by *Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D.
Member since:
January 16, 2007

My US Cellular Phone Bill

January 22, 2008 08:00 PM EST
views: 208 | comments: 54

I looked at my cell phone bill today and it was $567.00. I thought surely this is some mistake. No! It was for real. My youngest daughter ran up a bill by going over our minutes by more than 700 minutes. I didn't even know there were that many minutes in a day.

I called US Cellular and they as a courtesy took it down to $324.00. I shut off my little one's phone.
Lesson learned: If they have teen in their age, don't trust them with a cell phone. OUCH!

Punishment: She has to work off the money doing household chores, I disconnected her cell phone, and she's grounded for a month except for church.

These punishments may not seem that bad but to a 13 year old they are akin to torture.

Thanks for the help, US Cellular. 
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Comments: 54

Tiffany G. Jan 22, 2008, 8:03pm EST
WOW.. Yeah my kids will not be getting a phone until they are much older or are in desperate need.. I hope she has learned from this! It kinda sucks in a way cause she probably did not really mean to do it but did.. Im not sure but its sad but I am glad they knocked down the bill a bit for you! Thats awesome!
flit . Jan 22, 2008, 8:05pm EST
ouch! that would hurt
Jessie B. Jan 22, 2008, 8:05pm EST
Wow. That was nice of them to knock the bill down.
My punishment is not providing a cell phone to my daughter in the first place. She's going to be 12 soon. We've been telling her for 2 years now that she's not getting a cell phone until she's 16 AND has a nothing lower than a C+ in her classes AND a part time job to pay her own bill.

I don't get giving kids cell phones. I do understand some instances, but as a rule, 5 out of 10 kids in the 5th grade and 8 out of 10 in the 6th grade have their own phones.

Parents like to think it's a way of making them more responsible, and knowing where they are.

In reality, it's a way for parents to give their kids freedom they probably are not ready for, and a way to run up the bills.

Point her to the land line, and only hand her a cell if it's an emergancy- if she's walking home from school, she has the phone. If she's going to be home alone AND has no access to a landline, give her the phone.

Teach her that she is only to use it to call you, or another adult if absolutely neccessary. Don't give her free reign.
J. P. Jan 22, 2008, 8:05pm EST
Ouchie, I hope she'll repent soon :^)
Toni V. Jan 22, 2008, 8:06pm EST
Oh wow! That does hurt. If my daughter had done that she also would have been made to pay the money back in the form of a lot of chores. I'm glad that the cell phone company took some of the charges off for you.
Samantha H. Jan 22, 2008, 8:08pm EST
ouch.
Chuck M. Jan 22, 2008, 8:11pm EST
Whoa!
*Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D. Jan 22, 2008, 8:12pm EST
She is in tears. The fault is mine for giving her the phone. I had many rules to go with the phone and put all kinds of blocks on it, but . . .
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Bob B. Jan 22, 2008, 8:12pm EST
Oh, no! That's a shame, Carol. I hope she's learned.
Debby O. Jan 22, 2008, 8:12pm EST
Oh my! OUCH!
*Holly *. Jan 22, 2008, 8:15pm EST
I bet that does bite the pocket!
Then again there will be no cells phones at 13!
Looks like she will be doing lots of chores for that one!
Danielle P. Jan 22, 2008, 8:18pm EST
My daughter ran our bill up to $1200.00. I about died. THere were 10,000 text messages in one month. I didn't have texting. Needless to say 3 strikes and she was out. She is driving now and she bought her own pay as you go cell phone. LOL
juley g. Jan 22, 2008, 8:19pm EST
Wow! That is a lot of minutes!
Amanda T. Jan 22, 2008, 8:19pm EST
Yikes! My aunt just got a cell phone bill for over $500 also and it was because her daughter went over the minutes also.
Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. Jan 22, 2008, 8:23pm EST
Carol,

I almost had the same thing happen to me. My daughter's most prized possession is her cell phone, and she could easily consume over 1,000 minutes a month, if allowed. I capped her usage at 500 minutes a month, and set it up with the cell company to stop service (except 911 calls) when she goes over that amount. Now she has to budget her usage each month...especially as she nears the end of her billing cycle.
CyberGwen ! Jan 22, 2008, 8:27pm EST
Ohhhh, have we been there! In our case it was the 19YO and text messaging. How in the heck they can text so much, I will never know! We ended up ponying up for unlimited texting at an added $20 a month.

