Since when do you get credit for having a cell phone account? What kind of credit? It's not like it's tax deductible. I would be tickled pink if someone else wanted to take over the responsibility of my cell phone account plus have it cost me 20% less. I don't understand how you can lose - what would be a problem would be if it were in your name but he was paying for it, and if he neglected to pay the bill it would affect your credit rating. This sounds like just the opposite. I would hesitate if I were your SS - he could get left holding the bag for and expensive multi-phone package if you and his father decided not to continue paying.

I can see your point Sunnygardner, but I do think you're being overly sensitive about this. SS gets a 20% discount, which is a good thing, and he's being responsible and considerate by offering to pass it on - not a butt-insky.

Yes, SS will get 'points' towards a better credit rating. That's a valuable thing to a young person just starting out, and a 'gift' you two can give him that costs you nothing. Is a better credit rating something you and your DH are desparately in need of?

I can see insisting that there be some limits on the account - but otherwise, let this one go with grace.

theotherside Just to let you know a person does get a good credit rating with a cell phone account, as long as it is properly paid.

He would not be responsible for the account we would be paying it, however, if he wanted to change or purchase anything with the account he would have free rein to do so. SS has a history of foolishly over spending and then coming to us to pay for his over spending. I could see him order a fancy phone and extras off the account and then telling us, leaving us to pay for his new francy phone and any extras he decided he wanted.

Yea and he knows we would and with no worry for him. He might get a little talking to from dad but he would get his phone and what ever else he ordered. That is how past history has gone with SS. There is no way to set limits if the account is in his name. SS will be considered the main account holder and have all control of the account.

Sweeby, maybe I am sensitive, but past history have caused me alot of stress in regards to extravagant spending on SS part and then expecting us to pay.
What do you 2 think about him having his own account? The two of you did not respond to that. Why is it that we are expected to pay his cell phone bill? Although we have paid for his phone for the last 6 years. What is this about now days. I guess at 22 year old my parents were paying for nothing for me.

sunnyg-
With your follow-up post clarifying SS's ability to add products/charge extras without any okay from you guys, I would say that you are right about not wanting to endorse this.

Everyone loves 20% off....so I can see the attraction, but if history indicates that excess charges are likely, then I would hold the line on this one, too. *I'm assuming that the friction with DH cropped up when you--rightly--pointed this likelihood out.

If DH is adamant about going this route, I would ask him to agree WITH YOU (not with SS) that you'll give it a shot for 3 months, if there are no transgressions, fantastic!
If there are charges indicating that SS is taking advantage of the fact that he is in "control" (agree with DH that SS should confer with you guys about charges as though you had to approve them with the company),then you need to stop paying, instruct SS to remove the two of you from the account, and go back to two separate accounts. Yours (for DH and you) and one for SS (at 20% off).

sunnyg-
I thought there was more to your story....I would not be on his account - no way! My husband did this with his then 21 yo son and now 24 yo....my husband was left holding the bag. SS did not care if it ruins his credit, now my husband is stuck on the account until his son can prove he is responsible enough to make payments!! I would refuse to be on the account...tell your husband/SS to get your name off. Open your own account.

I don't see how you can be left holding the bag if it is in his name. It is so much cheaper to have all family members on the same account, even without the 20% savings. All my kids have been on my account as long as possible (except for the one who is too little to have a phone).

theotherside, you never answered my question. How old are you? It appears as if you do not have much experience with stepchildren. I will try to re-explain how we get left holding the bag. If we pay for the account even if it is in SS name and if he goes ahead and purchases items on this cell account, which he will be able to do, we will be left paying for anything he purchases. You see stepkids often don't care and know the bio parent will end up paying for everything anyways. That is SS's past history and so we end up paying for fancy unnecessary phones and accessorys he adds to the account. Do you get it????

sunny, you know that I don't typically side with theotherside, but I think she is wondering why, if it is on the stepson's account you would be required to pay for the phone. If he doesn't pay and you don't pay, it is HIS credit that will be effected, not yours or DH's. I actually had the same question. I think your hubby should talk to him before you switch the phones into his name and let him know that switching it all over will help him with his credit and that you and hubby are willing to do that, but he is not to change the account at all without your permission. If he decides to do that, then you will not pay the extra bill and his credit will be effected negatively by this. You can also tell him that if he does do this, you will both switch your phones back into your name and he will be left with the cancellation fee as well.

What Raek said is basically the kind of 'limits' I was envisioning as well. If he agrees NOT to charge any fancy phones or gazillion text messages to the plan, then you pay for it; if he breaks that trust, he pays the difference and suffers the consequences.

If he's got that kind of history, your DH should agree to some reasonable limits to the arrangement.

Sunny posted, "Yea and he knows we would and with no worry for him. He might get a little talking to from dad but he would get his phone and what ever else he ordered. That is how past history has gone with SS."

I think what sunny is afraid of is that there is a HISTORY of SS running up all kinds of expenses, and dad stepping in to save the day. Yes, dad might be angry and son might get a lecture, but dad will pay. If SS has the authority to order all kinds of accessories because it's his account, he may do that because he knows, despite what dad says, DAD WILL PAY.

Unless sunny can get DH on board with limits, then this would not be a good plan for her and DH.

I was not talking about a cell phone...just anything in general! I am talking about a car payment. Not a wise thing to do, be a co-signer. My husband is STILL responsible for his son's car, he is 24 years old! Needless to say he is not planning on doing this again. This is a 22 year old man, let him find his own way in life.

Thanks to everyone who answered my question and gave advise. Even when it is not what I want to hear it does make me think. Hopefully, it makes me a better stepmother. DH agreed that we will not change our account. I was happy he agreed to leave things as we orginally agreed to when we combined our accounts. I have a feeling SS will keep at DH to change things over. I feel bad that DH has to deal with such a demanding adult child. However, he could put his foot down and tell SS to open his own account.
I did find out through my work that I also can get a 20% discount on cell phones, but a different carrier. I mentioned it to DH, but DH then mentioned SS's girlfriend has our original/current carrier and SS talks with her at least 60 minutes a day getting free minutes because they have the same carrier. So this means we will remain with our current carrier so SS can talk with his girlfriend for free.
Boy, do we cater to kids now days. My parents would of not allowed this kind of thing to go on. They would of said "get your own phone account if you don't like how we do things." I think this is why some adult kids now days do not know how to manage money or be responsible.

Thanks again to everyone.