Re: Cell phone plan question

wildcat fan · ‎03-23-2010

Good advice has already been shared. If grandson has an iPhone, chances are there were and will be overages with the data plan (too much surfing the web, posting on Facebook or Twitter, watching YouTube videos, downloading music, etc.). An iPhone can be very costly compared to other phones. I've heard situations where grandparents gave their grandchild a phone only to learn that the parent took that phone for personal use. I hope that doesn't happen in your situation.

Once you set him up on your account, AT&T will let you set up restrictions, and you can monitor his data use online. My son has an iPhone and we have AT&T. When we notice he's getting close to his plan limit at the end of the month, the only way to make sure he doesn't go over is to take his phone or trust that he won't use it for those remaining days until the next bill cycle. You can manually turn off the data on his phone, but he probably knows how to turn it back on. AT&T will not help you with that.

Also, be sure to let AT&T know that he is a minor and that they should not contact him. When my son was in middle school, he used to get calls during the school day from AT&T asking him if he'd like to upgrade his plan!!!! It took several phone calls to their customer service to finally get them to place him on their "do not call" list!

I agree with the others about not having that phone number associated with your account if the old account is delinquent. The Apple website or new phone rep can help you save his contacts. When my son and husband updated their iPhones, they were able to save their contacts online and then access them on the new phones. The phone number may change, but the iTunes account is registered to an email address, so your grandson could still access his old contact phone numbers and previously purchased music.

ETA: Is your grandson's/DIL's current contract with AT&T too?

Tzu4u · ‎04-19-2010

I would purchase a low-end no contract phone for him through Straight Talk at Wal Mart. He cannot go over the data limit on a pay-as-you-go phone.

Please make sure you are not stepping on your DIL's toes on this. Do not go behind her back, it won't work. She could just throw the phone in the garbage. I would do just that if my child ran up a crazy phone bill that I could not pay. The grandson could very well be the reason why she stopped paying the bill.

Abrowneyegirl · ‎03-15-2010

On 1/12/2014 stts said:
On 1/12/2014 Abrowneyegirl said:
On 1/12/2014 stts said:
On 1/12/2014 Abrowneyegirl said:
No, not until the contract is up and paid in full OR she pays what is due and pays to cancel the contract. Until then the number is tied to that account.

This is what I thought but wasn't sure. With an IPhone will his contacts be in a master account through them for easy transfer? ICloud account?

This is an interesting dilemma!?!! The concern is is the account tied to the phone? The issue is security, this can not be easy; as a way to prevent hacking and theft you would not want 'random people' accessing your ICloud account and transferring your data to their phone and essentially this new account is a 'random person'. To access the as him also triggers the fact that he is trying to steal from someone he owes money to.

If you change accounts, lose a phone etc. This is easy and the carry will help you. The fact you are trying to get by on not paying a bill is going to complicate the matter greatly. You are going to have to explain how and why you should have access to something you are not paying that was agreed to by a contract that is now breached.

If this works it will be interesting, it will prove that there is no point in paying a cell phone bill, just keep changing carriers.

Keep us posted.

WE ARE NOT THE ONES THAT DIDN'T PAY THE BILL! We want to get a new phone not associated in any way with the old phone!!!!! I just wanted to know if he could keep old number and not lose contact info from mow defunct phone. I do appreciate responses but please read posts thoroughly before responding. You got it all wrong. We are not trying to screw over anyone, just get the boy a phone he can use!

I NEVER said it was your bill that you were not paying! The point was SOMEONE was responsible for the bill. If it that important for your GS to keep his number than yes you could pay the bill off. That was the point of your question 'how to keep his number'.

I agree with PP, you may want to investagate what happened to create this problem.

If it is imperative for your GS to have a phone go to the store and find out the monthly fees for a pre-paid phone options.

If GS is a child he needs a basic phone.

If he is a company executive he may need a smartphone.

I would give him a monthly allowance to pre-paid his phone and learn to manage his account. This is the only way you are guaranteed to not be on the hook for a huge monthly phone bill due to overages.

evisione · ‎11-17-2011

If the number is an active number you can change carriers at any time..you'll just have to pay the cancellation fee (they'll bill you). If the number is inactive...you're probably SOL. Same with moving his number to your account from an account on the same carrier. (As far as keeping same phone number). Don't really see the big deal at picking up a new number...people do it every day and then just send text or email people on their contacts to notify. It's no biggie!

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

On 1/12/2014 evisione said: If the number is an active number you can change carriers at any time..you'll just have to pay the cancellation fee (they'll bill you). If the number is inactive...you're probably SOL. Same with moving his number to your account from an account on the same carrier. (As far as keeping same phone number). Don't really see the big deal at picking up a new number...people do it every day and then just send text or email people on their contacts to notify. It's no biggie!

If this account is not in your name you can not make changes. I do not know the situation, but I would find a new prepaid company to get your grandson a phone. AT&T generally charges about $95.00 and up for a basic data cellphone plan. The true cost of the plan would be the data use.

stts · ‎03-09-2010

Signed up grandson for new phone with no attachment to DIL's old plan. He was able to get all of his info ported over with no problem. Unlimited text/calls with 2g data. He never went over 2g of data with prior phone and prior phone that DIL has not paid was also unlimited text/calls with 3g data.

We also received a military discount that helped a lot.

I thank all of you for your replies and information. I am just happy this is done.

stts · ‎03-09-2010

On 1/12/2014 Wadzlla said:
I would purchase a low-end no contract phone for him through Straight Talk at Wal Mart. He cannot go over the data limit on a pay-as-you-go phone.

Please make sure you are not stepping on your DIL's toes on this. Do not go behind her back, it won't work. She could just throw the phone in the garbage. I would do just that if my child ran up a crazy phone bill that I could not pay. The grandson could very well be the reason why she stopped paying the bill.

He was not the reason for non payment. Her plan was like the one we opened unlimited text/calls only we opted for only 2g where she had 3g. He never went over 2g being we have wifi and he is very good about not using up data. Like I said before he never went over 2g and had 3 with her plan. She has a history of this behavior. Very irresponsible. Our grandson lives with us and we told her we got him a new phone and plan. He is a good kid and does not abuse any privilege he has. Good student and has never given us an ounce of trouble.