Are ringtones a rip off?

Downloading cool new ringtones can be fun, but they can also end up being pretty pricey if you're not careful!

Just ask 13-year-old Rosie McCarthy, who signed up to get one free ringtone, and ended up with a £129 bill!

Click here to read Rosie's story

But we wondered if YOU have ever signed up for some cool new tunes, and found yourself in a spot of bother like Rosie?

And what do you think about them, are they great to make you stand out from the crowd, or just plain annoying?

Unfortunately this topic is now closed, but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.

Your comments

"BUT you CAN download free ring tones (legally) but make sure it's legal before you download!"

Joe, 11, Hereford, England

"Some people lie, like they say it's free but it's about £3. They are absolute rip offs so I agree. They must be made a lower price! It's only a bit of music on your phone!"

Zoe, 11, Harrogate, England

"I think that some ringtones are a rip off. Once I paid £1.50 for a few lines of a song!"

Zak, 11, Bradford, England

"Don't listen to stupid adverts and it won't cost you lots of money!"

Eileen, 12, Lisburn, Northern Ireland

"I think they are so good but they are too expensive and you always keep getting texts off the company!"

Lia, 10, West Midlands, England

"I don't have a phone yet, and I was planning to get one since adverts say it's "free". Well, I have changed my mind because they told us fibs; Rosie had to pay a bill, a big one!"

Kathryn, 11, Stornoway, Scotland

"I think it's best not to listen to stupid adverts that say stuff for your mobile is free 'cause it obviously isn't!"

Marianna, 13, Greece

"Yep! They are such a rip off. You can get free ones with the phone for starters, you can ask friends to lend theirs and you can upload your CDs. What is the point of BUYING A RINGTONE! I mean, come on!"

Kassy, 12, Chester, England

"Yes, it's a scam for younger teens who think it's free but it's not. They are not stupid when giving free ringtones; they will charge you something somehow or another."

Hamzah, 13, England

"I have the same situation. Whenever I top-up £5.00 just gets taken off."

Fatimah, 13, Oxford, England

"No, as long as you know exactly what you're buying and ask an adult to check it out first."

Scarlett, 12, Bristol, England

"What's the point off having cool new ringtones when all you're going to do is answer a phone?"

Nikkie, 12, Manchester, England

"I think the advertising for them should be clearer on the prices of the ring tones. My parents don't let me buy ringtones and now I see why."

Beth, 10, West Sussex, England

"Once I clicked on to something on my phone by accident. I then started getting texts everyday and they were charging me £1 per day! I didn't know how to stop it but I told my Dad and he managed to stop the texts from being sent to me. Ringtone terms and conditions are too complicated for people to understand. They need to be clearer!"

Zainab, 13, London, England

"I agree, ringtones are way too expensive - do mobile companies expect kids to be rich and get loads of pocket money? I think that they should consider the prices and maybe do special offers for kids."

Meagan, 12, Kent, England

"No way! I always buy ringtones; it's so worth the money when all your friends hear it and think your ringtone is really cool!"

John, 10, London, England

"Yes, because when I was looking at what was on my phone I went in to 'Music Files' and it had a search bar. I typed 'Alvin and the Chipmunks.' I got it and they started sending me loads of texts that were taking £1.50 each time."

John Paul, 9, Scotland

"I think ringtones are a rip off and way too pricey. I don't usually use my phone but when I do I am happy with the ones that are included."

Lucy, 11, Paignton, England

"Ringtones are a rip off. All that they do is tell you when someone is calling you so they should be free."

Dylan, 11, Port Talbot, Wales

"I never buy/download ringtones or songs on my phone because my mates send them to me by Bluetooth! I do agree - they are so expensive."

Saffron, 13, Kent, England

"They are way too expensive! A little while ago I applied for a ringtone and it cost me £4.99 and it didn't sound anything like the song I ordered!"

Wilemena, 12, Nottingham, England

"Yeah, I think that ringtones should at least be 50p to £1, depending on how long they are."

Sophie, 9, Runcorn, England

"I think they are so rubbish. The same sort of thing happened to me but it only cost £2.50. I paid and they did not give me my ringtone!!!"

Erin, 12, England

"Ringtones are way too expensive. I just put CDs onto my phone or get other people to send me songs!"

Bethan, 14, Gloucester, England

"I have to pay £3 to get a ringtone on my phone, they are way too expensive."

Alexandra, 11, Chelmsford, England

"The price is way too high and you can be made to pay for things you haven't asked for."

Georgia, 12, Lytham, England

"I think ringtones are a rip-off because you can't see the small print, so you don't know how much it is until you see the bills... ahhhhhhh!"

Rachel, 13, Dundee, Scotland

"One time I tried to get a ringtone and I got loads of texts, and each text cost £1.50- £3. They are a waste."

Soph, 13, London, England

"I think that they are a waste of time, because you can get the tone off your friends for free."

Elsa, 14, Dumfries, Scotland

"I think ringtones are a total rip off! £1.50 for a ring tone that you could get from your friend for free? It's ridiculous!"

Charlii, 14, Norwich, England

"They are far too expensive. I just record something on my phone and use it as my ringtone, instead of having to pay for a song that will go out of fashion in a week."

Katy, 12, Coleraine, Northern Ireland

"I think that ringtones are too pricey because most songs are £1 and I could buy it on a website for cheaper and put it on my phone."

Jonathon, 12, Stafford, England

"I like ringtones, as long as you don't have to sign for anything - just for once doesn't cost you much!"

Rosa, 12, Amsterdam, Holland

"Ringtones are great fun, but don't pay for them, use music editing software and make you own."

Stephen, 13, London, England

"I can't get any new ringtones on my mobile because it's an up-to-date original Nokia, and I don't have blue-tooth."

Bethany, 13, Argyll, Scotland

"I think it's silly how much ringtones cost because they are ripping off peoples money. I think they are cool but should be cheaper for children because they are ripping off there parents money."

Jack, 12, Plymouth, England