My son's cell phone bill!!!! - Page 3 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Shelby&Seymour · 03-03-2008, 02:53 PM

You are doing the right thing......... How about a new answering message that says:

"This is NOT Masons phone..... due to inappropriate phone abuse, I am no longer being used by Mason. Don't bother calling or texting him. Thank-you and have a nice day".

Jody Renfroe · 03-03-2008, 02:56 PM

Prepaid is the way to go with kids IMO!

adorame · 03-03-2008, 03:20 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions on the texting. Right now we have it blocked to teach him a lesson. Maybe in the far future We will get them unlimited texting but for now it is Zero!

It is on their Grandparents plan, not ours. They have one phone for each family( 3) so that the grandkids have it for sports or when they go places and need to get a hold of someone. They have had this phone for almost 2 years and this is the first time they have gone over on it. The 4 boy's share the phone and we had to get an atomized bill online to show him the #'s going in and out, he thought he was only charged for the ones he made not received. They were all his friends numbers too, not the other boy's. Also he was texting after his bed time like were talking 1 am after I am in bed! His grandpa just had the block put on because my 10 year old niece went over her minutes too so they have a BIG bill this month to pay. We have alway's paid the 20 something a month bill using allowance money from each of the boy's. Mason did bring home a work release form from school today so at least he knows that we are not letting this go by with just grounding his little butt!

adorame · 03-03-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shelby&Seymour

You are doing the right thing......... How about a new answering message that says:

"This is NOT Masons phone..... due to inappropriate phone abuse, I am no longer being used by Mason. Don't bother calling or texting him. Thank-you and have a nice day".

Oh I like that one..I needed the laugh too, thanks! His friend just called saying that it was real important that he talk to Mason when I said he can't take calls, I said too bad, talk to him at school. He then asked when he would get the phone back and I just laughed and said possibly NEVER!

TommiGirl · 03-03-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adorame

How long would you have the grounding?? All privileges are gone, no games and nothing that would cost money, cause he owes us $500 for the bill!! Or do you think I am being to harsh? i am so so mad!!!

oh you are definitely NOT being too harsh. My niece did that to her mom and although it wasn't $500, it was $300 total for 2 months.

She was furious. The kid had to do house cleaning for 4 months. And never was able to borrow the cell phone again.
That was 5 years ago and now my niece pays for her own phone.
That taught me a lesson. Not to give my kid a cell phone for a long time.

$500 is OUTRAGEOUS! Today's technology is really spoiling our kids and bankrupting us.

And definitely take the text messaging option off the phone.
We have to wonder how in the world did WE grow up without cell phones and texting?

TommiGirl · 03-03-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adorame

Oh I like that one..I needed the laugh too, thanks! His friend just called saying that it was real important that he talk to Mason when I said he can't take calls, I said too bad, talk to him at school. He then asked when he would get the phone back and I just laughed and said possibly NEVER!

Good answer!!!! (had me laughing)

Marcellacml · 03-03-2008, 04:00 PM

Did you know you can block the phone from sending and receiving txt messages? I know cingular does that, maybe your company does too.

011011 · 03-03-2008, 07:27 PM

My boys pay their own cell phone they do not pay it they do not have a phone.They have been very good about paying for their phones I cannot complian.I would not pay it if it becomes a habit and let it get shut off, when he has no phone he will think twice and get a job to pay for it.

For My Coby · 03-03-2008, 07:42 PM

Happened to us too. I was mad too!

The trouble is that texting is how everyone communicates now. I didn't want to turn it off, because that's the easiest way for me to reach them and for them to reach me. They'll answer a text long before they'll answer the phone or check their voice mail ("watching a movie.. can't answer"). But we did talk about the "Hey whazup?".... "Nuttin.Whazup w/u?"..... "Nuttin." nonsense texts that kids trade back and forth. Those weren't acceptable when on a plan.

But I like the texting as the quickest and easiest way to communicate (EXCEPT WHEN DRIVING). So I drove the "lesson" home and then we got unlimited texting.

TurtleDove · 03-03-2008, 08:05 PM

No, you aren't being harsh at all. I'd be SO mad too! This reminded me of the time when my boyfriend and I were 16, and he spent the whole summer visiting his grandparents. He would call me everyday, and we'd talk for HOURS ... he easily went over the minutes in his plan. When the phone bill came back, it was ABOUT $1000. His parents went through the roof and made him get an after school job. He's given his parents back that amount though, plus more, 6 years later. Took awhile, but it's paid

Have you thought of getting him a pre-paid phone instead? That way, he'll have a phone in case of emergencies, and there's no way he'll go over minutes/usage.

