It's not that bad.
They only check when you're setting up your account. They don't check every time you upgrade.
They only check when you're setting up your account. They don't check every time you upgrade.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Who here thinks a credit score check in order to get an iPhone is ridiculous?
- Thread starter DBZmusicboy01
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Same experience over here. They did a check when I first opened my account (for a Sony "flip phone") but nothing since. I even switched to prepaid and then back to contract (with a subsidised iPhone) without needing another check.
Yep. They are a little quirky but easy enough to get into. 680+ with nothing real recent negative and you should be able to get in. That's perfectly reasonable for a decent credit card.
What he is eluding to is that if they don't check credit and a bunch of people default on $700 phones the rest of us are going to pay higher rates to make up for that.
Many carriers offer the iPhone on post-paid plans which alone (regardless of cellphone) require credit check, so no, it is not ridiculous. You bragging about it, on the other hand, is.
I hear you on that.
Its always "stupid" when it doesn't work your way or the way you wanted it to.
Its not stupid when you stop making the payments and the company gets shafted.
Blaming the economy or everyone else for your bad credit history or bad choices in life doesn't sound right to me.
It doesn't sound like you understand the US carrier subsidy policy.
The regular price of an iPhone (in the US) is $649 (16GB)/$749 (32GB)/$849 (64GB).
If you're talking about getting an iPhone for $300 ($299), that means a carrier like Verizon is selling you the $749 iPhone, but only charging you $299.
Basically, THE CARRIER IS GIVING YOU $450. They'll do that because they will earn that money back a little each month that you remain a customer.
They make you sign a contract to ensure that you will remain a customer.
They do a credit check to ensure that you're not likely to walk away from the contract.
You can avoid all of this by buying an iPhone at the regular price.
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile do credit checks before approving you for a two year iPhone contract. They've been doing it for years.
Like others have said, just buy the phone and then go on prepaid.
Like others have said, just buy the phone and then go on prepaid.
I'm with O2 simplicity plan. I never completed any credit check to get the sim. Costs me £15 a month.
Maybe it was a gift from a loving family member or friend that knows they can't afford nice things?
I know of people on foodstamps that have a new iPhone, coach purses, etc... But you know what? They didn't pay a penny for it, and only have it because people that care, feel bad for them. Since they are too proud to take money, we get them gifts instead, for Christmas, Birthdays, etc...
But keep judging away, because that is more of what we need in this country.
Yup.
In fairness, I don't give Coach purses to people on food stamps. I give them gift cards to grocery stores. If they're hard up on times and need cash for food then they should be getting food, not $200+ purses. It is not judgmental of me to think that either. I won't even go into my personal experience with someone on food stamps because this is about the OP, his inability to repay a potential debt and his disagreement with a company that won't take a risk on a LUXURY item.
If a family member of mine was on food stamps, I would be providing them with groceries or help them pay for school supplies for their children. Not iPhones, which have a monthly bill EQUAL to that of a grocery store bill ... or are you also paying for the smartphone plan or replacement coach bags when they go missing?
In fact, I'm actually infuriated at the thought of social security tax likely increasing in the coming years, because it goes to fund corrupt lifestyles such as these. I'm virtually buying iPhones for low income and stupid spending families who are living far beyond their means.
Again, this is the problem with the country. We want to put superfluous purchases such as coach purses and iPhones before our needs and investments, such as food and education.
Last edited by a moderator:
OP is saying that economy is bad now and some people are struggling to pay bills/credit. that's all.
Buy the phone outright and T-Mobile/AT&T/Sprint will take you no matter the credit (AT&T will still run a check anyway, but will still provide you with service).
Verizon however I don't know.
Verizon however I don't know.
I'd say it's a loan, but with a terrible contract. You take a loan for a $600 phone, repayable over 24 months, except if you forget to cancel the loan contract when the phone is paid off after 24 months, they keep taking your money. And the only way to cancel the contract is to enter a new loan contract for a new phone (or take your phone to a different carrier).
Seriously, this system has been in place for decades, are there STILL people who don't understand how it works?
I had to get a credit check when I first signed onto a monthly postpaid plan, back in 1999. No credit check needed for pay-as-you-go.
But most people can't afford to pay $700+ with tax for an phone. It's crazy when the ipad retina cost only $500 and the iPod touch 32GB cost only $300
The only better thing about the iPhone is the camera and the newer hardware
The loan is stupid because the phone companies are greedy to charge people $80 a month for 2 years is insane
The only better thing about the iPhone is the camera and the newer hardware
The loan is stupid because the phone companies are greedy to charge people $80 a month for 2 years is insane
http://iphone.straighttalk.com/ $45/month
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans $30/month
Still gotta buy the phone outright though if you want to avoid the credit check.
It's not greedy or unfair. You're only complaining because you have a bad credit score; whose fault is that?
Then they shouldn't be buying them. As others have said, living beyond ones needs is the reason the economy is in the toilet.
Last edited:
You're right, most people can't afford to pay $700 for an iPhone. That's why a carrier will sell it to you for a much more reasonable price of $200 with a 2 year contract to help pay back that $500 difference. Of course they're going to want to check your credit to make sure you'll be able to make your monthly payments.