Young Cell Users Rack Up Debt, a Message at a Time

New York Times ^ | 1/9/05 | LISA W. FODERARO

[wagglebee]

These stupid kids deserve this.

[starfish923]

Colleges and universities OFTEN have tables set up on their "student day" where the big credit card companies offer them credit cards, with NO cash back up. that would be, of course, NO JOB.
Students often get a free gift with signing up.

Harhar. It's their first REAL introduction to debt, rather debt. It's a good lesson. One, apparently, they can't seem to learn from mom and dad.

This seems to be more of the same.

[Bommer]

Brian Colas, a student at City as School in Brooklyn, said he reined in his habit after his mother stopped paying his bill. "When you start paying, then you don't have money to spend on other things," he said.

Post this under "DUH - 101!"

[Sterrins]

He does it at home, at school and at work.

Anywhere, any time and in any position.

[wagglebee]

From what I can tell, text messaging is the new "gold mine" for cell phone companies. They are no longer able to generate the huge profits from phone calls the way they were a decade ago. Text messaging is a very inexpensive feature for the companies, but they can charge huge fees for its use. An added benefit is that this feature is most popular with young people who lack the "clout" to force a reduction in prices like they were forced to do with their phone services.

[theDentist]

"I didn't realize that I got charged for reading text messages."

Welcome to the real worl, sh**-for-brains.

[starfish923]

Well, that is capitalism at its best.
They are overcharging for an UNNECESSARY luxury on an nonessential apparatus.
Hey, "but it FUN."

[Capriole]

I disagree. I have been standing around the cell store waiting for service or trying to buy something, and I have heard the young people and their parents come in to get new service. There have been many, many times when they've walked out the door with a new phone in a box, a little color brochure explaining the service, and they NEVER hear a clear explanation of how much the extras are going to cost. I've examined these brochures myself and there is nothing in there about the charge for texting. if you have an inexperienced kid dealing with a new technology, a kid who is not told by anybody that there is a charge for this service, how is he supposed to know? Is he supposed to have ESP and just know it by magic?

I don't send many text messages but my kids sometimes text me when they know I can't make a call at work, and I was annoyed to find out that the messages cost ten cents apiece. Now, one or two messages a day don't make any difference to me or my cell bill, but again, the cell companies see this as a cash cow and they don't warn you anyplace that there is going to be a charge for this.

Come on, gang, you know this is true. This kind of behavior is characteristic of cell companies. Raise your hand if you have a phone company billing horror story. Ah, as I thought: it's unanimous.

[wagglebee]

When I see some of these people with a cell phone permanantly affixed to their ears I really am tempted to ask sarcastically them how it is that they ever survived without it. I made it through the first 30 years of my life without any need for a cell phone and to this day, I wouldn't know how to send or receive a text message on one.

[Overtaxed]

Didn't know teenagers could spell well enough to text message.

[rdb3]

Well, that is capitalism at its best.
They are overcharging for an UNNECESSARY luxury on an nonessential apparatus.

You have a problem with capitalism? No one has a .44 at this young man's head.

[facedown]

"I didn't realize that I got charged for reading text messages. My dad was just like: 'Hey, it's your problem. Pay it.' "

My kind of Dad.

[rdb3]

I made it through the first 30 years of my life without any need for a cell phone and to this day, I wouldn't know how to send or receive a text message on one.

I work for Nokia in an R&D recovery lab. I don't have a cell phone. I don't want one.

Ironic, isn't it?

[theDentist]

Hey Cap, it's a Service. Services cost money. If they don't go want to look into the costs of vtext, and abuse it, then they have to pay for it. And if they don't get a clear explanation of costs associated with their phone, again, their wallet will be opened. Let the buyer beware.

I get 2500 on mine (work requirements) and it's only about 25.00 per month. 'Chaz' and his father didn't look at their contract, and/or made false assumptions. Too bad. I specifically asked for business sake. But even if it wasn't required for work, I'd have asked.

Simply put: Buyer Beware. Nothing is free anymore, so ask ask ask.

[wagglebee]

I'm on the road a lot with my job, other than that I could care less, at the end of the day and on weekends I don't even turn it on.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

Um... I have one because I don't like to travel in the car without it. But my minntes used last month - 0.

Every now and then I"ll get a call from the cell phone carrier asking me if I'd like their newest and greatest plan only a zillion minutes a month for whatever. I usually ask them to look at how many minutes I've used over the last 3 months and see if they think I need a zillion minutes.

[Brilliant]

Why not discontinue text messaging?

[Capriole]

It's completely fair to require any company to spell out what the charges are going to be. If they are concealing charges and shafting people with big bills, this is unethical. When you go to get your car fixed, don't they have to provide you with a written estimate and get your permission before exceeding it? When you buy a house, don't you get a list of the charges you are going to have to pay at the settlment table? Any reputable business should not conceal charges from any customers, much less young kids who have no experience in the business world.

On the other hand, that fifteen-year-old who was stealing her father's cell to text her friends needs her butt whipped. The idea that he should have to hide it from her is outrageous.

[Overtaxed]

I got rid of the land line and just have pre-paid wireless that I hardly use. Never use the text message stuff.

[wagglebee]

Unfortunately, today's youth (and I suppose it has always been this way) is far more focused on image than they are on responsibility.