That’s what we at ParentShield have always promised our customers from the outset. But what does it really mean?
Well, during a recent spot of globetrotting (because it’s not just phones that need their batteries recharged), I received a few copies of this delightful missive from my “grown-up” phone network:
Hello. Welcome to [country]. It’s one of our Zone D Worldwide destinations – which means you’ll be charged £7.86 daily for each 24-hour period of usage, starting when you first use calls, texts or data (including Extras) in your plan while you’re here. Don’t worry, though – you’ll only pay for the days you use your phone. Data used over your allowance and less than 25GB costs the same as it does in the UK. If you use more than 25GB, it’s 0.33p per MB (£3.58 per GB). Visit (free to access) [website address] for more information. For emergency services call 112. Have a great trip!
And what was especially galling was that these charges were being imposed not because of any deliberate action I had taken, but because someone else sent me a text message. It wasn’t their fault — they weren’t to know I was out of the country. The network decided to deliver it to me anyway, and charge me for the privilege.
At ParentShield, we make a very simple promise to all our customers: We will never, ever add an unexpected charge of a single penny to your account. If you or your young person try to do something you have not paid for, it simply won’t work. The sender of that text message would have been informed that it had not been delivered, it would have shown as blocked in the Portal, and that would have been that. If I had accidentally dialled a number, the call would simply have been blocked.
So if ParentShield seems a little expensive compared to other networks, that’s because our prices are fully inclusive. Those other networks are not averse to pulling shenanigans on their loyal customers — like showing you a low headline price that might not include every penny you end up paying. We’ve got to eat; but at least we’re not in the business of following our customers into restaurants, choosing expensive items from the menu, adding them to your bill and sneaking off before the waiting staff bring an unpleasant surprise to your table.
P.S. If you need help deciding whether to choose a physical SIM card or an e-SIM, remember the former can always be transferred from one phone to another — which might be important if you leave your phone a bit too close to the pool …..