DESPARATE FOR HELP!!!

[Anonymous]

Seems once Verizon has you in their clutches. You are a customer for life like it or not, because now you've renewed your contract for another 2 years trying to get out of the overage charges when they updated your plan.  When you break your contract because you are unable to pay, they will charge you a fee for breaking your contract early and then they will make you pay for the free phones you received.  I should know, my credit has been marred for 6 years now.  I only have a year of my sentence to go but I will not pay them not one red cent. 

I think your best bet is to continually dispute the charges month after month until they turn off your phone and then still dispute until you've bought your home. I don't know if they can report an account that is in dispute.   Go with a Metro or a unlimited phone in the meantime.

[EBL80]

I don't have Verizon, but I do have AT&T and they were very accommodating and backdated the minutes and texts that I went over.  Mine was only $300, but I am sure they will work with you on it. 

Expect the best and it should happen.  Be polite and just tell the truth.  Making arrangements shows that you want to pay and not let it lapse.  It's proactive and will be better in the long run.  

Hope that helps.  

[Anonymous]

Oh you poor parent!  I have to admit I did this myself when I was young and YES VERY BUT VERY STUPID...this is what my parents did.  Sat me down at the kitchen table her & my dad with those "serious-no BS" faces and put the bill in front of me.  And this is what they said

1. Get a job (and more than that I had to search for it on the BUS I didn't get a ride from them or car) 2. A deadline of when I had to have the bill paid off. 3. I was not allowed to touch the money as soon as I got the job I had to make sure I had direct deposit into my parents account. 4. They took me behind the "barn" 5. Lesson learned!  I am 29 years old and have my own home and am in the process to get my New CAR in 2011 so I'm saving for it  

Sometimes we children tend to make stupid mistakes but it's up to you as the parent to make us feel that we are the worst child in the world and that those things are not tolerated in the family!  I never did that again and now I do know the value of what things cost.  Hang in there-you might feel like your presuring your child but it'll be good for him to not ever do that again to you or to himself when it's time for him to go out into the world by himself. I was a full time student and had a full time JOB to make sure I got it paid off...yeah it was hell but my parents DID NOT LET ME OFF THE HOOK until the whole bill was paid and I paid it off in less than a year!  Then I went to part time and paid my school myself with no help from parents because I finally saw that I COULD make it on my own.  I never asked for any $$ from my parents ever again and now they are the ones who ask me for "financial help" if need be and you know what I am HAPPY to help them out because they are my parents and I love them.  So yeah tough love is what it is TOUGH but in the end your kid will learn the lesson whether he tells you or not.

[Anonymous]

First try talking to your cell phone company and explain what happened. If you have been a customer a long time they don't want to lose you and may be willing to help. My daughter got cell phone charges reversed that her 2 year old accidentally got. It's a little different but it's worth a try. You can try a website called www.propsper.com . This is a peer to peer lending group. I've never used it, but I have heard of other people who have. Good luck. P.S. I hope your son learns a valuable lesson from this.

[eddiet1234]

The cell phone companies have a different structure as to reporting to the Big 3 credit agencies.. None of the carriers will report your past due balance to any credit reporting agency unless the account is so delinquent that its actually canceled for non payment and has  gone to an outside collection agency for collections. Then, and only then will delinquent cell phone bill appear on your credit report.

[Anonymous]

One more thought. You say your son has a truck. Depending on how old it is, he could probably take out a loan, using the truck as collateral. Basically, he'd be refinancing the truck. Then he can just get a job and pay it off. If his payments are $100 a month, then he'd only have to earn $25 a week. I'm sure he'd be able to handle that. And that way he'd be able to continue to drive his truck, while taking responsibility for his debt.

[Anonymous]

There are some options as far as the phone is concerned. You can put a block on anything that child does--from when he makes phone calls and to whom he makes it. Verizon offers that under usage control or something like that. I am so smart because I have to keep a lid on my teenagers phone calls as well.

You may however just cut him off the phone completely. Obviously, he cannot handle it-and frankly, I would put him on a payment plan to pay you back. I am not sure what your relationship is, but there had better be some serious consequences or the next time it will be worse!

[Anonymous]

I am  sorry to inform you but you are out of Luck. As the primary owner of the account you are responsible for all bills associated with this account. If the entire amount is not paid off this will hurt you FICO Account. Furthermore in today' home buying market a 670 FICHOis not high enough you need at least 750 FICO to even be considered for a home loan. Your problems is that you did not property control you minor son. This should be a good lesson for both of you. Have him get a job and pay the bill. Try tough love for a change.. Just as a point of reference this e-mail is being sent to you not by some right whing conservative nut but by a Democratic Socialist who has been a loyal member of the Democratic party for over 50 years. I am an unrepented progressive on everthing but finscal responsiblity

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I am  sorry to inform you but you are out of Luck. As the primary owner of the account you are responsible for all bills associated with this account. If the entire amount is not paid off this will hurt you FICO Account. Furthermore in today' home buying market a 670 FICHOis not high enough you need at least 750 FICO to even be considered for a home loan. Your problems is that you did not property control you minor son. This should be a good lesson for both of you. Have him get a job and pay the bill. Try tough love for a change.. Just as a point of reference this e-mail is being sent to you not by some right whing conservative nut but by a Democratic Socialist who has been a loyal member of the Democratic party for over 50 years. I am an unrepented progressive on everthing but finscal responsiblity

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That one needs a 750 for a mortgage is simply false.  There are dozens of people on this forum alone who have obtained a conventional mortgage with scores below 700.

[Anonymous]

My brother works for verizon and suggests that you call the customer support line at there main number at  1-800-922-0204. He says they usually will try to work something out. Hope this helps.