Suitable contracts for teenagers?

[speardane]

we've been running PAYG (with unlimited calls to specified = parents numbers)

This works well as a credit control, but is relatively expensive per call, and leaves the poor child disadvantaged compared to their peers (...ear bending...).

There are number of good value SIM only deals out there we've called a couple...

but can't find what we want, which is a fixed amount per month (and when it's spent - no more charges are run up), coupled with a similar "friends and family"

Does anyone know of provider that would do something like that?

(I can't beleive other parents wouldn't want similar, but I guess phone companies make a lot out of the out-of-contract charges...)

[Rob_B]

T-mobile did 'U-fix' but I'm not sure you can still get that, it was pretty poor to be honest, low inclusive mins/texts & you paid a fortune for the handsets.

What about a 1month SIM only deal? If the bill comes in huge then you cancel it & he/she pays the bill & goes back to Pay&Go? Would encourage restraint & you aren't tied into anything.

I've always been wary of giving teenagers contract phones, I worked in the 'biz' for some years & the horror stories are pretty common. Seriously consider it, depending on what sort of spend you're looking at some Pay&Go deals aren't that bad anymore

[oolon]

This works well as a credit control, but is relatively expensive per call, and leaves the poor child disadvantaged compared to their peers (...ear bending...).

I presume they are not paying the bill? because if they are not, you need to explain to them they are not "disadvantaged" you are simply giving them less free time on the phone than some of their peers, and suggest you would be more than happy for them to start being responsible for there own bill. When they start to pay the bill they can decided what is a good deal or not. Also suggest you would be more than happy to switch them to another service so long as it costs half the amount currently spending per month on the phone.

[jim]

Most of them do friends and family stuff, Orange Magic Number is the only one I know about though as my only experience is with Orange.

I'd go for a really cheap contract, say £10 or £15/m - and just warn that anything over and above £12 or £17 will be coming out of their pocket. I was in a similar boat with my contract, although it was £25/m, and once racked up quite a big charge because my introductory 6 month offer of 400 mins per month was cut to 200 mins per month at the end of the period and I didn't adjust my calls accordingly. You'll need to make an allowance of a quid or two though - as I said earlier - because some things just aren't inclusive. Non-geographical numbers or internet access usually get me, for instance when I need to call a company whilst out and about, and can't look them up on saynoto0870.

Definitely go sim-only though - at least then you can cancel the contract if it's proved to be a bad idea.