TootiesMom · 03-03-2008, 08:16 PM

yep, me too.... my daughter did the same to me, I removed text from her phone for a month, now both daughters pay their own text for unlimited every month... I dont think at all that it is too much to ask of them.... I pay their basic because they both BETTER answer if I call them... I like text because my daughter can reach me even when she is at school.....
You are doing the right thing!
d

mojo · 03-03-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLEU BOY BARBER

Now on a lighter note...

If you have Cingular the once AT&T you can call them and have them look into the bill and get it lowered.. You may have to be on the phone for 2 hours but I have 2 hours verses $500.00...

I have a 14 year old that pulled this stunt. Yes he was grounded and yes I was mad but we had to get the bill paid regardless so I called the phone company and they deleted and back dated and did all kinds of things because I told them look at my bill .. I never have had a bill this high ever and if you are unable to help me this time I may have to find other services and they helped me and we have NEVER had this problem again.

Hope this helps!
Been there done that and have a tshirt
ARGGHHH
pm me and let me know how it goes ...

My 14 yr old son did something similiar. Racked up a huge bill. (We are all covered under family plan under my moms service). It is at/t. She called and somehow got them to reduce the charges drastically and she has it so he cant text or use the internet in any way.

tnpowell · 03-03-2008, 08:30 PM

I had the same problem with my daughter. She ran the cell phone bill up to about $500. I took the phone from her and made her pay for the phone bill little by little. I did give her a Trac-Phone for emergencies, and quess what she ran those minutes out. So know she is without a phone. She had one that she got with her own money. When she realized how much it cost her every pay check she got. It got tired real fast and the cell phone was not as much of an necessity as it was when mom was paying the bill. I would say let him learn some responsibility and if he wants it let him pay for it. Cells are very costly.

momof4CA · 03-03-2008, 08:32 PM

I have been there, too! My DD 14 spent $100 one month on texting and an accidental $350 the next month, by having the AIM (IM) set up. I was so mad at her! At the time we were looking at getting new phones and adding unlimited text. Needless to say, we did not get new phone or unlimited texting. We didn't think it sent the right message!

You have gotten great advice today!! I love the idea of having the kids do housework to pay their bill...since they are to young for a job. I am going to talk to my DH about this.

PS- This thread made a great dinner discussion this evening.

twalla · 03-03-2008, 08:36 PM

This is why my nieces have Metro PCS. Unlimited Text, Minutes etc for only 35 per month. Its a limited area around DFW and up my way.

and I should be honest.. its not a teen thing, I went WAY over my texts a few months back,,,, its easier to text sometimes then picking up the phone.

03-03-2008, 02:53 PM	#31
Shelby&Seymour "& Seeger, too" Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,169	You are doing the right thing......... How about a new answering message that says: "This is NOT Masons phone..... due to inappropriate phone abuse, I am no longer being used by Mason. Don't bother calling or texting him. Thank-you and have a nice day". __________________ Happy Fall Y'all! 🎃

03-03-2008, 03:20 PM	#33
adorame YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,312 Blog Entries: 1	Thanks for all the suggestions on the texting. Right now we have it blocked to teach him a lesson. Maybe in the far future We will get them unlimited texting but for now it is Zero! It is on their Grandparents plan, not ours. They have one phone for each family( 3) so that the grandkids have it for sports or when they go places and need to get a hold of someone. They have had this phone for almost 2 years and this is the first time they have gone over on it. The 4 boy's share the phone and we had to get an atomized bill online to show him the #'s going in and out, he thought he was only charged for the ones he made not received. They were all his friends numbers too, not the other boy's. Also he was texting after his bed time like were talking 1 am after I am in bed! His grandpa just had the block put on because my 10 year old niece went over her minutes too so they have a BIG bill this month to pay. We have alway's paid the 20 something a month bill using allowance money from each of the boy's. Mason did bring home a work release form from school today so at least he knows that we are not letting this go by with just grounding his little butt! __________________ Brandy and her love bugs Jeter Axl Yumi Yasha

