There's no minimum credit score to get a mobile phone contract. But your contract provider will look at your credit report to make a decision on whether they will accept you as a customer. This decision will be based on the details of your credit report and the specifics of the deal they're offering.
What credit score do you need to get a phone contract? Networks will be more interested in your credit history – unpaid loans, late payments, etc – than they will about a particular credit score. So there's no minimum score you'll need to achieve.
You're still in the clear if you have a credit rating of at least 600 though. This will qualify you for most cell phone plans. You might encounter situations where the negative factors on your credit report impact your ability to qualify for a mobile phone contract.
At a Glance:
For example, Sprint considers a credit score of 700 and above as “excellent” and anything below 550 as “fair.” AT&T may require a deposit for credit scores below 600. Options for getting a phone line with bad credit include prepaid plans, buy now pay later plans, joining a family plan, or using a cosigner.
There's no minimum credit score to get a phone contract. Every network operator scores you differently—so even if one network won't give you a contract, you might have more luck elsewhere. Having bad credit doesn't stop you from getting a phone contract, but it might make it harder.
Smartphone Equality is a program that helps our T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile prepaid customer move to our postpaid service and you get our best available pricing on new smartphones, devices, and additional lines—that means $0 down on select devices and no credit check.
A low credit rating suggests a history of late payments, high indebtedness or default, making lenders cautious about granting loans. With a credit score of 500, you would be able to get approved for some cell phones plans and maybe a free phone, but the phone would not be a flagship brand like the latest iPhone.
T-Mobile does a hard credit check on new customers for many of their products and services. T-Mobile does not specify a minimum qualifying credit score, but generally, you need to have a credit score above 600 to qualify for a monthly plan with any phone carrier.
As a general rule, providers are likely to refuse you a mobile phone contract either because your application was filled in incorrectly, or because you failed a credit check.
FICO Score
Very poor: 300 to 579. Fair: 580 to 669. Good: 670 to 739. Very good: 740 to 799. Excellent: 800 to 850.
There's no standard minimum credit score needed for a cell phone contract. The guidelines for a good or bad credit score rating are typically: 600 and above is good; 700 and above is great. A number of factors can impact your credit score, either negatively or positively, and your score is always subject to change.
Is there a minimum credit score needed to purchase a cell phone? While there is no minimum credit score that will ensure a cell phone contract approval, providers may use your score to assess creditworthiness. A higher score may help you secure more preferable options.
For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent.
Identification documents for subscriber. Make sure to bring the original documents. (Driver's license, passport, etc.) The personal identification document must include your name, date of birth, and current address, and it must be valid and within the expiry date.
An original Green barcoded ID or ID card. Proof of residence in the form of an official account, no greater than 3 months old. 3-months bank statements and payslips are no longer required (although they may still request these).
Aim to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%. This means that on a credit card with a $500 credit limit, you should try to keep your monthly statement balance below $150.
A credit check is when companies like Verizon check if people or businesses are financially trustworthy. It means looking at an applicant's credit history, including past borrowing, debts, and payment history to make a decision.
What is the easiest phone carrier to get approved with? The likes of giffgaff, Lebara Mobile, VOXI, SMARTY, EE and Asda Mobile all allow you to take out a SIM only contract without a credit check. But the other networks will still likely accept you too.
Checking your credit is the first step in joining Verizon.
Most major car insurance companies like GEICO, Progressive and State Farm factor in your credit score when giving you a quote. Some smaller, regional insurers skip credit checks, though their coverage options (and available online information) can be limited.
Generally, it is cheaper in the long run to buy a phone outright if you can. You should also consider the non-monetary benefits. For example, if you need to build your credit score, it might be better to get a phone contract rather than pay as you go.
If you genuinely have no idea why you might have been turned down following a credit check, the very first thing to do is to check your credit record. You can do this quickly and easily with our free Credit Score tool. You'll be able see exactly what the phone provider was looking at when it made its decision.
About 70% of all mortgages are conventional loans, making it the most common type of mortgage. A FICO score of 620 or better is typically required for a conventional loan and, if your score is 760 or higher, you should qualify for the best interest rates.