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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Mobile Phone advice also please

50 replies

millietwoshoes · 18/05/2013 20:34

Another question - I am looking at getting her a mobile phone (first one) any advice out there? Do I hold off on the iPhone/blackberry until she has proved that she can look after it? Any advice on pay-as-you-go or contract from people that have already gone through this.
Thank you

OP posts:

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scaevola · 18/05/2013 20:41

We got cheap PAYG mobiles: on same network as mine, on a deal which meant they can call within network free (subject to minimum monthly top up). It's reassuring as I know they can always ring me even if credit has run out.

When Ds1 started year 7, most of the cohort had basic phones and only a few has smart ones. Ds2's year seems to be the other way round.

lljkk · 18/05/2013 20:43

Vodaphone do the type of deal Scaevola is talking about.
Giffgaff is best if they text like crazy, good value for calls, too.
But check reception, big issue around here.
I won't pay for mine to have anything but very small folders I buy off Ebay 2nd hand.

WorrySighWorrySigh · 18/05/2013 23:04

I have slowly been transferring the whole family onto contract with Tesco. We now have 5 phones with between 250 and 500 minutes per month, 5000 texts and around 500mb of download (they are all internet enabled) each. All phones are capped so they cant go over the limits.

In total for all 5 I pay £62.50/month

Bunbaker · 18/05/2013 23:09

PAYG is a bad idea unless you want to send your daughter to social Siberia. Get a cheap contract that allows plenty of text messaging as they text each other like crazy at that age.

BackforGood · 18/05/2013 23:09

Both my older two had, and my dd who moves to secondary in Sept will have, cheapy PAYG while they are learning to look after it / use it sensibly. Up to them when they think it's worth paying out for a fancier one or a contract - their money, their choice. Of course, they'd need to be earning to afford it....

BackforGood · 18/05/2013 23:10

Oh, none of my chilren go to school in social siberia

WorrySighWorrySigh · 18/05/2013 23:14

We moved off PAYG as found the constant teenage texting was burning through the credit.

SoupDragon · 18/05/2013 23:16

DSs both have PAYG phones. DS2 (12) is currently using an old phone which he has to use for a year before he gets an iphone. Which, coincidentally, should be the same time my iphone is due an upgrade :)

DS1 (14) is using the cheapest foulest phone O2 had to offer (£8) after he lost his iphone (again, an old one of mine).

They are not in social Siberia, whatever that is.

SoupDragon · 18/05/2013 23:16

I will top their phones up a set amount each month and no more.

Picturesinthefirelight · 18/05/2013 23:17

Dd will be on a contract but with a basic phone. The only reason she has a contract is that my dads company had an employee leave and there was 18 months left on the contract on his phone which couldn't be cancelled.

When it expires she will be on PAYG as I'm not risking her being able to run up a huge bill I can't afford.

Bunbaker · 18/05/2013 23:18

"We moved off PAYG as found the constant teenage texting was burning through the credit."

Same here. During the first month on DD's contract phone she sent 800 texts! Maybe boys don't "chat" by text he way girls do.

MrsShrek3 · 18/05/2013 23:21

ds1 has had a galaxy mini since y6. very basic contract added on to my account. It lives in his inside blazer pocket on silent.

Phones are like children of the seventies, to be not seen and not heard

BackforGood · 18/05/2013 23:26

Well, if they haven't got credt, then they can't!!

As it happens, my ds has his phone surgically attached to his hand (pays for own contract) and my dd last put £10 on her phone in the Autumn. In the evening they message on FB, and in the day they talk to each other, you know, in real life !!!

Theas18 · 18/05/2013 23:27

hilarious " social Siberia" sorry but I value my credit rating rather more ....

mine have sim only pay monthly deals with unlimited texts. no social Siberia but just 5 / month due to rise to 7'50

Bunbaker · 18/05/2013 23:28

DD texts because she isn't allowed Facebook as she isn't 13 yet. And, yes she talks to her friends in real life at school.

Bunbaker · 18/05/2013 23:29

But you admit that your children have unlimited texts on a contract.

WorrySighWorrySigh · 18/05/2013 23:29

Bunbaker - DS(14) has now got a girlfriend and has suddenly discovered texting!

Picturesinthefirelight · 18/05/2013 23:31

Dd does not have unlimited texts. The current contract works out at around 50 texts per month. She is in huge trouble if she goes over it.

ChippyMinton · 18/05/2013 23:33

millietwoshoes and everyone else is welcome to join us on the PFB off to secondary thread where we are getting lots of great advice

HKTekGuy · 19/05/2013 00:28

To all the parents complaining about texting I have one thing to say .. whatsapp.

Its free for the the first year. Thereafter its 69p per year. You can send as many texts, pictures and videos as you like.

SoupDragon · 19/05/2013 08:59

Well, if they haven't got credt, then they can't!!

This.

I am in full control of how much the phone bill will be. No nasty surprises.

SoupDragon · 19/05/2013 08:59

Whatsapp is no good unless they have a smartphone.

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WorrySighWorrySigh · 19/05/2013 09:15

Capped contracts are the way to go. We have had ours for a few months now and never had a problem.

circular · 19/05/2013 09:29

Found the Tesco sim only contract deal works well, buying phones separately.

Dd1 (15) has 500 mins, unlimited texts and 1gb data for £10 a month.
Added DD2 (10) with 250 mins, unlimited texts for £7.50 a month
Added DH, same as DD2.
My phone locked into O2, but will consider when replacing, my usage would be same as DD1.
So currently £25 for the three of them, would be £35 for the four of us.

As more than one family member on same account each get an 'extra' - either 150 mins, 250mb data or 500 Tesco mins IIRC.

So DD1 and DH have 150 extra mins, DD2 has the data (not a smartphone, but can access Internet)

Also have DD2s 'capped' so she cannot go over the allowances, which also prevents premium rate numbers, calling abroad, picture messages and anything else not included.

All on a rolling month, so can get out quickly if better deal around or if they were to abuse it.

Casey · 19/05/2013 09:35

I think there is a boy/girl divide to some extent. My boys are 14 and 15 and just have cheap PAYG mobiles, which they mainly use just for phoning us for day's taxi service!

For chatting with mates they use their laptops: Skype, msn, twitter, Facebook; all of which are free.

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