WWYD-teen cell phone upgrade

**Palooka** · 07-04-2011, 12:55 AM

My DD is 19 now and we carry her on our cell phone plan. This month she can upgrade her phone and needs too, as her phone is old and is a piece of crap. No problem. The problem is that AT&T has you sign a 2 year contract. She has faithfully payed us 20 bucks towards her phone for about a year now. Pretty much just trying to teach her responsibility.

She could up and move out on a whim and of course I would not receive child support no longer. But we would be stuck paying her bill, in good times and in bad.... just assuming she wouldn't help towards it then or whatever the future will bring. Who knows.

So if your child was an adult, would you sign another cell phone contract? Or have them pay their own entire bill on their own, including texting which for sure is important to her, in her name only.

It's a new time in my life with my DD and things are changing. Don't mean to sound like a meanie, just something I've never had to think about before.

TIA

Hope that made sense!

**craftypam** · 07-04-2011, 01:00 AM

I would not ever pay for adult child's cell phone and I also would have it put in their name. What if she were to move out and then lose the phone. It would be your responsibility. I raised 3 sons and they are responsible because when they became adults they paid their own way and I'm very glad I did it that way.

**latierra84** · 07-04-2011, 01:11 AM

At 19, I would say whatever the school/work situation may be.. she should be on her own plan and be responsible for her own monthly bill. It will help her be more independent and force her to make choices in regards to minutes and texting extras according to her own budget.

Does NOT make you a meanie!

**Palooka** · 07-04-2011, 01:16 AM

We pay for insurance monthly so if she did lose her phone, it would be replaced for nothing, I think.

I forgot to add that if she did get a phone in her name (assuming she could, does take a credit score?)...she is looking at about 60 bucks a month or more, compared to 20 bucks paying us on our family plan.

I guess some peeps would think we are 'mean' not having it under our plan anymore while she still lives at home. But at the same time she is at that age where ya never know...so it's getting harder to take those chances. if there were no contract to sign, this would never be a question.

**Lindsey** · 07-04-2011, 05:07 AM

I know the price of the phone goes up, but that's part of life. Have to make choices on needs verses wants. I don't think you're being a meanie, you are preparing her for the real world. Tell her about smartphone or trackphone.

It sucks making your kids do stuff like that and knowing it costs them more. I hate it!

**ladykemma2** · 07-04-2011, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

My DD is 19 now and we carry her on our cell phone plan. This month she can upgrade her phone and needs too, as her phone is old and is a piece of crap. No problem. The problem is that AT&T has you sign a 2 year contract. She has faithfully payed us 20 bucks towards her phone for about a year now. Pretty much just trying to teach her responsibility.

She could up and move out on a whim and of course I would not receive child support no longer. But we would be stuck paying her bill, in good times and in bad.... just assuming she wouldn't help towards it then or whatever the future will bring. Who knows.

So if your child was an adult, would you sign another cell phone contract? Or have them pay their own entire bill on their own, including texting which for sure is important to her, in her name only.

It's a new time in my life with my DD and things are changing. Don't mean to sound like a meanie, just something I've never had to think about before.

TIA

Hope that made sense!

stop. you don't sign a contract, just buy the phone outright ! also she is an adult. stay out of it. honestly i would recommend she get a trackphone.

**ladykemma2** · 07-04-2011, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

We pay for insurance monthly so if she did lose her phone, it would be replaced for nothing, I think.

I forgot to add that if she did get a phone in her name (assuming she could, does take a credit score?)...she is looking at about 60 bucks a month or more, compared to 20 bucks paying us on our family plan.

I guess some peeps would think we are 'mean' not having it under our plan anymore while she still lives at home. But at the same time she is at that age where ya never know...so it's getting harder to take those chances. if there were no contract to sign, this would never be a question.

then pay cash for the phone. no contract. merry christmas.

**Ashley01** · 07-04-2011, 07:42 AM

I'd let her have it in her name, when I graduated highschool I was working full time that summer so I took mine off my parents plan and have had my own since then and I was 17.

**Libby** · 07-04-2011, 08:37 AM

I agree with buying the phone outright and having the phone # and bill put into her name with NO CONTRACT. She's used to paying a monthly bill, a lil bit more for something she likes/wants is motivation for her to work for it, no? (not saying she doesn't now) The other option would be a tracphone as someone else has already suggested OR a carrier that offers a simple voice plan and unltd txt or a 'city' plan if she were to use her phone in a localized area mostly. Maybe this could be a lesson on how to choose need vs want in terms of phone and plan, just saying

And you're not being mean - this is a life lesson, it has to be taught/learned sooner or later. Its good that you're teaching her responsibility.

