DESPARATE FOR HELP!!!

[Anonymous]

If your son is over the age of 18, you can do an AOL with Verizon. It is called an "Assumption of Liability".  That would make him liable for his own phone number and get him off your account.  You have to take control of your life and now worry about his credit for this.  He didn't worry about yours when he made these calls. He knew someone would have to pay for them and obviously was only thinking of himself.  I can tell you that he can recover from bad credit at his age - you cannot afford the time it will take to recover.  The time to buy a home is now and if he messes that up for you, you'll pay way more when you finally get this "ding" off your credit.  You may want to ask him what he can sell to pay for the bill  - but you paying for it just means you are saving him (probably again).  Let him save himself. 

My mom told me when I was raising my boys, "Prepare the child for the path NOT the path for the child" 

Good Luck! 

[Anonymous]

My experience has been...ask and you shall receive. Please give them a call, ask for a supervisor, take names, write down dates and times every time you speak with someone and keep the record in a safe place. They will work with you once they know you are not intending to default. The goal is to set up a payment plan witht them and get en email or something in writing. Ask for full names and departments...all the best!! All of us have been there...there's always a way.

take care

[Anonymous]

You're not the first parent to have this problem so the phone company will understand. Call the phone company up and explain the problem and see what they can do for you. They may even forgive some of the debt and then set you up on a payment plan for the balance. Quit stressing and call them!

[Anonymous]

I have had some bad experience with Verizon. In 06 they sent me an initial bill for service that was $920.00 instead of $45.00....they said...ooopps, when I called. The second bill was correct, then the third was $400.00 and some odd dollars, at which point I said....c ya.

Please make certain that all these charges are correct. If he was calling international there would be a significant difference in the time where he was calling...........and does he agree that the calls are his calls? 

Good luck with a very tough issue.

Tom

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear of your problem.  I actually had this happen to me some time ago.   If you have an account set up on line, I believe you request a payment extension. See if you can pay the bill in two payments.  Verzion is pretty good in working with you.  I've done this several times and have not had anything show up on my credit report.  Good Luck!!

[Anonymous]

Yes, talk to Verizon and explain to them the circumstances.  Most creditors are willing to work with you, especially if you give them a courtisy call before the due date.  Next...GIVE THE KID A WICKED SCOLDING, AND KICK HIM OUT OF YOUR HOUSE!!

[Anonymous]

This happened to me years ago.  My son let a friend use the phone.  He racked up $1700.00.  The phone company will hold you responsible even though you did not authorize the calls.  I would certainly take your son's phone away and make him pay you back even if it is only $1.00 per week, and if he's working, he should pay at least 10% of what he makes. I am so sorry you are in hock for something you didn't even enjoy.

Deena 

[Anonymous]

What really concerns me here is your focus in taking care of the bill, with NO HELP from your son- who is the SOLE party RESPONSIBLE.  He doesn't have a job? He needs to get one. Many college students work and this is a serious situation. Your son does not sound like he has learned respect- which you so clearly deserve- and he hasn't learned responsibility.

My advice- your son gets a job and pays the 600.00 or so per month until the phone is paid. Don't back down, Mom. He make the mistake. He needs to set it straight.

[rosa29617]

I understand that your son is a full-time student right now but perhaps he can help share in the responsibility of this problem and take a short leave from school and get a part-time job so he can help pay off this debt. You have six months before it enters collections; its just one option.

[rosa29617]

A similar incident happened to me several years ago when I was with T-Mobile. My daughter was on my family plan. My bill was usually around $80 a month; but one month my bill  was nearly $400. When I received the bill I panicked and called the company for an explanation. The rep said the extra cost was for text messages. I told her I did not have text messages. Then she said "Is there a teen-ager using the phone?'"  I was angry with my daughter but I was not hip to the fact that texting was the new trend with teens. Needless to say I had to pay the bill; my daughter was only 13 at the time; I adjusted my contract to cover excessive texts. Unfortunately, these things happen and parents get caught up because of their children's careless actions. Your son is and adult now, make him man up.