Is there anyway I can stop my teenage son from running my telephone bill up(BT)?

Question

I don't want to pin protect it in case we're out and it's an emergency and BT wanna charge me £3.99 a month for the privelidge!............help!

Answer 1

buy a portable phone then u can just take it with u everywhere.

Answer 2

i think that is your only option really, or asking them to make the line one way, and using the pin.

Answer 3

make him pay for it and if he cant make him work his tail off to pay for it

Answer 4

U could put a small amount of money on a mobile for him to use & only giv him that mobile wen u go out.If he uses it for non emergencies theres not a lot u can do but at least if u only put £5 or £10 on it then it limits the amount he uses it if he decides to use it for non emergencies.U can top up mobiles with a debit card(u hav to register ur debit card with the mobile company to do this,its pin protected),also if u hav the top-up swipe card for that phone(u can hav more than 1 swipe card,u just register swipe cards to that number) for sum1(u dont need to hav the phone with u to put money on),so if he did use all the credit & u werent with him & wanted to put more credit on u would be able to. Hope this helps.The mobile company will help u if u want advice to do any of these.

Answer 5

You can switch to a VOIP phone which has nationwide coverage, at no extra cost. All calls throughout the month is free under a monthly billing plan. You can look around for such services in your area and go ahead from there. That way, you won't have to worry about getting changed for any calls placed by your son.

One service I know is: http://www.GotoLingo.com

Good luck!

Answer 6

Get him a cellphone, and agree to pay half his bill.

This gives him freedom, but also teaches him that decisions have consequences.

It will also give him some valuable experience in responsibility, so that he only has himself to blame if he's out of money.

It's a good lifeskill.

Answer 7

So he's managed to get to teenage without learning financial responsibility.  You've made a rod for your own back.  Make it clear that you expect him to pay for any calls he makes and that you will identify them from the itemised bill, and if he gets into arrears you'll stop feeding him.   Bet you back down before he does.

Answer 8

Tell him if he runs the bill up, your gonna take his iPod, TV, and computer privileges and make him get a job to pay back the bill.

Answer 9

Oh der sorry but been there had that happen when my one daughter was a teen.

She had broken up from school as exams where on at end of month phone bill was £300 and £250 was hers!!!! She had been on all day whilst off some to internet friends as well so we docked her pocket money by half until she paid ever single penny back. It was hard to do as she moaned like h**l but as we said you did the crime you pay the time she never did it again!!!!

We got the bill highlighted every single call she made so she could not wriggle out of it lol

Only having £5 per week instead of £10 back then was a lot to loose served her right as well.

So do that hit them where it hurts at that age the wallet.

Answer 10

why don't you try skype? All you need is a fast internet connection and a head set. Calls are stupidly cheap to land lines and free to other skype users

Answer 11

charge him

Answer 12

personally i would get a package with BT where landline nos are free day and evening and then lock the phone (they give u a pin no to open it) for mobiles, that way u will know exactly what yr bill is each month its the only way. otherwise get him to pay for his calls show him the bill and tell him he has to pay.

Answer 13

mmm....3.99 per month or £300 per quarter....

know what id choose!!

why dont you get a payfone-would help all bills both urs and his

get an itemised phone bill and the next time the bill comes in, give him a list of his charges and take money off him for the coming month

Answer 14

You could change your calling plan to include anytime anywhere calls, I think its around £5 per month. or as suggested get an internet phone  &  free calls.

Go for option 3 Broadband and get a free Hub Phone with free internet calls, free internet security and a few other extras thrown in. unlimited downloads too. works out around £40 month with line rental, but you know no surprises.

Answer 15

yeah tell him to use his own phone if he doesn't have one tell him to start saving !!!

Answer 16

Try getting a pre-paid cell phone, that's probably going to be your best bet because there's no way he can go over on minutes or anything.

If that doesn't work for you, maybe you should tell him to get a job to pay you back for the fees.

Answer 17

£3.99 sounds cheaper than him running the phone bill up, and i'm sure he can still make emergency calls from it when pin coded.

Answer 18

put a pay phone in his room

Answer 19

Ask him not too.

Get him a laptop with MSN Messager.

Answer 20

yes banned him r lock it

or hide iit

Answer 21

Sit him down and explain to him the effect his actions are having on you (and your butget)!

If he is old enough to make such calls surely he is old enough to understand this!!

Answer 22

I had a pin protect type of product on my bt phone, all right I had to pay for it but it does save you money. What about a pay as you go mobile for him, once he has used his credit he doesn't get any more till the following top up day? Say £10 a month? And he only allowed to make out going calls from his mobile not the house phone.

Answer 23

I was one of 3 kids growing up and my mum put a pay phone in our house. If you need to dial the emergency services you dont have to pay, Also taught us the value of money too!

Answer 24

Unplug the phone cable when you go out & give him a cellphone with enough "emergency" credit on to contact you.

♥ Kimmiii

Answer 25

u can go for free 24/7 calls at www.telecomplus.org.uk/A10928. they guarantee to be cheaper than BT. They also do gas, elec and internet. Take only 4 services and u get free calls 24/7 and the convinience of one monthly bill. Never BT again