If you have bad credit, there are very few if any wireless companies that will help you. If you do find a company that will give you a plan, you more than likely will have to put down an outrageous deposit. The more cell phones you have on a plan the bigger your deposit will be. The down payment on the phone will run anywhere from $300 to $500 dollars. With the economy the way it is, people with bad credit are having a difficult time getting a cell phone. Here are six steps to help prevent you from being ransacked if you have bad credit and want a cellular phone.
Step One
Never pay a deposit of any kind. The only deposit you should pay is the retail price of the phone. You should not have to prepay your first month’s bill. Why pay for something you have not consumed? Of course, if you like the provider you have and are happy paying in advance then stay with your current provider.
Step Two
Before you give up and go and buy you a pre-paid or pay as you go plan, work out the finances. You might want to think about how much more you will pay for your phone per minute. The cost of a pre-paid plan per minute is .10 cents. Let’s say you have a standard contract and you pay $59.99 for 900 minutes that breaks down to .07 cents a minute. For the same 900 minutes on a pre-paid or pay as you go phone, it will cost you $90 dollars. Step 2 is very important to keep in mind when you are buying your phone so you don’t get ripped off.
Step Three
Look at the price of the pay as you phones and the price of a no credit check phone. The price of the contract plan should be drastically higher than those from no credit check plans.
Step Four
Pay very careful attention to the coverage area. Unless bad credit providers lease network from Verizon Wireless or Sprint PCS coverage networks often aren’t that great. This means if you travel you will be roaming and your fees will be very high. Add the roaming fees to a pre-paid or pay as you go plan and your minutes just got really expensive. Make sure that you understand the area covered by your contract and do not be afraid to ask questions about what you do not understand.
Step Five
Your wireless provider should report to the consumer credit agency. As long as you stay current on your payment, this will seriously help to improve your credit score.
Step Six
With the amount of cash, you have to spend on your phone and or the deposit with the bad credit plan, the provider should give some sort of rebate if you keep you bill in good standing. Ask how long it takes to get the rebate. If it is longer than one year it is excessively long. If you follow these six simple steps, you could save maybe thousands of dollars in your search for mobile service with bad credit. In addition, this could improve your credit score. There is no denying that the economy has hurt many people and their credit score, however don’t let it keep you from staying in touch with friends and loved ones.
