topic Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son in Account and services

How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Bluemonkey — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:31:35 GMT

I have a contract phone in my name for my son. Recently he has been addicted to a phone game with in-app charges and ran up threepay bills of £200 a month. I called Three to disable threepay, which they said they could not do. I then removed threepay as a payment option on the device itself. My son readded it and the next month I had another £200 charge. Clearly, I will have to remove the sim and give him a pay and go. However I have a year of this contract left that I will not be able to use as I can't remove this payment method for a child. It is maddening.

I have been told to call Google, who tell me that the Google account is not in my name so they can't speak to me. The Google account is not set up with any parental locks because the child set up themselves.

I have complained to Three who say, sorry nothing we can do. So they provide a credit payment option but are unable to block it and will charge me an early termination fee for ending the contract.

It doesn't seem like a legal way to behave.

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

sc1999 — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:42:36 GMT

I have had a look at the scant terms and conditions that 3 publish and there is nothing about minimum age for users. Google pay won't allow under 16's. I think that if you son is under 16 then I would hold three responsible and complain to the fca as they are allowing a minor to gain credit.

Other than that it will have to be tough love but check that you can control his payg spending.

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

JonathanB — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:35:01 GMT

Hi @Bluemonkey,

This sounds really frustrating, particularly when you've taken steps to address this and ThreePay was reinstated from the phone.

If you take a look into Google Family Parental Controls there are many options to place restrictions, including purchase approvals so that the user can't purchase content, as well as options to prevent additional Google accounts being added to the device in order to bypass the controls once in place.

You may need access to the existing Google account, or to remove it in order to get this initially set up, but once you've done this your son shouldn't be able to make further purchases on Play store apps.

Hope this helps,
JonathanB

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Moocats — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:24:38 GMT

A family member who has a sim only on my account has run up a 3pay bill of just over £100 which they can’t now afford to repay leaving me stuck with it as an obligation meaning I’ll not make rent this month. Why on earth can’t we have the option to disable 3pay on the three accounts t for any or all attached lines. Ridiculous.

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Mel85 — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 13:52:18 GMT

Hi I’m having this problem all of a sudden I’m being charged for something called vas? I find out it’s three pay service I don’t understand how because ive not had this on my bill before but now I have. I don’t even know what it’s for

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

MichaelP — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 14:22:26 GMT

Hey @Mel85,

I understand it's important to know where charges originate from.

Please access My3 via the Three app or a browser.

You can download the bill breakdown there to check what the charge is for. I hope this offers some clarification for you on where this charge has come from.

Thanks,
Michael

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Ringading — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 07:40:30 GMT

Hi,

Have you tried calling Three's helpline? A while ago my daughter had inadvertently clicked on an unsolicited text which had signed her up to a gym membership. Three were helpful with removing this 'service'.

Hope that helps!

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Ringading — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 07:43:53 GMT

It would be good if Three could provide clear guidance on how to disable Three pay - I couldn't see how to do this.

Thanks

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Bob2 — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:45:42 GMT

I wouldnt recommend using 3pay as it is not fit for purpose. The fact you cant disable it is extremly concerning.

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Nick25144831 — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:14:12 GMT

Absolute shocking you cant disable it. Three need to get a grip. 5 months left on 3 contracts this is the reason I will be leaving 3

Re: How To Disable ThreePay For My Son

Chickpie88 — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:34:42 GMT

Be careful to look out for other phone providers that do it as I believe EE do it too!! It’s such a terrible idea every month I’m being charged and have no way of verifying what the charges are. These companies should be ashamed of themselves