cell phone problems again

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
cell phone problems again
14
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 3:48pm

I just looked at the cell phone bill for this month, which I pay online, and it was really high. Last month my DH charges an extra $30 by calling 411 so I thought he was up to that again. But it turns out that my DSD charged an extra $80 for text messaging. I didn't even know she had texting because he had cancelled it on her phone a while ago.

This really burns me up for 2 reasons. Back at Christmas time my DD's present was a new camera phone. She had been asking me for so long to add texting. Since the phone bill is in DH's name, he thinks he is in charge of the phone when in reality, we pay it from our joint acct., so I don't know why he feels he has to give permission. Anyway, when we were getting the phone, I asked him if DD could have texting, which is only $5 a month for 200 texts and she said she would pay for it, so I don't know what the big deal was. She is 18 and has always been very responsible w/ the phone, never going over her minutes. He finally said yes and that we would even pay for it. Since then, she has never gone over 200 texts, even though there is no way for her to check the number, since he will not allow her to look at the bill online, which is the only way to check it (I don't know what the big secret is there either.)

So apparently somehow DSD (17) must have the same deal all of a sudden, although he didn't tell me, but this month she used 900! texts because the 1st 200 are free. I see she is even doing this during school hours. She has a history of not being responsible w/ her phone. A couple of years ago, it costs us hundreds of $$$ extra for her talking before the free time which starts at 9:00. I will tell DH and be anxious to see what he does about this. If it was up to me, I would def. make her pay for it since she has a job. She never had to pay for the overcharges before. This same girl just caused $900 in damage to DH's car, which she claimed she didn't know how this happened. She was sleeping over a friend's house and she claims she came out and the tires were flat. Considering that the tail pipe was also broken (which is why is was so expensive), it seems more like she hit a pothole very hard. Even though DH was very suspicious, he didn't really pursue it, so we got the shaft.

I guess I am really burned up because every time I do anything for my DD, he will say "how much did that cost?" Not that he tells me to take it back, but I feel like I have to justify every purchase. If he buys clothes or something for his DD, I never ask how much it costs.

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Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Sat, 06-16-2007 - 10:46am
If she has 200 free texts and texted 900 you should make her pay for the difference and take her phone until she pays up!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Mon, 06-18-2007 - 2:11pm
I hate having to be the bearer of bad news to my DH since he will either over-react or do nothing. But since this affects me in the wallet, I had to tell him. He did say that DSD would have to pay, so I'll see if we actually see the money. I had a disturbing thought that since I was looking at the bill that's due on the 1st of the month, it doesn't cover the current bill, so there could be even more charges.
Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-18-2007 - 6:13pm
You could get a plan which will allow more text messages per billing period, but I would make her pay the difference.
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Mon, 06-18-2007 - 11:39pm

Something you might want to look into is if you can have that option taken off of her cell phone.

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 7:17am

This is why I like pay as you go phones. They can't rack up extras because then their phone is useless unless THEY add more minutes.

Cell phone use in our home is for emergency only and for checking in when out on his own. Not for long conversations etc.. Our average cost for cell phone use (for three phones) is $25 per month total (not each phone).

stacy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 3:31pm
The surprising thing is that we had taken TM off both girls' phones when we got them just because we didn't want the extra expense. Then finally after my DD requested it and said she would pay for it, we added it onto her phone and DH said we would pay as part of her Christmas present. I wasn't aware that he had added it to DSD's phone so I don't know if he did or if she did it herself.
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 5:11pm

I know with our cell phone company, you have to have the account holders social security number to get on.

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 6:07pm

Our cell company is the same way, only the account holder can make changes.

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 6:29pm

Wow, 4 phones under $100????

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 7:47pm

Our town is 3500 people, and the biggest town for about 30 miles in any direction.

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