Cell Phones With Bad Credit
77If you suffer from bad credit, getting a cell phone can be problematic. Cellular companies want to make sure that people will pay their cell phone bill; their favorite method of determining this is by using someone’s credit history to determine this. But don’t worry, there are many ways to get cell phones with bad credit.
It’s very important to note that if you don’t have good credit, you are going to have to make a concession somewhere if you want a cell phone. This could be paying higher talk rates, placing a large initial deposit, or even having someone else co sign. Each of these situations are less than ideal. The best way to get a cell phone if you have bad credit is to fix your credit first. But, understandably, this may not be feasible for you right now. If this is the case, then there are several ways how to get a cell phone with bad credit.
Go Phones / Pay as You Go
If you are searching around for a suitable phone, but feel skeptical about whether a cellular company will actually give you one or not, don’t worry. There are many phones out there that don’t require any sort of credit perquisite. These phones are known as “Go Phones.” Phones like this are not only perfect for people with poor credit, but also for those who don’t like being tied to a contract.
It’s possible to get one of those phones without any obligation on your part at all. You simply purchase the Go Phone then buy the airtime you think you will need. Once your time is up, just buy some more.
Now some people might find this type of system annoying – you do have to keep buying minutes after. However, there is something to be said about being completely free of a contract. With a Go Phone you aren’t locked down into a contract, you aren’t handed hidden activation and 911 fees. You pay upfront the minutes you use. Now, if you still want to get a regular cell phone with a contract, you can in the future. Use a Go Phone while fixing up your credit, and then apply for a cell phone when your credit has improved.
Bad Credit Cell Phone Plans
Go Phones are not the only way to get a no credit check cell phone however. It’s definitely possible to get a regular cell phone plan – even if you have bad credit. You can visit your local cell phone outlet and ask, or you can shop online. There are MANY online bad credit cell phone companies online that are eager to hand you a cell phone, regardless of your credit rating.
Now, when you sign up for a cell phone with bad credit, you are usually given some sort of probationary restrictions. You’ll have to sign an two or three year agreement with them to use their services. Monthly payments have to be made on time or the following month you will be charged double.
Co-Signer
Another strategy is to get someone with good credit to co-sign for you. This means that if you do not pay, your co-signer will be responsible for paying. This is a great way to get a cell phone plan without any of the restrictions that would normally apply to bad cell credit cell phone users (see above). However, the catch here is that you MUST pay the bills on time or you will destroy someone else’s credit – someone else who is putting themselves on the line for you. You would not believe how many horror stories I’ve heard from people who co-sign for a son or daughter only to find they are left paying the bill, lest their credit go downhill. Getting a cell phone with bad credit can be very difficult, but a co-signer bypasses the whole issue.
Sometimes there are companies too who will consider you to get cell phone
plans even with bad credit as long as you have a co-signer that has a good
rating to sign with you. It's an issue where the provider makes sure that if
you don't met a certain payment standard in due time, your co-signer will have
to pay it for you. So if you have someone who will likely help you and can be
reliable and responsible, it's sure one way to solve your problem for getting
cell phone plans that you are dreaming for.
Pay a Large Deposit
One other strategy that might work is to pay a large deposit up front for the cell phone plan. The deposit can range from 50 dollars to several hundred dollars, depending how bad your credit actually his. This is actually a pretty good option – if you can afford it.
Check out these other bad credit guides:
It’s tough having bad credit in our society. You won’t qualify for any
credit-based service. Bad credit can happen to anybody – it’s NOT just a
product of finical irresponsibility. However, for those that find themselves on
the wrong side of the credit score line, there are cell phones with bad credit available.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
I actually was asked to leave an AT&T store due to my credit being bad. They refused to even deal with me. This was after I told the guy I was just browsing.
In the UK, if you are suffering from bad credit, you can often get approved on SIM only contracts. Since no handset is supplied, these are easier to be approved for.
Lischni says:
6 months ago
Many people worry about getting cell phones with bad credit but the question may be why do they have the bad credit to start with. It seems like we now think we have to have a cell phone with us all the time and that is not cheap. It may be that this is one of those new necessities that really is a luxury but but we won't admit this. I used to live my life just fine when all I had was a land line and no answering machine. In fact, I was probably a lot more productive.