob74

ringo_24601 wrote: »

This phone has a 'parental controls' section - http://www.bt.com/includingyou/products-phones-bt-callcontrol-6500.html
You can actually set it up to block calls to mobiles and only allow calls to specific numbers
£25 doesn't seem to bad - http://www.telephonesonline.co.uk/bt-6500-digital-cordless-answer-phone-with-nuisance-call-blocking.html?utm_source=GoogleFeed&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=FroogleCordless&gclid=CjwKEAjw9LKeBRDurOugs43jnlgSJACUXqHxIcT6pq-4IwS64OaikCcMdmBjZL2mxQnTrndMy9tIthoCFBfw_wcB

that's brilliant! Thank you so much - am going to order one now!

Thank you to all who have responded. It has given me a lot to think about, not just regarding phones but behaviour and punishment.

beetlebug1

As a mum to three boys, one still a teenager the best way I have found is to have one landline phone in the house. Make it an old fashioned dial phone with a fixed handset. My boys hate and only use it as a last resort as it takes so long to dial a number!

They also can't wander off with the handset to make private calls as mine is in the kitchen