Cell phone charges - I am shocked!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
December 20, 2007 12:38pm CST
I am not a cell phone person. I just think it is silly have a cell to your ear 24/7. But that is just me. I read on Yahoo news that there has been a decrease in land lines because of cell phones. And with the fiber optics, you don't need a landline anymore for internet connection, so basically I can see the reson not to have one if you havea cell, but then look at the costs. Today, when my daughter picked me up to bring me home, she was on her cell...which she is all the time. She didn't say a word to me the entire time as she was on with her provider complaining about charges that shouldn't have been. I could hear what they were saying, and something about charges for sending images... I heard them say "after we take that off, your balance is $406.92". I thought - Holy gucamole!!! $400 for cell phone bill! Does she really need to be that chatty and accessible and all that? Does she have that much important things to say, does she reallyhave to spend that much time on a phone!!! I mean come on, you have spent $400 and what do you have to show for it? A sore ear and now a billing problem to deal with! $400 is a good chunk of money - its a really nice car payment - addition to savings account, $400 times 12 months is a pretty good savings, a great vacation next year, and the list goes on! She wasn't at all surprised at the amoutn being that high persay - it was just that she seemed to be charged for some images that she sent/received and they over charged her. I guess to each his own, but I can think of a ton more things to spend $400 on that to be able to talk while I drive, or in the store or anywhere for that matter!
1 person likes this
6 responses
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Wow, that is outrageous!!! That is why my cell phone is a prepaid one and is for emergency's only. I buy $25 worth of minutes every 3 months and it's got to last me. If I run out then I am out of luck until the 3 months is up. Doing it this way keeps me from having the urge to use my cell phone. Plus all my friends and family know to try the house phone first. Most of the time I am at home anyways, but it is nice to have the cell just in case I break down while I am not at home. When I was younger I use to have those high outrageous phone bills. After awhile I got rid of it because it became unaffordable. So when I finally decided to get another one, I went with the prepaid so I didn't have to worry about the high bills anymore. Sometimes people have to learn the hard way.
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Yes, I do think so many people have become extremely dependent on cell phones. My stepson's mom is the same way as your daughter. I swear anytime I see her she has that darn phone glued to her ear. And then she wonder's why her son doesn't get as good of grades when he is over at her house as when he is at ours. Gee I wonder???? Shot, she even went and got her son (my stepson) his own cell phone. Like a 11 year old really needs a cell phone. I know my own children will not get them until they are old enough to get a job and pay for the cell phone themselves. I know what you mean about 30 years ago. Even though I was just born then, people got by just fine without them. Things sure have changed and I don't think they have changed for the better.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Pre paid works. Good way to control a bill! I just think people are to dependent on cells for no reason. I mean, hno one needs to be THT accessible! How'd we ever raise our kids without cell phones!!!
1 person likes this
@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
28 Apr 08
We have only cell phones. Where we live everything is long distance that counts.. ie.. doctors and such. Our landline was 80- 100 a month and our cell is 135 with unlimited internet access. Plus we have two phones and my husband and I are reachable always.. hmm.. somedays that isnt so good lol. For us it is about the same cost with more conveinience.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
28 Apr 08
IN your case, that is your necessity. LIke landlines are to others. LIke you said, same cost, more convenient. That is acceptable. That is the point of a cell phone! Good thing going for you guys!
@cyfernet (2383)
• United States
20 Dec 07
I think your daughter was not aware of the charges for sending images/data. that's the downside of mobiles that we sometimes won't be aware of the service charges. it's the operators fault for not informing the people when they download content. now all u can do is ask them to not charge ur daughter for the mistake and maybe tell them to give the rates for downloading/uploading on their website
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
21 Dec 07
Oh, no. She knew! I just think she is so addicted to her cell phone and all, that she went overboard and didn't even realize it! She kept saying, yes I know that and comments like that. Very expensive lesson learned!
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
21 Dec 07
I had a similar problem when my youngest was texting her buddies and I had like a $137 and change bill a few months back. I went off, and since then, she hasn't done it since; She has her own phone now.
@chrislotz (8136)
• Canada
23 Dec 07
Oh wow, $400 is a bit excessive. My cell phone bill is only around $40 a month. I only use my cell phone when neccesary. I especially like it for when I go out somewhere. My hubby or my kids or my mom, whoever, can get ahold of me if need be. Or if I have a problem with the car I can phone for help. That kind of thing. I don't use it just to chat to someone. Then I use my landline.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
23 Dec 07
My daughter put me on her family plan for $10 a month and we share the anytime free minuts nad then free on weekends. I never use the anytime minutes unless emergency and i have 100/100 in/out text message free. She wont' call me, she just texts me. But I think she is just adicted. I can't imagen who all she is constantly talking to, I know she has friends, but gesh...she in on all the time texting someone! How do any of them have so much to say - all the time-- every day!!?!??!? She is just adicted!
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
28 Apr 08
My husband and I share minutes on our cell phones and we have never gone over the minutes so we pay $80 a month for are cell phones never more than that is the same every month. We are paying another $40 a month for a landline phone which I am seriously thinking about getting rid of with the price of stuff going up so high that would be one cost we could cut.
Cell phones can be a great thing if you manage your talk time on them right.
