I am loathe to let my kids have one until they are old enough to pay for it themselves, but considering where we live, once they have their licence it would give me peace of mind kwim? I would only ever let them have a prepaid one though and if they use all the credit too quickly then it's gone - simple as that.

Her argument to you is so she can call you if she needs help - well they have phones that are designed to only let them call home - so not a phone as such but a pager type thing. I know how hard it must be when like Marydean said, it's all they've ever known, but if you think it will cause more problems than it will solve with the boy situation, tell her it's conditional - she can only have it when out, never at home and never at school or something like that.

Re the talk about the payphones - out here Telstra are actually removing all the payphones in West Wyalong and Temora townships and the ones they do have con't accept coins - only phone cards.