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No it's not. Cell phone companies are much more lenient in giving credit than any other potential creditor. If they weren't, probably 30 percent of people who have smartphones wouldn't be able to get them.

I know people who have horrible credit who have been able to get an iPhone and not had to pay a deposit. I'm talking about people who have defaulted on 5 or more loans or credit cards.

Now the people who have to pay a deposit, their bad credit has to be through the roof. I'm talking obscene.

Depends on the carrier. Apparently AT&T is the tightest, T-Mobile checks your pulse, and then gives you a contract.
 
Depends on the carrier. Apparently AT&T is the tightest, T-Mobile checks your pulse, and then gives you a contract.

None of them are tight. Everyone that has had bad credit that I know has gone with AT&T.
 
Your credit rating will go into the toilet. Loans will become impossible, or if granted will be at usurious rates.

Also, when you try to return to the States, you will be stopped at the airport, stripped naked in public, and beaten severely about the head and shoulders. Your family will be publicly humiliated, and your friends will shun you. ;)

No, really, you will cause yourself problems far outweighing any money you save by skipping out.

You get an upvote for using big words correctly!
 
None of them are tight. Everyone that has had bad credit that I know has gone with AT&T.

If someone has bad credit on AT&T, they would have to pay a deposit, or their credit isn't that bad. At the time of the merger talks, it was discussed that a significant portion of T-Mobile's subscriber base wouldn't be able to become AT&T subscribers on their own, except through the merger.
 
If someone has bad credit on AT&T, they would have to pay a deposit, or their credit isn't that bad. At the time of the merger talks, it was discussed that a significant portion of T-Mobile's subscriber base wouldn't be able to become AT&T subscribers on their own, except through the merger.

I hate arguing with someone who doesn't know what they are talking about, but I'll give a go one last time.

Would you consider someone with five plus charge offs and defaults on loans to have bad credit? Yes you would. I know multiple persons with credit worse than that who have iPhones with AT&T and didn't have to pay a deposit.

It's common knowledge that cell phone companies are much more lenient in approving credit than other companies because they would lose a substantial amount of their customer base if they didn't.
 
I hate arguing with someone who doesn't know what they are talking about, but I'll give a go one last time.

Would you consider someone with five plus charge offs and defaults on loans to have bad credit? Yes you would. I know multiple persons with credit worse than that who have iPhones with AT&T and didn't have to pay a deposit.

It's common knowledge that cell phone companies are much more lenient in approving credit than other companies because they would lose a substantial amount of their customer base if they didn't.

Maybe their definition of "bad credit" is a little different than others. But they still have standards and require deposits.
 
Maybe their definition of "bad credit" is a little different than others. But they still have standards and require deposits.

Let's define "bad credit" as a FICO score of < 650. That's low enough that you'll have a hard time getting any reasonable loans - the few that you do get will have really high interest and/or limits that are low enough that there's no point in taking the loan.

With AT&T, you practically need to get into the 400s before they start thinking about asking for a deposit.


Also, at least in the past, AT&T has let people out of their contracts without an ETF for people who were moving overseas. I don't know if they still do, but it might be worth inquiring about such an option.
 
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As many here stated, ATT will eventually transfer over your debt to collections. The harassment you'll be subjected to won't be worth it. Besides, according to someone I know who use to do collections, they usually will not follow through with collections on anything around $1000. Court fees and time spent can exceed those amounts. They're more aggressive with those that have, say 10k and beyond of debt.

Plus your credit score will be affected and your ability to purchase a home and car, or anything on credit will be affected for 7-10 years. This will always follow and haunt your credit history and never get erased, even if they say they will. There will be sides notes to this on your record.

Not worth it IMO, just pay your monthly or pay the ETF, but NO you will not go to prison or be deported or affect your immigration status if that's what you're implying. You did say, "if you want to come back some day".
 
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