Cut phones to stop text abuse

Phone companies should take firmer action when told about text bullying, say the parents of affected teenagers.

The Weekend Herald highlighted the problem of text bullying, which contributed to the death of Alex Teka, a 12-year-old Putaruru College student, the day before school went back. She had suffered verbal, physical and text-message abuse during 2005.

Queenstown man Brian McMillan said his daughter also experienced "severe and continuous text bullying" last year. She became withdrawn and refused to go back to school. Despite changing her phone number, the bullying continued.

His daughter had become so depressed that Mr McMillan called Telecom and asked that the number be immediately disconnected.

He thought that because the phone was registered to his name, stopping the account would not be a problem. But he said Telecom told him the user of the phone had to consent.

"I gave them the reasons why and pleaded with them. They refused, saying that the only way this could happen was for me to report the phone stolen and file a police report."

Mr McMillan said getting his daughter's consent was impossible. "Can you imagine the screaming match if I tried to physically take the phone from her? It's a social lifeline."

Telecom said because the phone was on a prepaid account, it was not registered to anybody's name. However, the company could cut off phones when there was evidence of bullying, said spokeswoman Sarah Berry.

Prepaid phones could be disconnected, as long as it was clear who the true owner was. If there were fears for a child's life, the matter would automatically be referred to police.

Ms Berry said Telecom logged about 3000 nuisance calls and texts each month. On average just six of those related to text bullying.

She said Telecom, Vodafone, the police and internet and mobile phone safety group Netsafe would meet next week to discuss cellphone abuse among teenagers.

Leigh Owens of Vodafone said her company dealt with about 100 nuisance complaints a month. She did not know how many related to bullying texts.

"We can investigate after at least three samples of text bullying (to which we ask the person receiving not to respond). The person sending the messages is warned about their behaviour and can have their service restricted.

"They can be ultimately removed from the network and we will contact police if necessary."

This week a Tauranga mother of an Otumoetai College student also claimed she had had problems with a mobile phone company. She was told there must be a "run of days" of repeated abuse before the phone company could act.

"Unfortunately it was not a daily thing so I couldn't [illustrate a pattern of abuse]."

Her daughter was removed from school having endured abusive texts and death threats on answerphone services. The mother had contacted police but the only punishment for the perpetrators had been a week-long suspension from school.