Virginia dad locks up daughter's closet after $500 phone bill

HANOVER, VA -- A father decided to lock his daughter's closet with a chain and padlock after she racked up a $541 phone bill.

Dad Jared Cramer said he took away his 13-year-old daughter's phone away along with locking up all her clothes, makeup and jewelry inside the closet, WWBT-TV reports.

The eighth grader now has items from boots to dresses labeled with numbers. The numbers indicate how many chores the eighth grader has to complete to pay of the $541.36 phone bill and earn back her items.

"She thought after I got that bill it was going to be a slap on the wrist, don't let it happen again situation," Cramer said. "But I think she's been taking it pretty well."

Cramer's daughter, Julia, is an honor student who works with children with special needs. She was also the recent recipient of the Hanover Volunteerism Award and has a strong work ethic.

"Julia woke up at 6:30 this morning when I woke up, and she started doing chores. And she's been working ever since." Cramer told WWBT-TV. "She said, 'you know what dad, I know you love me, I know I messed up, and I'm gonna work this off.'"

The reason behind massive phone bill? Too many social media posts which resulted in data fees.