Splitting the Phone Bill

I would say no. It opens up financial problems down the road. what if that person decides to go off on there own and leaves you hanging with a phone? I would just say no.

First, is this a friend or a family member? You don't say and that may change some of the answers.

But in general, I would decline such a proposition. If I did indeed agree to this, YES, they would also pay their share in ALL base fees.

But this sounds like a can of worms to deal with down the line and again, I'd say no.

Repeat after me: "I'm sorry, we are not in a place where we can do this for your right now, you will have to find another option." Done. Never put yourself in a position that may end up biting you in the butt...and this may. You don't "need" to do this and do NOT feel obligated. Good luck.

If you think of your friend as "cheap," then you aren't doing this out of respect or helpfulness. We added an elderly neighbor to our family and friends plan because it was only $10/month to add her. I didn't feel she was cheap, I felt she should have a phone and it would have cost her $50 a month. I respected her and wanted to keep her safe. But if a young, able bodied person whom I considered a cheapskate asked me, I wouldn't add her and I'm not sure why you're considering it.

And by the way, I had thousands of rollover minutes that we never touched for months, so I told her not to worry about her minutes. She burned through them all within two months and I ended up getting a huge bill. So even if your heart is in the right place, this arrangement can go very wrong.

If you already have the attitude that they are "horning in" why in the world would you even consider it? To answer your question, no, I would not do it but if you do, I would say split it 4 ways.

Unless there is something you're not telling us (like this person is your sister) then the whole thing sounds weird. Beyond weird. Why would a friend, with plenty of money, ask to be added to your cell phone plan?!?! Actually, a family member shouldn't ask to do that either, unless they're in dire straights money wise. I would NOT do this. If they want to share a cell phone plan with you have THEM put the whole policy in their name, and you pay them monthly.

Just say no. Do not explain you are struggling. It is better to be short and to the point. I also do not trust this person to pay you on time and I do not even know him/her. If you can afford to have an extra phone and risk it going over (iPhones can get huge charges if the usage goes over along with other data plans), then go for it. This is all risk to you with zero benefit.

Get some advice from Suze Orman:
http://www.today.com/moms/suze-orman-help-your-family-put...#

If this is not a member of your family, forget it. If this person uses up all kinds of minutes, you're stuck with the bill because you have the contract. Besides, a family plan is just that - for family. Do you feel pushed to do this to help this person out, or because you feel it would be beneficial to YOU to share expenses? What will you do if you don't get the money UP FRONT and in plenty of time? Cut them off? Sounds like an administrative nightmare, and an ethical dilemma.

I agree with the response along the lines of "I'm sorry, we just can't go down this road." If you get push-back, add, "The contracts are complicated and there's too much exposure for us. You'll have to make other arrangements with your carrier."

Split it evenly.

If they are going to be on YOUR plan, you should also receive some benefit. You are the one who is putting up any risk... If they fail to pay on time, you will have to cover their share, or let your phone record show the late payment. Plus, you will be the one responsible for making sure their bill is paid. (Unless you will give them your account info and let them pay their share independently...)

We do this... My Dad is on my plan. It's a win-win situation. With him added, he gets to play less than a stand-alone plan, and it made mine cheaper too. :)

I wouldn't do it - things like this never work out good. If someone fails to pay their share, what are the rest of you going to do. Saw that happen with my nephews - they ended up in a fist fight!

That being said, IMHO, the bill should be split four ways with everyone paying the same amount.

It depends, we added my dad, he pays the ten bucks, not that I want it from him but he insists on paying his part. My older daughter is 23, she pays her extension, part of the unlimited perks but the base price I pay since I would pay it anyway.

Really if I added anyone I wouldn't charge them the base because I would pay it anyway.
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Read your contract before you do anything. Adding non family is a no no on my plan. I answered on the assumption it was a family member.

Not in your immediate family? NO. Just say that you aren't able to help them.

The reason they have what they have is because they are always horning in on other people to get something for very little. You don't have to be a part of it.

Great point Osohapi...this will likely turn into a disaster. How are you going to collect from this cheap person with all the money.

I would never do it.

We paid for my parents cell phones for a few years because I owed them money for school...so it was an easy way for me to pay it. When we finished paying it off, they put their phones into their own account and we have our own still. No way in the world would I add anyone to my family plan.

Nope wouldn't do it.

I would not set myself up for the fallout that is sure to come.

first off, i'd just say no.
if you DO say yes, then absolutely split the base plan.
better yet, tell HIM to get the plan, and you'll just hitch a ride and pay JUST the phone fee to him.
khairete
S.

I split the bill evenly between all the lines. It's fair to everyone since I'm the one who pays the bill and then waits for everyone to pay me back.

Only if the person is family, that I know pays their bills on time, and doesn't already owe me money.
I would charge them the $20 that the bill would go up. Plus any overcharges related to their phone # each month.

We have 3 phones on our plan and our bill will show you what overages were on each line.

I would not add them on the plan even if they are family. If they can't afford it or if they can it is up to them to take care of their phone issues.

I had a cousin whom I lived with split a phone bill with me and it was a nightmare. I would not pay the bill until she paid me and sometimes the phone company would call and say if we didn't pay by when, it would be shut off. My aunt asked me why and I told her that cousin did not give me the money to pay her portion of the bill. The bill was in my uncle's name and I paid the bill because I wanted a phone. Cousin moved in because her dad threw her out and mooched. I had no part of it and she hated me because she was my aunt's "favorite" niece.

Don't make your credit any worse than it is with adding other relatives to your bills. Family and friends make for not good workers and members on business plans.

Just say no. Unfortunately, you have been overridden by your husband. I would definitely end the contract.

the other S.

Since you need to pay the base price anyway, I would not charge them anything other than the additional cost (including taxes and fees) of adding another line.

However, noting your "let me add", I wouldn't consider going out of my way.

I would find out how my telephone plan charges for texting. Do you have a plan with unlimited texting and unlimited talk? Are you going to have to share minutes four ways or are you going to increase your data plan to add on the additional person? What happens if they exceed the data plan? If they are wanting to get on your plan for their own benefit, I would have them pay the cost of their phone, plus half the base cost (cost plus taxes). That would be cheaper than them getting one line on their own. And as others have mentioned, you are responsible for the bill.

One of my best friends out me on her plan. I pay the cost on my line. She said it made no sense for me to pay part of the base, since that didn't change when she added me/