Cost for elderly relative?

[Deleted User]

We have a very elderly relation with a smart phone,not connected to the internet. Someone has somehow installed WhatsApp on it through a recognised route. They now have an option  either phone or text me as before, as I can to her. However, when I send a text, it's rare she acknowledges so we're left wondering if she's not only seen it or ok.

Via WhatsApp, at least the grey arrows indicating sent,received are good, but moreso when they turn blue,indicating the message has been read.

My question is, would they be incurring any cost to her?.

Equally, were we to  WhatsApp them, would we be incurring cost to either them or ourselves?.

I appreciate sending photo's would create a cost.

wongataa

Whatsapp uses a mobile data connection so anything transmitted via Whatsapp (including read notifications) uses some of the account holder's data allowance or is paid for if the account holder doesn't have a data allowance.  For simple text messages the amount of data used will be small.

You use some of your data to send anything via Whatsapp.  The receiver uses some of their data to receive anything via Whatsapp.

serpico100

[Deleted User] said:

I appreciate sending photo's would create a cost.

If you are using your home’s WiFi or are within your data allowance then sending photos does not incur a cost

grumpycrab

[Deleted User] said:

with a smart phone,not connected to the internet.  

You're going to have to explain that. I guess you mean there's no WiFi(eg via BT router). So what's the call+data package on the smart phone?

[Deleted User]

That, is something I aim to ask.the lady in question is quite deaf  so that's a problem  intend asking someone else at her end.

Grey_Critic

Why not remove Whats App from the phone?

I have removed various apps from my phone as I have no intention of ever using them.

My wife does not text and only rings me if she is delayed or needs picking up.

elsien

84 year old parent calls all messages texts, whether SMS or WhatsApp.
She also never acknowledges them. I don’t think it’s anything to do with the medium. She just doesn’t see the need. 

savergrant

"We have a very elderly relation with a smart phone,not connected to the internet. Someone has somehow installed WhatsApp on it through a recognised route."

First question for me is how did she get the smartphone? Unless it is a hand-me-up that another relative has upgraded it is likely to have come with a sim contract. So she may not use it for Internet access but it may be on there. As mentioned above whatsapp requires an Internet connection, either through WiFi or mobile data. WiFi will be free, mobile data will either be charged against a credit balance or included in the monthly cost. The problem with WiFi is that she might go out of range and lose the signal. That said, in some properties mobile signal reception isn't great either.

pamsdish

I have a friend who gets quite upset if I don't answer, most of what she texts, after 2 or 3 back and forth don`t require an answer. At least if it`s watts App, she knows I have read it and declined to comment.

[Deleted User]

savergrant said:

"We have a very elderly relation with a smart phone,not connected to the internet. Someone has somehow installed WhatsApp on it through a recognised route."

First question for me is how did she get the smartphone? Unless it is a hand-me-up that another relative has upgraded it is likely to have come with a sim contract. So she may not use it for Internet access but it may be on there. As mentioned above whatsapp requires an Internet connection, either through WiFi or mobile data. WiFi will be free, mobile data will either be charged against a credit balance or included in the monthly cost. The problem with WiFi is that she might go out of range and lose the signal. That said, in some properties mobile signal reception isn't great either.

Someone gave/bought it i believe 

Grumpysally

It might be worth somehow confirming where your relative got the phone.
My elderly father suddenly acquired a smart phone last year. He was completely unable to use it. He'd had a simple 'dumb phone' for year and only called and texted.
It turned out that he'd gone to the local Vodafone shop when his contract needed renewing. He was talked into a new contract with a smart phone. The 'kind' assistant set him up with a Gmail address so that all the documentation went by email, which he didn't know how to access. He had a monthly contract for £15 +  £4 for the handset. Luckily I was able to intervene and as it was within the 14 day cooling down period was able to get everything cancelled.