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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

Mobile phone advice

14 replies

banshee1 · 22/08/2011 14:53

Hi - I have two texting mad teenage (16 and 17) daughters. They have been on contract for a few years but the texting is getting out of hand - thousands every month - I am concerned it's distracting them from their studies and they feel the need to tell their friends and boyfriends what they're doing every minute of the day - their contracts are up and I'm thinking of a pay as you go - we'll give them £10 each month to top up - any thoughts, ideas or advice please??? Thanks

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curlywurlycremeegg · 22/08/2011 14:57

I think at that age they should be paying for their own phone credit, if they don't have a job then how about giving them an allowance for everything they need and they can decide what to but and what to go without.

I agree with the distraction of constant texting and I find it so bloody ignorant when I see teenagers texting and not even looking at the person who is talking to them.

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curlywurlycremeegg · 22/08/2011 14:58

what to buy not but !

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generalhaig · 23/08/2011 00:19

I really regret getting ds (14) a contract for his birthday - we got him a better phone as he'd shown he could be responsible (hah!) with his old PAYG one ...

on PAYG he'd send a few texts but not many .. now it's got completely out of hand and like your dc he's sending hundreds every week. We've just been on holiday with his slightly younger cousins and the only times when he joined in with the rest of the family were when his phone was out of charge or I'd confiscated it. I've told him he's got until the end of the holiday to get on top of his habit or I'll take the contract over and move him onto PAYG again. And when this contract runs out, there's no way he's getting another one.

I imagine your dc will kick up an enormous fuss, but stand firm!!

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debrs4 · 23/08/2011 08:18

I sympathise - I'm sick of the sight of my children's phones. Mine are all on Vodafone pay as you go - £20 a month for 3000 texts, 300 minutes and unlimited internet access.I sympathise - I'm sick of the sight of my children's phones. Mine are all on Vodafone pay as you go - £20 a month for 3000 texts, 300 minutes and unlimited internet access.

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Sofabitch · 23/08/2011 08:22

I would never get a contract on my child's behalf. Mine will be on paygo until they are 18 and can get a contract in their own right. I think that £10 credit a month sounds more than reasonable.

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banshee1 · 23/08/2011 12:34

Thanks for the advice on this - pay as you go it is then!

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Mabelface · 23/08/2011 12:39

Google Giffgaff. For £10 a month, they get unlimited texts and internet, plus 300 talk minutes.

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Mabelface · 23/08/2011 12:39

Sorry, forgot to say - it's PAYG.

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mumeeee · 23/08/2011 21:34

DD3 19 is still on PAYG, She gets free evening and weekend texts if she tops up £10 a month, She pays for her own credit and when she runs out she just waits until the next month to top it up,

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jshibbyr · 24/08/2011 00:45

they should be paying it themselves, i had to pay mine since i got a phone at 11, got £1 a week, that had to go on my PAYG, now on contract i pay it (ok it's in my dads name, and goes out of his account but i pay him every month my bill) at 16 i had a job and had to pay for a moped :P seriously they pay it themselves, even if it is contract, they pay it i think contract is good as u can get awsome deals and stuff, if ur a big texter theres tonnes of unlimited text things.

i think also sit them down and tell them, there old enough to understand u can't be forking out a grand a month for them, it's not fair on you, give them the option of either going on PAYG or contract, but either way they must pay for it,

hope that helps x

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MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 24/08/2011 12:31

I also recommend Giffgaff.. they run on 02 network. For £10 a month they get unlimited texts and internet and 250 mins.. or for £15 400 mins!

I have switched all my family to it and have saved a LOT of money..esp from DS1 who ran up massive bills on his contract phone when he had a long distance girlfriend! I do still pay my kids £10 for them (one's at uni so poor) but they have to pay their own bus pass fees etc. DS has just left school and as soon as he has a job that's IT.

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kansasmum · 03/09/2011 10:00

DEFINITELY do PAYG!!! I am speaking form experience where my dh thought he would be kind a mug and get the kids contract phone. At different times BOTH girls have run up MASSIVE bills- one was over £300 and one was around £200!!! Phones were confiscated until they paid the money back.
Did they learn- no they didn't! They still go over their minutes. Now they both have part time jobs they pay the money back but that's missing the point but dh is too soft to cancel their contract.
The girls are 17 and 15 btw.

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royaljelly · 08/09/2011 10:43

PAYG can be really expensive esp. for internet usage. As most phones are android now (or at least the ones that teens want) this may not go down too well.

I got my son a 3 mobile sim card for his android phone. It costs £10 a month on a contract and he gets 600 minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB internet per month. The best thing about it is that I went into the store and they set the account with limits so he cannot go over his allowance. He has had to learn to manage his time on the phone or wait till next month before text/calls/internet come back on and I don't get a huge contract bill at the end of the month.

I rang round initailly to find a provider that had account limits on contract and 3 seemed to be the only one who does this. Perfect for phone obsessed teens.