Help with a Dilemma-update in original post

thoughts..advice..appreciated:

When my brother fell ill, his son took his cell phone to use since his was disconnected. Fine, he's not using it right now, we are paying for the service anyway..etc.. My nephew's account with Verizon was canceled due to non-payment. He didn't feel like paying it..long story.

So he decided to get a new phone and he upgraded the plan. I told him he would have to pay for it. He said fine. I decided that I would get another phone for Fred now that he is able to use it and he can call us whenever he wants. The phone at the hospital doesn't permit outgoing calls to 516.

So when my nephew upgraded his phone and the plan at the store, he said he paid the past due bill. He swears he paid it, however the account is past due and I cannot get a new phone for Fred now.

I know the kid is full of it. He got caught in a lie as he has before and won't fess. In the beginning he said that he only uses the phone to talk to us about his father's condition and he shouldn't pay for it. I nixed that. I'm left with a few options.

I can pay the bill. Order Fred a new phone and pay the whole thing each month because I know the kid will song and dance me to death about the money.

I can cancel the account and pay the termination fee of $175. Get a new account set up and just establish a new number for Fred.

Any other options you can think of?

My nephew bought himself a $250 phone and claimed to pay the bill on cash at the store but doesn't have a receipt. He thinks he mailed the receipt with the rebate receipt he got for the phone. I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I called him a few times last night about it and he said he would call me right back after he spoke to the lady at the store he dealt with. That call never came. I tried him today and he is not answering his phone.

BTW-he is working and living at his mom's right now.

Update: just spoke to him. He said he got screwed up with the lady who sold him the phone. She told him he paid the bill when in fact he only bought the new phone. Whatever-he said that he's going tomorrow to pay the bill and then I will order Fred the new phone.

Message edited 6/8/2007 3:33:53 PM.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Hmm, it seems he is really not that reliable so I would just get a new account for fred where you pay for it, instead of having them share the same plan.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

I would pay the $175 and cancel the account. THe 175 will save you months of headaches. Let his mom get/help him get a phone.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

If you cancel the phone, you have to pay the past due bill.

I really think you need to take the phone away from the kid.

If that won't work, close the account.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

I guess I could open a new account under my name. I will give the kid a week's warning. If he doesn't straighten it out, I will cancel the account.

Think that's a plan?

Re: Help with a Dilemma

I think you've given him enough chances, but it's up to you.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Message edited 6/8/2007 12:44:44 PM.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Message edited 6/8/2007 12:46:45 PM.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Re: Help with a Dilemma

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Message edited 6/8/2007 12:48:24 PM.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Take the phone from the kid. If he is old enough to buy a $250 phone....he can pay his own bill. Don't let him take advantage of the situation.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Re: Help with a Dilemma

Cancel the account & try to get him to pay the $175.

A kid who has run up cell phone bills under everyone's account, doesn't get another chance to do it again.

His history speaks for himself. Let him learn the lesson that he's ruining his own credit & it will affect him later.

I think it's a hard lesson to learn but one he's better learning sooner rather than later.

You would be doing him a favor.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

I'd probably get Fred a prepaid cell phone and terminate the account. If you explain the situation maybe the provider will waive some/all of the termination fee.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

how do I text to a cingular phone? What would be the email address I use?

The number @cingular.com?

He's not answering the phone and I think he would respond to the text.

Re: Help with a Dilemma

I think they're now AT&T

To e-mail a text message to an AT&T wireless phone:

Type the text message as an e-mail through your e-mail account.
Send the e-mail to the AT&T wireless phone using the following address format for the AT&T wireless phone number:
10-digit wireless phone [email protected]
Standard messaging rates apply for the recipient.

Re: Help with a Dilemma-update in original post

Glad it worked out. It's amazing how those ladies screw up.