Temporary turn off service

[FTT]

Hi, is there a way to temporarily turn off the PM phone service from my rebelious teen's phone?

[Handy1]

@FTT  yes with wifi availability 

[FTT]

If the PM service is disabled, can she still go look at TikTok ?

[Handy1]

@FTT  no you wouldn’t , but if you didn’t want her to be using the internet and watching videos all night long then yes 

adding but instead of shutting the wifi down you could just change  the password for wifi so you can still use when you want her to be doing homework and not surfing online no need to make yourself suffer too LOL

[FTT]

So if I report it lost or stolen, do I need to also disable WiFi in the house on that device?  sorry for all these tech questions

[Handy1]

@Sansan  Thanks sorry @FTT  my bad WhatsApp is same number , guess I was confused with text now or fongo some of those I belive use different number , but fact remains if the PM service is disabled it will not work period 

[Sansan]

Hey @Handy1 WhatsApp is the same phone number. 

[Handy1]

@FTT  Wifi is internet connection , public mobile is a service if the service is disabled it cannot be used 

adding @FTT  think about it this way if wifi was all one needed then phone companies would be dead in the water no one would pay for texting and calling they would just only sell data plans for when wifi wasn’t available 

[FTT]

what is the difference? WiFi is Wifi

[Handy1]

@FTT  Yes use wifi for apps data games videos but not the actual service from PM , no calling and texting unless it’s app like what’s app but even then it’s different number then her PM phone number 

[FTT]

But even if the service is cut off, can't she still use WiFi on her phone wherever she goes?

By reporting it stolen, she will not have a phone line and data, that's it?

[Handy1]

@FTT  No because the service will be cut off , she could text with wifi thru what’s app but that gives a different number for use and then only to other users on what’s app. She won’t receive text thru PM if the phone is reported lost /stolen 

[FTT]

She won't get a code by text?  Since she can still use WiFi, will a code not be sent to her text messaging service?

[Handy1]

@FTT  They can’t if it’s your email because once phone is shut down it won’t get code just the email will so if you control that . Then only you can get code to log back in and restore service . But if they had access to your email then that’s another story 

[Sansan]

I recently had to do it fir someone who lost their phone.

There is no warning.  It's immediate.  The line says no longer in service when you call the number.

When you log in, it will tell you the account is suspended with options to resume service. 

Once you resume service, no notification is sent either. Phone works immediately. 

My experience recently. 

[FTT]

How could they do that if I have to enter my email, and a password, plus a secure code is sent to my phone in order for me to enter that also for the log-in ?

[Handy1]

@FTT  If you report it lost /stolen it will suspend the service right away with no warning to your teen . If they know the email to the account they could log back in and report it found in the same manner as reporting it lost . 

[FTT]

Hi, if I do that, will it suspend automatically or will she receive a code on her phone that she needs to agree to?

[Handy1 · Accepted solution]

@FTT  Yes that’s right ,your teen would need to then know the new wifi password to connect 

[FTT]

See that is something I did not think of, thank you.  If I change the WiFi password while she is out - will this mean that once she comes home it will not automatically connect like it usually does?  

[Handy1]

@FTT  You could always just change the wifi password , and give it to the teen when you want again , always having another password  ready to change again  should the need arise . But if you fear they will just run down the street friends house on wifi it’s all for nothing ,IDK your in tough spot with that one wifi is likely candy to us when we were young and wouldn’t want  to strain parent child relationship for some candy every once and awhile , I feel for ya best of luck 🤞 

[FTT]

that's the problem, the Bell WiFi app is very unreliable and does not always work to freeze the internet on certain devices.

[Handy1]

@FTT  Yes unfortunately, with apps and if it iPhone that’s all it needs for iMessage with out a app , so it’s hard to really completely block them unless at home and you turn off your wifi too . Just depends how far you wanna go with it . But reporting lost or / stolen would work for when there is no wifi available 

[FTT]

It seems from your answer that my teen will still have access to WiFi and text messaging.

Is that correct?

[slusagm]

use some app to disable some screen with passcode lock

then you can turn on data if you like or disable any app you dont want him to use

[Handy1]

@FTT  They will only be able to use it with wifi for data and texting apps , but not while out , but when you go to log in it will send code possible to her number and she know you trying to go into the account . You would need to then hit the “didn’t get code” button have it sent to email if you control it to input the code . So depending on who email name it’s in ultimately can go in change the passwords and 2FA goes to and where phone or email from the ever safe ID . But with that control yes you can turn off and on when you feel it’s needed 

[hTideGnow]

HI @FTT 

login My Account and click Lost/Stolen to suspend the service. 

You can also use the app, go to Account page, click Report Lost/Stolen Device close to the bottom of the page

[FTT]

If I do report it lost or stolen, what can my teen see on the phone at that point?  nothing?

[FTT]

That's the problem I cant take the phone because she will hide it.

Can I report lost or stolen for like a few hours at a time?

[Sansan]

Yup, reporting it lost for a week or so is a great idea.

Next take the phone.

It's easy to correct once you've decided what to moving forward. A week or two.

[Handy1]

@FTT  You could report it lost/stolen be one way , have to turn back on when ready too and make sure the account never goes more then 90 days in suspended state by turning off auto subscribe 

Report lost phone