Don't let bills balloon to outrageous heights.

It always surprises me to see young kids chatting away on their cellphones across the island.

Clearly, this technology wasn't available to most of us when we were growing up. Flirting and making plans was done in person or on a home phone (complete with cord to keep us truly in our place).

Nonetheless, there they are, racking up cellphone minutes with alarming regularity, texting away to friends in IM slang most parents can barely decipher.

In fact, industry studies in the U.S. last year found that the market penetration among 9 to 11-year-olds was 46 per cent, and that the number of kids from 6 to 8 years old with cellphones had more than tripled since 2005 and stood at 20 per cent.

Even some 5-year-olds now carry cellphones. A related study found that 30 per cent of parents who have a teen on their wireless plan report that they often run out of minutes and end up paying extra.

Just how much extra? It is not uncommon for clients to come to Consumer Affairs faced with bills totaling several hundred dollars for one month's worth of long-distance calls made on their child's cellphone.

If those bills are not paid on time, they can be turned over to a local collection agency, where the bill rises substantially with service fees.

In these cases, Consumer Affairs often can only offer guidance on confirming that the debt is completely legitimate and offering advice to avoid this happening next time.

Here are the cold hard facts:

- When you sign a contract with a cellphone provider, or with any retailer or service provider for that matter, you are signing to the terms and conditions of a contract that is based on contract law.

You cannot dispute the terms and conditions of the contract afterwards, except under very limited legal terms and conditions.

- A retailer or service provider issues bills as a customer service. When you accept a service and sign a contract, you are responsible for payment outlined at the time of sale.

If you do not receive a bill, or ignore a bill, you are subject to the contractual obligations set out at the time of sale.

- Non-payment of your debt will incur financial and interest charges. The retailer or service provider is within their rights to forward your debt to a collection agency for payment.

Depending on the terms and conditions of your contract, you may be liable to not only the company's interest charges but also the cost incurred to collect the debt by the collection agency.

So, what can you do to avoid being hit by outrageous cellphone bills by your kids?

- Have kids take responsibility for their own cellphone bills as a means to teach them financial responsibility. You may work out a system whereby you take care of the basic monthly fee, but they pay for their own phones and overcharge fees.

You monitor the bills to ensure they are being responsible in their use, and paying you back on time.

Cut off cellphone privileges if they aren't using their phone responsibly.

- If you have a dispute with a retailer or service provider regarding a bill, raise it immediately with the store owner or manager.

Putting off paying a bill as a means to dispute is not an option. That only makes you liable for additional service charges.

- Ensure you fully understand the terms and conditions of a contract before signing, including interest on late payments, and user fees or service charges you may be liable for, as well as the terms and conditions for you opting out of your contract.

- If you find yourself contacted by a collection agency, make an appointment to discuss repayment of your debt. Don't ignore the debt or it may balloon.

Finally, ensure that your child understands that cellphones are comprised of heavy metals that make them toxic to the environment when improperly disposed of.

Contact the Waste Management Section of the Ministry of Works and Engineering at 297-7946 for information on proper disposal methods of cell phones and other e-waste. You can also visit www.wastemanagement.gov.bm.