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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WWYD re DD mobile phone.

42 replies

LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 22:56

Have posted before about this.

DD (18) moved out 3 months ago into her girlfriends (17) mums house just before her A levels against my wishes and has shelved Uni plans this has been very upsetting and very stressful.

Her father’s maintenance stopped (he paid it to her anyway so she stopped giving it to me) and the child benefit.

A while ago because she was working hard at her job and at college (and I never forsake this situation) I agreed to go halves on her mobile phone.

It’s £45 a month. She hasn’t paid it for the last 3 months and I cannot cancel it as it is a 30 month contract (I didn’t actually realise this at the time as was prepared to do this though Uni).

What the hell do I do?

I cannot afford it, DH is giving me grief about it as it’s coming out of our joint account.

She keeps saying another week another week etc but today her brother he told me she’s out on the piss and she has a new tattoo.

What the fuck do I do? Report it stolen even though she has just got a new job?

This is so not like her Sad

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 26/06/2018 23:00

Tell her if she doesn’t pay you will have it cut off.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:00

I don’t think they will cut it off though as I would then be liable for the rest of the contract.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:02

What happens if I just cancel the direct debit

DS phone is on the same contract though.

OP posts:
IsDaveThere · 26/06/2018 23:08

Canceling the direct debit won't stop you being liable for the payments, you will probably just end up with debt collectors after you instead.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:11

If I report it lost/stolen will it render it unusable?

OP posts:
Stephisaur · 26/06/2018 23:14

Whose name is the contract actually in? If it’s in her name, she is liable to make the payments.

If it’s in your name, then I would call the company and see if you can buy your way out of the contract.

BlueRaspberries · 26/06/2018 23:14

I would have thought if you reported it lost or stolen they block it and it’s unusable, but you are still liable for the contract. Would be illegal to report it lost/ stolen if it’s not anyway. I’m not sure what else you could do. Maybe phone the company who the contract as with and see what they advise.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:16

It’s with Tesco and they aren’t overly helpful tbh - I don’t see why they won’t just let me transfer it into her bank account but they won’t because her brothers phone connected to that account too

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:17

It’s in my name

OP posts:
Justpick · 26/06/2018 23:18

If it’s in your name then report it as lost/stolen. They should be able to cancel the sim and send a new one to the registered address. You can then at least use that sim and get your moneys worth.

They may also be able to kill the phone depending on the type to render it useless.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 26/06/2018 23:18

You will still be liable for the contract even if lost or stolen-they’ll just send you a new sim to put in a phone.

How much longer is left on the contract

Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:22

May 2020 😫

OP posts:
StayingAtTamaras · 26/06/2018 23:23

They should be able to move the bank account details into hers, it's two separate contracts you would've taken out so they're not actually linked. I worked in a phone shop before and had plenty of people changing account details into their kids etc

Try a change of ownership

Homemenu1 · 26/06/2018 23:25

Do you have a phone contract? Maybe you can cancel yours and then use her contract?

StayingAtTamaras · 26/06/2018 23:25

Have you tried this?

WWYD re DD mobile phone.
Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:26

I can’t cancel mine until Jan and I want to keep my own number I have had it for years.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:27

StayingAtTamaras

Ooh thanks - they said they had changed DS phone to the “lead” phone but they haven’t.

OP posts:
Thehop · 26/06/2018 23:29

Ring them up and tell them, ask them to block outgoing calls and data use?

Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:30

The shop were useless tbh

OP posts:
steff13 · 26/06/2018 23:32

What if you transfer it to her account and then she cancels the debit? Aren't you back to square one?

BlueBiros · 26/06/2018 23:37

Of course you can't transfer the direct debit to her account! The account holder has to set up the direct debit, for (hopefully) obvious reasons!

I would give her two weeks notice to return the phone and then report it as stolen. Obviously you're still stuck with the contract, but at least you or DH can use it when either if your contracts is up for renewal.

happygoluckier · 26/06/2018 23:43

Could you set your DS up on a separate account? It's a long shot, but you could see if they can transfer the existing contract for your DS onto a separate account. If they won't do that, your other option is to buy your way out of the contract altogether.

Original poster
LadyRussell · 26/06/2018 23:49

That would be £810 which I don’t have and if I did would not want to pay.

OP posts:
crispysausagerolls · 26/06/2018 23:55

Take her phone away?

BlueBiros · 27/06/2018 00:03

Unfortunately though, you can't just cancel the contract without paying. I know you didn't foresee this situation but you signed up so you are responsible for the payments. Your options are:

  • cancel the contract and pay the upfront cost (impossible as you don't gave the money)
  • get DD to pay (unlikely)
  • continue the monthly payments yourself (and cancel you own/DHs contract as soon as you can so you aren't paying for an unused contract)