BTW - I chose to get my own cell at 16 - thx goodness I did ironically - and I was solely responsible for it. Back in the day - the plans cost WAY more then they do now, I was paying close to $75/month for what I needed (not wanted

)

**kitkat0649** · 07-04-2011, 09:10 AM

I would definitely just put her on her own plan. If you do decide to be a softie and keep her on

I would have her give you the cancellation fee up front to hold onto so if something happens and you do need to break contract you're not out any money. But then if she is on your plan you will have to worry about her going over minutes and sending your bill sky high.....

**krbshappy71** · 07-04-2011, 09:35 AM

Hi there, just went through this with my own child/children.

At 18 I allowed my oldest to stay on my plan. Whenever the plan was eligible for an upgrade I would get the new phone and whichever kiddo had the oldest phone they would get my hand-me-down.

When their phone broke without a replacement available they had to purchase that out of their own money after we verified from Verizon that it wasn't a defective phone. Some phones are defective and I don't know about your company but Verizon would replace ours if it was defective, no hassle.

Both of my teens had to purchase refurbished phones at some point with their own money, sometimes they just had to replace their charger or battery, but they knew it was out of their own money. I feel they took better care of their stuff because of this.

Now, my second child is almost 18, and her dad has offered for her and my other daughter to be on his plan, offering them unlimited everything. He did this because he is long-distance and it would enable them to be on the same plan, thus saving him money and giving them data. I said, "go for it!" as I could not afford that sort of plan.

Although they are now on a different company and I no longer have unlimited all the time with them, I still have unlimited nights/weekends/texting and any calls after 9 p.m are free as well, we've had to pay attention to that but for the most part it has not affected our communication.

Take into consideration that if she changes companies she may have to watch her minutes/texting with you so she doesn't go over which can lead to less communication. We had an adjustment period of this as I had immediately dropped my minutes WAY down once he took them off my plan/company. I initially dropped my unlimited texting but quickly realized my teens do love to text me and I didn't want them to withhold texting me chit-chat stuff in fear of charging me money. So I threw it back on unlimited texting. It's worth it for me to have that.

It sounds like you have already been shown that she is responsible. Let her know that if she ups and moves out, misses X number of payments, you will be ending the contract and charging her the amount of a broken contract. But really, if you can help her out with the small cell-phone bill and she is being responsible thus far, don't assume she will screw up.

Sit down with her and talk about the "new contract" which is your new rules now that she is older. What you will and will not pay for, what your expectations are.

Hugs, just one more step into this empty-nesting-world, isn't it?

**frugalfoster** · 07-04-2011, 09:56 AM

Both my grown daughters are on my plan. It's a matter of economics, it saves them $$$. They have always paid their cell phone bill with me, probably because if they didn't, I would come after them much harder than any company. I don't think it matters who they pay...as long as they PAY!! Responsibility for paying bills shouldn't be about who you pay...it's that if you owe someone...you pay them...

**danni** · 07-04-2011, 10:04 AM

My teenagers all got cell phones once they turned 15 on our family plan. They were responsible for any charges on that line and if the phone needed to be replaced they had to pay for it. When the oldest moved out her contract was up so we just cancelled it and she got her own. The second child moved out and continued on our plan until recently. I think it depends on how responsible the child is and you know that best.

**fernykins** · 07-04-2011, 10:43 AM

I feel if she can afford it have her pay her own. A cell phone is not a want this day and age. I did not get one until 3 years ago. My youngest son put me on his plan. It was more for my kids peace of mind. I now have my own plan and in Aug I will be putting my son and his 10yo daughter on it. Even thor he can afford it, He lives with me and is daughter lives with her mother. My son and his wife are paying for her parents cell phone bills. Her mother was surppose to pay her own but refuses. She has made her mother give the phone to her brother which is better so he can be in contact with his father. Some day the father will take over his own. Its a sore subject with me.
Fern

**shoiji** · 07-04-2011, 11:19 AM

Have her pay for her own service now that she is an adult. There are many different types of prepaid plans that do not require any credit checks. There is much to be said about knowing what you can afford and not afford. A lesson that can be difficult to learn, but if you learn it early it just becomes a habit. Has nothing to do with being a meanie.

I think you are doing your daughter a favor by having her pay for her own service. She will be learning valuable lessons for when she lives on her own.