My son (19) is in love with a girl who lives in Greece.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Poll question: My son (19) is in love with a girl who lives in Greece.

We just got a $2,100 phone bill. :eyes:
I'm sure he's got the money in his account to handle it; but it'd be less of a burden for him to pay the bill in a couple of installments. So I called our LD provider, to ask for a time extension on the bill. She was kind enough to get us started on an international rate plan, which we never had any use for until Cupid shot my kid, and revise the current bill to reflect the new rate. The end result will be a $200 bill...for him, of course, not me.

Now I remember having a conversation with him about the cost of a phone call to Greece. I told him I wasn't sure how much it would cost, but he could either call the provider to find out, or make a brief phone call to his girlfriend, and get an inkling of the charges when we got the phone bill. Clearly he went way overboard on this; and I really think presenting him with the original bill will provide a serious banquet for thought.

Here's the question:
Do I
A: ...tell him we got a $2,100 bill because of his 30+ hours on the phone to his girlfriend, watch his face get pale, then immediately tell him the good news about the LD provider cutting us a break?

B: ...tell him about the bill and let him stew a few days before telling him that the provider is making adjustments to the bill?

C: ...just tell him about the $200 bill?

D: ...just tell him about the $2,100 bill, take his money, and go out for a night on the town (yes, I'm kidding, silly)

E: other...please expound

[Deja Q]

1. I used to think Cupid had a heart attack before finding me...

Now I see he's avoiding me too. :spray:

I chose "B". Let him stew like an onion. In beef. With carrots and potatoes and broccoli... :9 Now I'm hungry...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. It's a good day for beef stew...

:D

[Brian Woods]

22. yea, let him make his own gravy, marinate in his own juices...tasty.

[Deja Q]

23. As my parents taught me, sometimes one has to learn the hard way.

Welcome to DU.

[xmas74]

2. Show him the original bill

and tell him about the reduced rate. Make sure he sees the original-he should know what it was going to be.

And tell him to download yahoo messenger w/ voice. I spent $20 on a headphone and make international computer to computer calls for free.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. That sounds cool...

if his girlfriend can get it too...

[xmas74]

11. I think MissHoneychurch has it in Germany.

She just didn't have a headset at the time.

Have him check into it-free is free. They can agree to a time to log on and talk.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Can they use webcams, too?

It's good to know there are different options...

[xmas74]

17. She's always on webcam.

And the voice isn't as good as a phone but it works. Sometimes there is a bit of an echo but I've called all over the place and have been able to understand w/o straining to hear what was said.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Do both of them have regular computer access?

it doesn't help with the current $2,100 bill, but...

If they both have computers with internet access, try Skype or similar. My wife talks to her in-laws in China for a good hour per week - and computer to computer calls are free. And, if they both have webcams, they can look at each other, too. If my 60+ year old in-laws can hook it up, I'm sure it's pretty easy.

But, before that we were paying a massive 2.2 cents/minute to talk to China via the phone.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. They would love that, I'm sure!

I'm not sure what her computer situation is; but I'll tell my son about it.

[NewJeffCT]

14. If she does not have computer access...

he can search the internet for phone cards (maybe google "phone cards greece"??)

As I said above, we were paying 2.2 cents/minute to call China (or maybe even a bit lower than that?) and that was via a phone card that we found online. I'm sure they have similar for Greece.

[Kutjara]

16. If she doesn't have a PC...

...Skype offers a service called "SkypeOut", which lets you call any normal phone from your PC. It's not free like PC-to-PC calls, but it's pretty cheap. I make a lot of calls to Europe and it cost me about 1-2 cents per minute using SkypeOut. Even better, you prepay your SkypeOut minutes, so you won't get any big surprises at the end of the month.

[Race4Peace]

4. tell him about the $2,100 bill, take the money, send him over there...

c'mon. if he's wracking that much up on the phone, could you just send him over there? :shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. He's planning a visit in January,

which he will pay for. We couldn't afford to send him there. We're barely affording the new boiler we just had installed today. :)

[SoCalDem]

6. He needs Skype...NOW

www.skype.com

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Thanks for the link!

I'll make sure he checks it out!

Nice Santavulture, by the way. :rofl:

[Book Lover]

7. Other: Get your kid onto *any* VOIP system

Hell, even yahoo messenger with voice will do.

[tigereye]

9. great balls of fire!

I would be royally steamed.

:wow:


I've heard of large texting bills, but this bill takes the cake.

I'm impressed by your equanimity!

[Phillycat]

18. Don't you remember love at 19?

Sigh. :loveya:

[tigereye]

25. not that far away!

;)

I somehow managed to fall for someone who was a lot closer.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. My face turned red at first...

But I know he's got the money in his account; and it's not like he'd be homeless or anything if he had to pay it.

I'm glad they were nice enough to cut us a break, though...

[Kali]

19. Why are you just kidding about D?

I would be tempted to do it. Only I would give it back to him eventually. I think.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. He just got home...

I told him about the original bill; and he was so freaked... He said, "I'll write you a check...I'll pay you back..."
Then I told him I expected him to pay the bill, but that he could relax a little bit, because they agreed to give us a break.

Now he's researching alternative communication methods... :-)

[Kali]

32. Awwww don't they just melt your heart?

...the fuckers.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. I'm just remembering the first time I got an unexpectedly large phone bill...

I think it was for $65 or so...back in the 1970s.
What with inflation, and all... :rofl:

I just told him he'd better remember this moment when he has kids.

[freethought]

28. I wouldn't be tempted. I would just do it!

He's 19. He should at least be aware that calling Europe can cost a fortune. Tell him later that the phone company changed your calling plan and you can get a better rate when he calls Greece in the future. Make sure he still pays for it though.
As far as the $2100 bill is concerned, if he can pay it off in installments that's great! I would let him sweat about it for a while then give it back to him. Well, maybe. $2100 would be enough to pay for a few days at a top-notch hotel in Vegas for your and the spouse!

[texas1928]

21. D

You gave him life, and this is how he repays it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

29. Ain't that the damn truth!

Oh, my aching sacroiliac! Such an ingrate! :rofl:

[texas1928]

30. Yep. DAMN KIDS!!!

Don't know their place.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. I guess I've failed as a mother.

Maybe I can make it up by telling my son that he should worship the ground his father walks on.

[texas1928]

39. No Boys are always their mothers.

Give him the standard mother guilt trip.

[buddhamama]

24. i answered A

I think xmas74's idea is a good solution. :hi: :hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. That's what I did...

He was afraid I'd already told his dad, which I won't do until my son is out of the house, and Mr GoG is calm. Poor kid was so freaked. He's looking into other options now.

[FedUpWithIt All]

26. Skype

Whichever poll option you choose, let him know about Skype. It is brilliant for long distance chatting. It is as close to being there as it gets. Costs nothing and he and she can chat AND see each other while they do it.

:hi:

[UTUSN]

35. Cupid, Roman. Eros, Greek. He was shot by Eros. n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

37. LOL

I'd better hit the books! :D

[Taverner]

36. Dude....tell him to get on Yahoo IM with voice

All you need is a mic and speakers, and a decent connection, and they can talk over the net for free....

Of course, he needs to pay the bill before he gets the mic.

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. Option B