To not upgrade the phone?

[CrackedPhoneScreen]

DS (14) has a phone with a cracked screen. He is one year into a two-year contract. It has insurance but when i called a couple of months ago they say they don't replace for cosmetic damage. Previous to finding this out, he was happy for me to just try and replace it on the insurance.

So he went researching and found a phone for £70 no sim. It is the cheapest smartphone available no sim on Amazon.

He now wants this phone. We are in the red so this would not be a small purchase for us.

Complicating this fact is the fact that at Christmas my phone (which I had used with a cracked screen for about a year) completely died. So I got a simfree one from amazon at the start of January. (I had no insurance, I have been arguing my phone contract since August with a company that got closed down and taken over)

This died last week as well - it wouldnt turn on. I am not having much luck with phones! and am now also arguing for a refund from Amazon for this.

I finally resolved my dispute with the phone contract people and they offered me a new phone on a smaller contract - so actually saving money. Which we are trying to do generally - see above!

So, DS has, as he sees it, two options.

1. I try AGAIN with his insurance as tbf, the crack has got worse - although it can still be used, unlike my phone

2. get us to buy the £70 phone.

He is insisting on option 2 and is no longer happy with option one, saying that as soon as android 10 comes out it will be obsolete.

He says "well you are getting a new phone every month" and cant see the difference between an adult with children/work and needing to be contactable, the fact it was free the second time with a contract that SAVED US MONEY as phones completely dead and a teen with a cracked phone!

AIBU not upgrading the phone ?

(to add, this would be the SECOND time we replaced on insurance. He lost his last phone overseas. And other DS also had a phone with a worse cracked screen for far longer and didnt complain, which was also eventually replaced with the basic insurance!)

(to add further, yes, perhaps we should all just be banned from phones altogether!)

Ok, but I think it's very wrong that the school has home work apps that need a smartphone to work!

I am really surprised that so many people don't put a glass tempered screen on their phone as soon as they get it.

It's such a cheap option compared to replacing a cracked phone screen.

SpoonBlender

You should be ashamed of yourself. This is a 14 year old child. Vile.

I'd say he gets a paper round/ cash in hand job (most markets do these esp more unpleasant jobs like the fish stall) and saves at least half the cash himself to show willing.

I'd also be evaluating insurance if you're struggling for money. It's a big cost when they'll only actually pay out for theft and with respect, thieves don't want cheap Moto phones! That sounds awful- so sorry- bit I worked out that I could replace my phone battery with 5 months insurance payments so didn't see the point in paying if I'm careful if you see what I mean

He could get the screen replaced. If you shop around I’m sure you could get that done for £30.

Or he could us a screen protector which will stop the crack getting worse and hold it all together for a few pounds from amazon or the like.

No way does he get a new phone, unless he pays for it himself.

If he wants a new phone, he pays for it.

Is he always so entitled?

And why is the screen cracked? Has he got a cover on it?

Ok, but I think it's very wrong that the school has home work apps that need a smartphone to work!

It might not be the same thing but my DCs school has a homework app not for doing the homework but for communicating what it is. The child doesn't have to have a smartphone, the parent can access the app and the teachers still tell the pupils what the homework is, if it's the same for the OP it's a nice to have but not an essential. I would not send my DC to a school that expected homework to be done on a phone, that's ridiculous imo

Option 3 - new but basic smartphone from elsewhere - you can get from as cheap as £9 payg

Option 4 - pay for screen to be replaced. Certainly can’t hurt to check the cost of this.

Going forward:

Whatever phone he has he needs to look after better. Minimum requirement - sturdy case and screen protector!

You need to be with a better insurer!

Cracked screens are commonplace and to the best of my knowledge all reputable insurers will cover this no problem.

I’m with Tesco mobile and use their insurance too, it’s pricier than others but well worth the money as they’re no quibble, on the ball service is excellent.

I’m good with phones but dd has been a nightmare (partly as she’s disabled makes her clumsier) and they’ve been spot on every time.

“I'd be confiscating the phone he's got if he doesn't stop the attitude.” Me too!

He’s being very entitled and cheeky!

Re bike - have you tried freecycle or similar working local Facebook pages? We have a few that would have been able to help with this.

“Should I give him my new one?” NO! Absolutely not!!

