Teen runs up dad's cell bill to nearly $22,000

[disney1990]

http://www.verizon.net/newsroom/por...ewsroom_portal_page__article&_article=2500188

OH MY!!!

 

[Holly]

That's a lot of data.

 

[mom23boys]

Wow, I thought I was bad going over my minutes last month and having to pay an extra $100.

 

[manning]

The kid has a carreer in public life

 

[Carl]

I think all cellphone companies should warn you when the bill is getting excessively high - kind of like some credit cards do when they notice unusual activity.

 

[disney1990]

At least Verizon credited the account. I don't know what other company would have done that.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

A woman I work with has had her son do this to her twice now, but not as much. Hes run up the bill $500-$700 each time, and she has to pay it. She argued with the cell company the second time because she put a block on the phone, and also on the account that SHE AND SHE ALONE could unblock the internet from the phone. He called, and did it 1-2-3. I don't think she should have to pay for the second time, since she did that....
BTW, her son is 23...

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Verizon sent me a text that said I was about to sustain substantial charges due to data downloads. I was really grateful for the warning (and the charges were not anything near what others here have experienced).

As for the 23 year old? Easy fix. Cancel the line.

 

[NotUrsula]

And this folks, is the beauty of the prepaid phone. No chance of getting into this kind of trouble at all, even by accident.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Verizon sent me a text that said I was about to sustain substantial charges due to data downloads. I was really grateful for the warning (and the charges were not anything near what others here have experienced).

As for the 23 year old? Easy fix. Cancel the line.

thats what I keep telling her. However she wont do it. She also sits there all day long (literally ) complaining about how her DS and DH don't do anything around the house. DH quit working a few years ago (DS doesn't work either), and does nothing but sit on the couch all day long - won't cook a meal, wont clean anything, yet complains that the house is always a mess.... blah blah blah. I told her that if SHE doesn't MAKE them do anything, they wont. I think she really enjoys being the marter.

 

[cinderellascastle29]

http://www.verizon.net/newsroom/por...ewsroom_portal_page__article&_article=2500188

OH MY!!!

And to think my dad was mad at me years ago or racking up an extra $42 when data plans weren't available.

 

[Imzadi]

I think all cellphone companies should warn you when the bill is getting excessively high - kind of like some credit cards do when they notice unusual activity.

My credit card company flags my card every time I rent a car. It's a big pain in the butt, but at least they are on top of my charges.

And this folks, is the beauty of the prepaid phone. No chance of getting into this kind of trouble at all, even by accident.

Yes, I LOVE my two Tracfones with different numbers (for work & personal). My mom has one too. I am able to go online now and add minutes to her phone as she needs them.

 

[Chelley00]

I grounded my son for months for racking up $183. I should apologize to him now because it could have been $22,000!

 

[Silent1CB]

Sounds like a huge lack of communication from Dad to son about limits on the phone. OR Dad should have realized kids are going to download stuff & added that to his plan.

Awefully nice of Verizon to eat the bill for what seems like something that went wrong in the household.

And yes, Verizon should be able to tell customers ahead of time that their usage has skyrocketed this week before it turns into a month.

I have a prepaid phone now after years of contracts. Its cheaper for me to have pre-paid.

 

[golfgal]

Or why not just get an unlimited data plan and not worry about it at all??