Comments on: Au Pairs and Cell Phones: Concrete tips to hold down costs? http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:40:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MommyMia http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13437 MommyMia Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:32:01 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-13437 I think you're responding to a post that cv made into a new entry...and my understanding was that it was her husband's cell phone, which was probably provided by and for his work. Doesn't really matter--the point is, the AP made a very expensive call without asking. And I believe that the orientation provided by agencies, as well as their marketing information to APs does talk about international calls from the US and various options, although I'm sure that only about 25% is understood and retained by APs with good language skills. As has been pointed out here, in most countries incoming calls are not counted toward mobile phone minutes allotments, so that's something that needs to be made very clear. I think you’re responding to a post that cv made into a new entry…and my understanding was that it was her husband’s cell phone, which was probably provided by and for his work. Doesn’t really matter–the point is, the AP made a very expensive call without asking. And I believe that the orientation provided by agencies, as well as their marketing information to APs does talk about international calls from the US and various options, although I’m sure that only about 25% is understood and retained by APs with good language skills. As has been pointed out here, in most countries incoming calls are not counted toward mobile phone minutes allotments, so that’s something that needs to be made very clear.

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]]> By: NewAPMama http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13422 NewAPMama Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:21:07 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-13422 I'm confused. Is your AP calling your husbands cell phone? Or she is calling overseas from your husbands work phone? Your post is very confusing. I’m confused. Is your AP calling your husbands cell phone? Or she is calling overseas from your husbands work phone? Your post is very confusing.

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]]> By: Gianna http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-12765 Gianna Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:30:53 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-12765 The phones which use pay as you go work as well as any other phones. The phone is just for emergencies ( like the flat tire mentioned above ) or to share info about a change of schedule or ask an important question. You can always buy an additional card to ramp up the minutes if there was heavy useage or if you anticipated a need. The cards can be bought in convenience stores and generally, the phones are very good. The phones which use pay as you go work as well as any other phones. The phone is just for emergencies ( like the flat tire mentioned above ) or to share info about a change of schedule or ask an important question. You can always buy an additional card to ramp up the minutes if there was heavy useage or if you anticipated a need.
The cards can be bought in convenience stores and generally, the phones are very good.

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]]> By: mom431 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-12763 mom431 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:12:52 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-12763 I agree with Jane. I paid $10 for a tracphone plus $100 for 900 minutes and service for 1 year. She has use of the house phone and wireless internet for skype. The phone is for emergenices and to maintain contact about my children. I agree with Jane. I paid $10 for a tracphone plus $100 for 900 minutes and service for 1 year. She has use of the house phone and wireless internet for skype. The phone is for emergenices and to maintain contact about my children.

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]]> By: Calif Mom http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-7913 Calif Mom Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:47:09 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-7913 But wiring an au pair's bedroom for cable and paying for a second set IS an additional cost. We have one set for our family, and it is not in anyone's bedroom. We added a second tv, with cable, as a perk for our au pairs so they can watch trashy TV in privacy. I definitely consider it a perk. Wifi bears no additional costs to us, so I don't see it as a perk. (Though playing IT Support person can certainly suck up a lot of hours!) But wiring an au pair’s bedroom for cable and paying for a second set IS an additional cost. We have one set for our family, and it is not in anyone’s bedroom. We added a second tv, with cable, as a perk for our au pairs so they can watch trashy TV in privacy. I definitely consider it a perk.

Wifi bears no additional costs to us, so I don’t see it as a perk. (Though playing IT Support person can certainly suck up a lot of hours!)

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]]> By: Disgruntled http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-7902 Disgruntled Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:07:27 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-7902 I don't really see how wifi and cable are "perks"- unless they're ONLY for the au pair's use. If the rest of the family has access, shouldn't the ap as well? I don’t really see how wifi and cable are “perks”- unless they’re ONLY for the au pair’s use. If the rest of the family has access, shouldn’t the ap as well?

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]]> By: PA au pair mom http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-7333 PA au pair mom Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:54:28 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-7333 Our AP got stranded on the interstate with a flat tire, nearly one hour from our home. The next exit would have been a 4-6 mile walk in the dark, alone. That incident alone made the cell phone worth it for my family and our AP. Our AP got stranded on the interstate with a flat tire, nearly one hour from our home. The next exit would have been a 4-6 mile walk in the dark, alone. That incident alone made the cell phone worth it for my family and our AP.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-7330 Anonymous Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:32:03 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-7330 I agree with you but the only thing is that it is often very hard nowadays to find a public phone. I know that when I was young. I just managed to get where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there. I just did it. I agree with you but the only thing is that it is often very hard nowadays to find a public phone. I know that when I was young.
I just managed to get where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there. I just did it.

]]> By: Jane http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-7329 Jane Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:24:39 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-7329 Yes, I agree a cell phone is handy and convenient--I just don't see the need for me to pay for it when it's not used for work. No major need for it has arisen for us other than to use it socially. We provide a land line with extensive free calling, so they are able to call friends during off time. I can see how many other families use the cell phone for work related calls with the au pair, and then I can completely understand paying for it. I've only received a handful of cell phone calls from my au pairs over the years--and that was for them to let me know to pick them up from the airport or train station for one of their leisure trips--again, not for work. I hate to sound stingy about it, because I would probably add it as a perk if it only cost me $10 a month, but the cost would be more like $50 a month for us. I offered to give my current au pair money to put on her personal phone for emergencies when she commented that it was expensive for her to keep it loaded for social calls, but she declined it. She makes all her calls for free from the house before going out. I would feel better if she had a loaded phone with her in case she gets stranded, but when she declined the money I offered for that, what else is there to do? Yes, I agree a cell phone is handy and convenient–I just don’t see the need for me to pay for it when it’s not used for work. No major need for it has arisen for us other than to use it socially. We provide a land line with extensive free calling, so they are able to call friends during off time. I can see how many other families use the cell phone for work related calls with the au pair, and then I can completely understand paying for it. I’ve only received a handful of cell phone calls from my au pairs over the years–and that was for them to let me know to pick them up from the airport or train station for one of their leisure trips–again, not for work. I hate to sound stingy about it, because I would probably add it as a perk if it only cost me $10 a month, but the cost would be more like $50 a month for us.

I offered to give my current au pair money to put on her personal phone for emergencies when she commented that it was expensive for her to keep it loaded for social calls, but she declined it. She makes all her calls for free from the house before going out. I would feel better if she had a loaded phone with her in case she gets stranded, but when she declined the money I offered for that, what else is there to do?

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]]> By: HRHM http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-7328 HRHM Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:17:26 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/au-pairs-and-cell-phones-concrete-tips-to-hold-down-costs/2010/03/05/celiaharquail/#comment-7328 We do this too. We don't use texting, but AP does ALOT! so for 15/month, she gets unlimited texts on her phone, which she pays for. We do this too. We don’t use texting, but AP does ALOT! so for 15/month, she gets unlimited texts on her phone, which she pays for.

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