Teens will push and push, if you give in they learn it works. You have worse to come if he's only 14. You need to be clear that you (and dh) are the adults and what you say goes ESPECIALLY when it comes to how YOUR money is spent.

Remember that, you've earned the money he hasn't.

He's using the cracked screen to gain sympathy.

It's normal for a teen to have a smartphone.

It's normal for a teen to be quite self serving and think it's all about them at times.

It's normal for their phones to get damaged as it is permanently in their hands and accidents happen. I have one DS that has never got so much as a scratch on his and another who has had a few accidents with his.

That said, he needs to deal with the consequences for now until he needs the phone replaced as it no longer works, or it becomes appropriate for it to be replaced.

I would however check your policy re the insurance and pursue as appropriate.

Well I have told him he has to keep using his phone cracked screen or no cracked screen. We have other priorities. He can save his pocket money and babysitting money if he wants to upgrade.

He is not happy, but thank you for giving me the strength to stand firm!

Well done, OP! That was definitely the right decision.

Your local phone shop should be able to mend the screen for about 20 quid, try them...

It does need to be a smartphone as their school has homework apps.

I have a few friends who have kids the same age, and the kids access homework apps on the parents phone if they need too - or the parents access the apps to check homework is being done.

He broke his phone, it happens... it sucks for him, but he’s 14 and that’s life. It wouldn’t matter if you had a brand new iPhone, his is broken and unless he can afford the fix himself, he doesn’t get it. It’s a hard but important lesson to learn...

YANBU.
He needs to learn that what you do with YOUR money has nothing to do with him.
If he wants to be so interested in finances go get a paper round and save up for his own phone.

My DS had an iPhone 6S which we bought second hand from friends so knew the background. He cracked the screen, lived with it for a while and then the screen cracked massively.

I took him to a local specialist shop and had it fixed for £35. I made him pay half. I also told him that if it cracked again he would be paying the full cost of repairing it himself.

A repair might be cheaper.

We repaired because we recently sold that phone for £66 cash and bought him (from the same friend) an iPhone 7 which we spent £100 on.

Please consider a repair and please don't let yourself feel guilty. You know what your finances are. You know your son.

A cracked screen isn't cosmetic damage it affects the use of the phone. I cracked my iPhone screen and the insurers fixed it by replacing the screen. They also won't cover cosmetic damage like scratch to the case or screen, but a crack is not cosmetic damage. I would call them back and complain if they don't agree to fix it.

All these folk suggesting a paper round, do you get your papers delivered? Do you ever actually read a paper rather than news online?

Actual paper rounds that are possible to be done by a young teenager walking about are really rare. Hardly anyone gets a paper delivered and those that do don't necessarily live all next to each other on the same street.

DS tried to get a paper-round once - it wasn't possible to complete the round on foot or bike in time to get to school. It really needed someone driving and someone getting out and delivering.

No big organisations like to employ under 16s and in a lot of cases under 18s. Different if you are in an area with independent places or you know people who are happy to take on young people.

WaxOnFeckOff

I’m so glad you have said that. The ‘just get a paper round’ line gets trotted out so often on these threads. I always feel like I’ve travelled back in time. I don’t know anyone who buys a newspaper let alone gets it delivered.

I live in a large city, my teen is 16 and any jobs at this age are rare. I’ve told him to forget about it til he’s 18.

These threads also often become a competition over who can be the meanest parent to their teen just wanting what every other teen wants.

I am guess you have already thought of this but is there a mamber of your extended family / friend / work mate that may have a old one they no longer use tucked away in a drawer some where that he could have or you buy reasonably cheaply .

I guess I feel guilty he has a cracked phone while I got a new one :(

Did you break it OP? No. Does he pay the phone bills or do you? Honestly there is no need at all to feel guilty, if he hadn't lost one phone and broken the screen on the next, he'd have a phone that was fine! Perhaps having to wait and use a cracked phone for a while will help him understand that he needs to have some responsibility for his possessions....

Oh and to me your other DS bike is a much bigger priority over a phone

Sorry hadn't rtft! You did the right thing OP

For future reference, can I recommend
second-handphones.com/
My family buy used phones from them and they have excellent customer service (based in Barnstaple or some such) and a good selection of used phones. I 'upgraded' to an S7 in the autumn, and pay Tesco £7.50/month for SIM only. Used phones is the way to go, especially as far as the environment and sustainability is concerned.