That is nice that they kicked your bill down some:)
~~ Sarina ~~ Jan 22, 2008, 8:37pm EST
I am soooo glad that my kids were born in a time when cell phones weren't so readily available. They have one now and pay as they go.
Marie L. Jan 22, 2008, 8:38pm EST
Ouch, that would make me so very unhappy! I can only imagine what it will be when my kids are old enough to have whatever their generation will be using -- sigh. But if they think I'm mean about getting an outrageous bill just wait till they deal with their father -- evil grin.
Kay M. Jan 22, 2008, 8:39pm EST
Oh my! My son was always very responsible with the cell phone but when my daughter was a teen we would have never trusted. If she could get hold of a phone she could not stop talking. A friend of hers even bought her a Tshirt that said "Help, I'm on the phone and I can't shut up".
Christopher B. Jan 22, 2008, 8:42pm EST
Wow. That's a lot of cell phone use. Although to be honest if you divide that up by a 30 day month that is only about 23 minutes extra per day. But unless you are non stop talking that's a lot of extra tme per day.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jan 22, 2008, 8:47pm EST
This is so sad, for both of you. I know one of grand daughters, age nine, has a cell phone and I can only ask, WHY? That a hard lesson learned. I'm so glad to hear the phone company cut you a break.
Elizabeth Madrigal Jan 22, 2008, 8:56pm EST
A lot of parents are going to prepaid cells for their teens for this reason and telling them that the phone is for emergencies only. That will cut the bill down from $500 to $400. :)

At least it wasn't a 900#-porn site. See how lucky you are?
Felicia R. Jan 22, 2008, 8:58pm EST
You are very lucky thety cut your bill almost in half.. That rocks .. Stinks that she did it... Sorry to hear about that.

I am 27 years old and do not own a cell phone for the reason of the bill...
Alison H. Jan 22, 2008, 9:02pm EST
Whoa. We have a family plan. One of our kids ran up $100 on text messaging, and another one ran up $40. I thought that was bad!! They don't TM any more. I may give up my phone when our plan expires, and I think the kids should pay for their own.
Alison H. Jan 22, 2008, 9:04pm EST
I have two teens and a 21-year-old in college. The cell phones are very handy for keeping track of the kids at their events and in and out of town. I think the cost is ridiculous, however.
Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Jan 22, 2008, 9:16pm EST
I wouldn't get one until my daughter had a job and paid for it herself. I do think I must have put the fear of MOM in her, though, because she was VERY VERY VERY VERY careful not to ever go over her minutes. My older daughter couldn't be trusted with the *landline* much less a cell phone. Nope. Not at all. :\
Angel W. Jan 22, 2008, 9:17pm EST
Some of the companies now have ways that you can limit the amount of minutes that they are allowed... also who they can call or receive calls from... There are also $15 and month unlimited texting.... or you can give them a phone that only calls you and that only accepts calls from you.... it is a great relief to be able to track where they are by their cell phone on your computer and to always be able to reach them.... They don't like it, but such is life....

