Paying for cellphone Cricket or AT&T

[jen7233]

Does anyone know if you can pay in person at these stores for a monthly cell plan, or does it absolutely have to be auto draft? We have always done autodraft and I never even deal with a store we do all the transactions online that deal with our phone and phone line.

Anyway, we are having angst with one of the lines on our mobile share plan 25GB (we have 5 lines) with AT&T, with DD age 25 on one of the lines using a lot of the data and getting upset when we put a cap on her to only use 8 GB. DH really doesn't like her on the plan, because we keep having data issues and he doesn't want to adjust our plan for her lack of budgeting data, because we've already had to upgrade our data twice because she uses a lot and the other 4 lines don't. Cricket and AT&T are two of the three cell phone providers that have physical stores in her area. She doesn't live with us nor has internet, and doesn't have a checking or credit card. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be less stressful to just pull her off the plan, put her on an unlimited data plan, and start learning how to make this payment herself and learn about cell phone use by managing her own. I would phase in and help with some payment over the next year while she finishes school, but just thinking maybe this is easier than dealing with the issues of monitoring her data and the angst that occurs after she hits her data cap and my DH turns it off for the rest of the month.

 

[hedg12]

I know you can at Cricket. Not sure about AT&T, but I'd imagine they're the same. They're glad to get your money any way they can...

 

[kymom99]

If she's 25 and giving you problems I'd drop her off your plan. Take it a step farther and let her figure out how to get her own phone and service.

 

[Albort]

Maybe its time she get a credit card or a checking account. She can build credit while shes at it for the future.

Dont you get a discount if you use autopay on cricket? Saves you like $5 a month!

 

[jen7233]

I appreciate the feedback. Yes, unfortunately her bank account was suspended due to overdrafts, or something of that nature. I'm not certain, but it's another issue I've advised her to address. I'm going to see where to go forward from here!

 

[Albort]

I appreciate the feedback. Yes, unfortunately her bank account was suspended due to overdrafts, or something of that nature. I'm not certain, but it's another issue I've advised her to address. I'm going to see where to go forward from here!

something she needs to learn to not do. Turn of her cellphone will probably help make her a better with her finances... :]
open another bank account elsewhere and tell her if she overdrafts, then wont be able to pay for her cellphone, she wont have data to use!

 

[CouponGirl]

Cricket would provide her with unlimited data. No reason for you two have to deal with her going over. If she's having difficulty using a checking acct responsibly this might be a great way for her to become responsible for something she obviously cares about ... Her phone! She can go in and pay each month and if she forgets she will quickly remember when she has no service. And there will be no financial consequences for you or her - just the inconvenience of no service until she pays.

 

[jen7233]

Cricket would provide her with unlimited data. No reason for you two have to deal with her going over. If she's having difficulty using a checking acct responsibly this might be a great way for her to become responsible for something she obviously cares about ... Her phone! She can go in and pay each month and if she forgets she will quickly remember when she has no service. And there will be no financial consequences for you or her - just the inconvenience of no service until she pays.

This is sort of what I'm thinking.

 

[robinb]

I'm wondering if it wouldn't be less stressful to just pull her off the plan, put her on an unlimited data plan, and start learning how to make this payment herself and learn about cell phone use by managing her own. I would phase in and help with some payment over the next year while she finishes school, but just thinking maybe this is easier than dealing with the issues of monitoring her data and the angst that occurs after she hits her data cap and my DH turns it off for the rest of the month.

Cricket would provide her with unlimited data. No reason for you two have to deal with her going over. If she's having difficulty using a checking acct responsibly this might be a great way for her to become responsible for something she obviously cares about ... Her phone! She can go in and pay each month and if she forgets she will quickly remember when she has no service. And there will be no financial consequences for you or her - just the inconvenience of no service until she pays.

This is what I would do. If she's still in school I would arrange an automatic transfer to her new bank account of some portion of the phone bill. Be aware! If her account was closed because of multiple unpaid overdrafts she might have an problem opening up another account.

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