It's not a tab - It's a contract! koodo mobile
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
November 17, 2008 4:47pm CST
I had to get a cell phone for my son. Being the teenager that he is, he kept "forgeting" the time and was coming home later than what we told him. The cell helps us to keep in touch with him and remind him of what time it is.
We looked into many cell phone companies here in Toronto. We usually hate the idea of a plan just because we don't really use the cell phones on a regular basis. Both mine and hubby's are pay as you go. It is true that we do pay a bit more per call, but we pay about $20 a month and it's ok for us. No plan that price would give us what we have with pay as you go. Plus in the months we're not using them, we don't have to pay.
But that's for us, the adults. Now the kids are another story. My daughter has a plan - that she pays herself -. We thought that maybe a plan would be a better idea for my son as well.
We found this new company - apparentely subsidiary of telus - called Koodo mobile.It semed great they have rates that start at very reasonable price and the most important thing was that according to the advertising there are no contracts.Basically they don't have one of the things that annoys me with plans which is if you want to let go of the plan and go with another company before your contract is over you have to pay a penalty that can become quite expensive. I don't like this, so this koodo people got my attention.
I read about it in the website and it seemed great. We would buy the phone - or put it in the tab - and whenever we wanted to "quit" we just had to say so - if the phone was paid up - or pay the remaining of the phone price and that was it. It made sense to me and I went to choose a phone for my son.I would prefer to pay it all at that time, but we were kind of broke and hubby pointed out that the tab might not be a bad idea.
Basically the tab is ... well exactly that. If you don't want to pay for your phone at that time you can put it in the tab. What they do is each month when you pay your phone bill they take 10% towards the price of your phone. I wasn't too sure about wanting it, but it seemed the best option, so we put $50 and had $100 on the tab. My idea was to pay the remaining amount as soon as I could and be done with it. Well, when I asked at the place where I bought the phone, I was told that yes, I could do that. Later on I found out I can't. Once I am on the tab I have to remain on it until the phone is paid. I can't pay it just when I want to . SO basically it is a contract, because no matter what I have to keep with this company for about 3 years - to pay off the tab. Sure if I want to cancel the whole thing I can but I can't pay off the phone exept trough those 10% taken for the tab. If I cancel it I will have to pay for the remaining amount of the cost of the telephone, which I understand, but then I can't get back into my plan( they call them combos ) again.
It's not very different from contracts from other companies. They give you a phone but then if you want to cancel it, you have to pay.
This one, they don't give you a phone ( i can live with that ) but then if you put it on their tab you cannot pay it off except the way they want you to which may take up to 3-4 years anyway. So it's just like a contract Grrrrrrrrr
Just venting LOL
2 people like this
4 responses
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
18 Nov 08
I am not a cell phone fan - not by a long shot - I just don't think people have to be that accessible or available and all. Used for emergencys or something like that okay, but just to chat and yak and all - while you are driving or shopping or waiting for the kids....just doesn't make sense to have a debt/bill for something like that. But...to each his own!
However, you mentioned that you got it for him cause of his lack of knowing what time it was - why not just get him a watch that has an alarm on it - set the alarm before he leaves to when he needs to "start coming home" like 15 minutes before curfew, and when the alarm goes off, he has to start his way home.
I dont' mean to be rude - I just think cell phones are so not necessary - so over used and a bill/debt that people just don't need as they complain about how they can't make ends meet. (not that you were, I understand what you are doing - like I said, I am just not a cell phone fan!)
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
18 Nov 08
Yeah, I know what you are saying - read read and read, then ask more questions! They never tell the whole truth the first time around!
I guess if it is just a phone that is taken on a date or when they go out and specifically left in purse or pocket and not used unless they are called or for them to call for help - guess that would be okay. At least you can control the expense and even teach them how to control the expense! I hope it works well for you guys!
My daughter said she was going to get her daugher (8 yo) a cell. I jumped on her - she is 8, she is always adult supervised (they are divorced and child is ith mom, dad or me) she has a home phone every where she is and never calls anyone - what does she need with a cell phone? And how can you afford it? and What the heck are you going to get her when she turns 16 if you get these things for her now!!!
My daughter told me that she plans to cancel her home for which she never uses as she herself is cell phone addicted and I mean that literally - so she pays $30 a month for the home phone, but can add another line to her family plan, which she has me on too, so for $10 a month as opposed to $30 is at least a savings, but still - hte kid is going to loose it - mark my word - she is at school, back and forth between mommy and daddys house and when mommy works on weekends, I have babysitting duty, so the poor kid is constantly going and often forgets things anyway - plus the cost of the phone. I don't know I just think a cell phone for christmas - whatever happened to the dolls and toys and board games and fun things like the Vac-U-Form and Easy Bake ovens under the tree?!?!?!?!??!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
17 Nov 08
Well, Arka, as I was reading this I kept asking myself what is she getting at here? Where is this going? Finally, at the end, you say just venting. Ahah! If you had put that up at the top maybe we would not have read the whole thing?
Why didn't you just get the kid a TracFone and if he uses up the free minutes, he doesn't get any more until the next month or whatever rolls around? The annual plan ends up costing around $8.25 a month, and if he ends up not being responsible with the phone, it can still be used as an emergency phone. Even though my main phone is fancier and has a more sophisticated plan, I still keep a TracFone around for emergency use just because it is so simple to use and so affordable.
When your son is ready to have a "kewl" phone, he can get a job and buy his own, right?
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
18 Nov 08
I'm sorry I made you read the whole thing hehehe I was going to write venting on the title but I ended up forgetting.On the plus side, you now know something about koodo mobile:)
What is bothering me is not exactly my son, but the fact that I should have known better and research more before I did it. ALso the fact that them saying no contracts is not exactly so. Because if that darn tab is used then it's a contract no matter what they call it - since we have to stick with it for about 3 years ( the amount of time it will take to pay the phone using those 10% on the tab ).
My idea of paying the phone next month and then just stay on the plan for as long as I wanted - or little, depending - was completely wrong and although they talk about it briefly in one of those obscure "more info" links it's not visible at first if you just check the site to see the phones and the plans. I guess it's a lesson, since I do know always to check the small print LOL
Like your new picture :):):)
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
18 Nov 08
Hi there Twin good to see you again I have missed you
This is terrible what they have done I mean why does there always have to be a catch at some Point
These Companies should be forced to give proper Information and explain it properly
Hugs to you
@nadooa247 (1096)
• United States
17 Nov 08
Oh GOD that just rotssss lol! so they say there is no contract but if you do their special little payment plan you are stuck with them till you ride it out =P Talk about lieing by omission lolzz i guess they left that part out for the obvious reason =P
1 person likes this