Angel
Lyn Owen Jan 22, 2008, 9:19pm EST
I would like my grandaughter to have one simply because the pay phone at the school has been removed and the office attendants won't let the kids use any of the office phones if their plans change. I have driven up there to fetch her in foul weather, as per plan, and have found she needs to complete some project or other. I am left cooling my heels. I think that the pay phones are not profitable to the phone companies anymore so they pull them out. I am sure other parents have the same problem. I have questioned school policy but they are not cooperative in the least.
They are considering a policy that would ban cell phones from the school as well. Argh.
Debby C. Jan 22, 2008, 9:20pm EST
You Rock! Finally a parent who actually teaches children and holds them responsible!
Jennifer N. Jan 22, 2008, 9:27pm EST
Wow you are lucky they reduced it a bit. Still it's a lesson learned for you AND her.
Mary M. Jan 22, 2008, 9:37pm EST
Sounds like you're right on target! You and your daughter are learning some important lessons!
Chasity S. Jan 22, 2008, 9:46pm EST
Wow, I'm glad the phone company took some off for you!!
Larry H. Jan 22, 2008, 9:50pm EST
I don't know why there is a need for text messageing anyway. Just another way for the phone company to make money.... I hope you locked up the phone for awhile.
JoAnn C. Jan 22, 2008, 9:50pm EST
yikes! for awhile all I had was a cell phone and I only went over in minutes one month and that was only $30.
Amber D. Jan 22, 2008, 10:32pm EST
wow thats crazy
debra g. Jan 23, 2008, 12:03am EST
Well I guess I am being bad here but why does a 13 year old need a cell phone?If you don't have a landline ok but the cell phone should not be the only phone that she would use.If you want to give them one to call you if they need you get the phone that only calls mom,dad,and maybe grand mom.it also calls police dept.just in case.
Maybe I'm just out of the way life is nowdays but a cell phone bill that high I would have broke it in half.
Andrea "slackermom" R. Jan 23, 2008, 12:27am EST
My sister just got a whopper of a bill too. Over a thousand text messages, all during school hours.

I don't have a problem yet. My daughter has a cell phone but we end up with hundreds of rollover minutes every month and never come close to using all of them. It helps if everyone you call is on the same network.
Trish A. Jan 23, 2008, 12:39am EST
Our daughters had cell phones at a young age because of my health issues. Our doctor strongly suggested it. It was a great responsibility for them to have to revive when I quit breathing and he (the doctor) wanted them to have a phone they could get help with at any time they needed it. Only once did they go over, even slightly and they felt so bad because they knew how tight our budget was they offered to pay. We took 1/2 of the extra charge because they insisted. We were lucky I guess. They had to grow up fast and got a perk because of it.
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Jan 23, 2008, 1:26am EST
My kids got a pay as you go phone from me. I told them I would buy so much on cards and they had to buy the rest each month. Taught them the value of money.
Emma L. Jan 23, 2008, 4:22am EST
My mom changed our plan and we ended up w/ an 800.00 dollar bill!!! They didn't explain the plan and ended up reducing it to 100.00- it just to a lot of yelling...have to be careful!
Abby N. Jan 23, 2008, 4:28am EST
Ouch! That is alot of money, even with the phone company giving you a break.
Rita j. Jan 23, 2008, 10:43am EST
My nephew ran up the cell phone bill as well over 500 in a month texting and chatting away
Michelle W. Jan 23, 2008, 12:04pm EST
Better yet, since she has teen in her age (I love how you put this! LOL), make her get a part-time job, babysitting, mowing yards, picking up trash for neighbors, etc. to help pay the phone bill. Then, once it is paid off, if she insists on having another cell phone, make her work and save and buy a prepaid phone that has those cards she has to buy. That will help her to realize just how much time she spends on the phone and how much it is going to cost her since she will have to buy the cards!
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Jan 23, 2008, 6:04pm EST
that is why you get alltell and let them pic friends to be in their circle, kids have no concept of time when they are on a phone at that age.
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Jan 23, 2008, 6:05pm EST
mine was 19 she pulled that stunt
necee t. Jan 24, 2008, 12:11am EST
oh dear... nice of the company to give you a break.... yikes....

btw,,,thanks for the invite to be something in la la land... i just cannot
not right now.... but i enjoy reading all the fun stories about it...
Blessings to all..... good nite....
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Susan E. Jan 24, 2008, 7:45pm EST
My oldest daughter (14) is so afraid of losing her cell phone (previous, loving threats) that she has never came close to her minutes or her text messages. She is super cautious. Hope the other 3 will be as well....yeah right!
queen.susan . Jan 24, 2008, 10:59pm EST
On my!!!
If I saw a bill that high
it would probably be the last
thing I ever saw because I'd
have a heart attack for sure!
Sure glad they at least reduced
the amount due by that much.
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