03-03-2008, 07:42 PM	#39
For My Coby Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,139	Happened to us too. I was mad too! The trouble is that texting is how everyone communicates now. I didn't want to turn it off, because that's the easiest way for me to reach them and for them to reach me. They'll answer a text long before they'll answer the phone or check their voice mail ("watching a movie.. can't answer"). But we did talk about the "Hey whazup?".... "Nuttin.Whazup w/u?"..... "Nuttin." nonsense texts that kids trade back and forth. Those weren't acceptable when on a plan. But I like the texting as the quickest and easiest way to communicate (EXCEPT WHEN DRIVING). So I drove the "lesson" home and then we got unlimited texting. __________________ Diane, and my boys ..... Coby and Reggie !! Striving to be a YTPP - a YT Positive Poster! In Memory of My Beautiful Mother 7/22/28-8/27/08

03-03-2008, 08:16 PM	#41
TootiesMom and Hopeys Mom Too Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 4,109	yep, me too.... my daughter did the same to me, I removed text from her phone for a month, now both daughters pay their own text for unlimited every month... I dont think at all that it is too much to ask of them.... I pay their basic because they both BETTER answer if I call them... I like text because my daughter can reach me even when she is at school..... You are doing the right thing! d __________________ Donna's little herd.... Tooties Dogster http://www.dogster.com/?271687 Hopeys Dogster http://www.dogster.com/?448723 and Tinker, TBone(RIP) Laci .. OH, and Me-Kitty(RIP)

03-03-2008, 08:36 PM	#45
twalla I ♥ my Furheathens Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: VAN ALSTYNE Posts: 8,226	This is why my nieces have Metro PCS. Unlimited Text, Minutes etc for only 35 per month. Its a limited area around DFW and up my way. and I should be honest.. its not a teen thing, I went WAY over my texts a few months back,,,, its easier to text sometimes then picking up the phone. __________________ Twalla & The Furheathens

03-03-2008, 02:56 PM	#32
Jody Renfroe No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,375	Prepaid is the way to go with kids IMO!

03-03-2008, 04:00 PM	#37
Marcellacml Cosmo, Minnie, and Lillian Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York Posts: 3,107	Did you know you can block the phone from sending and receiving txt messages? I know cingular does that, maybe your company does too.

03-03-2008, 07:27 PM	#38
011011 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 1,432	My boys pay their own cell phone they do not pay it they do not have a phone.They have been very good about paying for their phones I cannot complian.I would not pay it if it becomes a habit and let it get shut off, when he has no phone he will think twice and get a job to pay for it.

03-03-2008, 08:05 PM	#40
TurtleDove Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,510	No, you aren't being harsh at all. I'd be SO mad too! This reminded me of the time when my boyfriend and I were 16, and he spent the whole summer visiting his grandparents. He would call me everyday, and we'd talk for HOURS ... he easily went over the minutes in his plan. When the phone bill came back, it was ABOUT $1000. His parents went through the roof and made him get an after school job. He's given his parents back that amount though, plus more, 6 years later. Took awhile, but it's paid Have you thought of getting him a pre-paid phone instead? That way, he'll have a phone in case of emergencies, and there's no way he'll go over minutes/usage.

03-03-2008, 08:30 PM	#43
tnpowell BANNED for Not Sending a Gift Exchange Gift Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dixon, Mo Posts: 340	I had the same problem with my daughter. She ran the cell phone bill up to about $500. I took the phone from her and made her pay for the phone bill little by little. I did give her a Trac-Phone for emergencies, and quess what she ran those minutes out. So know she is without a phone. She had one that she got with her own money. When she realized how much it cost her every pay check she got. It got tired real fast and the cell phone was not as much of an necessity as it was when mom was paying the bill. I would say let him learn some responsibility and if he wants it let him pay for it. Cells are very costly.

03-03-2008, 08:32 PM	#44
momof4CA YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bay area, CA Posts: 345	I have been there, too! My DD 14 spent $100 one month on texting and an accidental $350 the next month, by having the AIM (IM) set up. I was so mad at her! At the time we were looking at getting new phones and adding unlimited text. Needless to say, we did not get new phone or unlimited texting. We didn't think it sent the right message! You have gotten great advice today!! I love the idea of having the kids do housework to pay their bill...since they are to young for a job. I am going to talk to my DH about this. PS- This thread made a great dinner discussion this evening.