To think if DD wants a blackberry she needs to give me her birthday money

[PizzaSlut]

She's been nagging for some weeks about wanting one, all her friends have BBM and I'm fed up with not being able to contact her when out and about.

So I've ordered her one on my contract (works out the same as £10 PAYG which comes out of her pocket money) but I've asked her for her birthday money to cover any overspend she may make on the contract.

She is now huffing and puffing that its unfair as she wanted a pair of converse all stars.

AIBU to do this.

Not all networks let you put a cap on Worra. I used to work for Virgin and they don't do caps. Can't rob you blind if they do that!

YABU, in fact really U in my opinion. You got her the phone free on the contract, at a monthly rate you are happy to pay, so there is no extra which she needs to pay at the moment. If she has unlimited texts and knows she needs to keep within the minutes allowance she is unlikely to be racking up extra charges. If you don't trust her with a contract phone you shouldn't have got her one. See if she can keep within it before taking her bday money off her for charges she hasn't even incurred!

No you can't take her money in case she overspends. Get a contract with a cap, or buy her a sim free phone with a payg sim.

If you want to be able to contact your DD, you should pay for it.

Blackberry is a much better deal than PAYG. You can get a good contract with free phone from £8 a month.

Since teens tend to do all their texting on BBM, they don't go over the voice and text allocations.

My teens have 4 Blackberrys between them and they have never gone over.

I think yabu to take her money just case she over spends. If she over spends, I would take it out of her pocket money. i think that is really unfair.
I don't get what your 7 year old being jealous has to do with anything.

Yabu. You say she generally follows the rules so expecting her not to is unreasonable. Just tell her that if she goes over you she will have to pay for it out of her pocket money, and that if she does it often you will swap the phone for a basic one. Give her the chance to prove herself.

How will she overspend if using BBM - its free !

Taking it before she even does it is ridiculous. And tight. Maybe you should address the issue of a possible over spend. Make sure it DOESN'T happen before trying to remedy it.

I got my first mobile when I was 11, so 1997 :-)

It was really useful - gave us loads more freedom and meant that we could call for lifts etc, and text without our friends knowing if we needed help for whatever reason.

Plus payg prices are a rip off - if you are willing to pay £10 a month for payg, then why not get a capped contract, get a better deal and a free phone?

My DD pays if she overspends and also has a phone curfew until we think she can stay within her contract. She has overspent twice, but not for ages now.

I had a mobile phone in year 5 of primary school. Grandad bought it for me and would top it up ten pounds a week.

I should add, we weren't rich, and it was a brick, but my dad had a mobile for ages before that (he is a builder so needed it so he could be contacted/ring suppliers etc when on a job) so we knew how useful they were.

Plus, BBM will be the way they arrange everything - like msn was in the old days. The friend that didn't have the internet wasn't able to join in with planning and just got a phonecall saying what and when.

Let her have it, and take it off her till she pays any excess using pocket money, like how your phone gets cut off for not paying the bill.

If she overspends would you take the money out of her pocket money? If so, explain what will happen if she spends too much and follow through. Show her how she can keep track of what charges she is racking up.

If she doesn't get pocket money, yes keep some cash back and say that if she doesn't overspend she can have the cash back at x point of time.

I'd say its a really good lesson in managing your bills and staying within your means. You have to back it up though.

I know 3 teenagers who have run up huge bills on mobiles. Although bbm may be unlimited, picture messages aren't, texts abroad aren't etc. They can run up charges pretty easy. Capped is the way forward! Why not buy her a bb and get a capped Sim for a tenner a month? They get 1GB, 750 mins, 5000 texts at Tesco (think some others do it) or 10 pounds a month contract for 24 months free phone with same allowances. They cannot ever run up charges. It is fab!

Second jellybeans. DD has just got a BB includes BBM, 100 mins, 5000 texts, 500 MB and free handset for £10 pm. Can also get it capped at £10. 24 month contract.