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Who here thinks a credit score check in order to get an iPhone is ridiculous?

Of coarse they will check your credit. If I was a cellphone carrier, I wouldn't approve an account when I see that you have any collections accounts being reported by other cellphone providers. That shows you broke the contract to repay them and walked away from your obligation. There are a lot of reasons to check someones credit history. People think they can just rack up a bill from one carrier and not pay up so they can open another account with another carrier. Can't do that anymore. Too many deadbeats nowadays. Employers also check credit as well.

btw...we are not financing phones when we pay for subsidized pricing. We are just agreeing to stay with their service for 2 years. If we are financing the phones, our monthly bill would decrease after we fulfill the required service timeframe but it doesn't.
 
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notjustjay said:
Yep. Same people who have XBOX360's or PS3's with controllers, games, and accessories. Or rebuild hot rods and buy car parts. Or have designer jackets or handbags. Did you really need that Lexus when a basic Toyota would get you from point A to point B just the same? Do realize how much money you've spent on Starbucks, smokes, or drinks at the local pub?

We all spend all kinds of money on things we don't "need".
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Yep. There's lots of things people don't need but get anyway. It's part of life's pleasures. But you just have to prioritize or increase your income. Too many people want to live like they make $100k but few actually do.

If you have a crappy income then maybe cut out some other things in your life and you'll get your iPhone. I always found it funny how some people say they can't afford a $650 phone right before they drop $200 or more on concert tickets or $1,000 for upgrades to their car.
 
mrkramer said:
Any prepaid one, I've used prepaid plans on both AT&T and T-Mobile in the US, Fido and Virgin Mobile in Canada, along with various other foreign carriers and never once had to get a credit check for a plan.
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It was a UK specific question, 30 day plans are contract here and require a credit check, PAYG has no base time plan, you can just buy credit that never expires.
 
DBZmusicboy01 said:
But most people can't afford to pay $700+ with tax for an phone.
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That's not true. If you were to save $20/month for 48 months, you would have $960 to buy your phone and get AppleCare +. Also, paying full price means you get an unlocked phone.

If you are unable to save $20/month, then you shouldn't buy a smartphone. :rolleyes:
 
sumsingwong said:
btw...we are not financing phones when we pay for subsidized pricing. We are just agreeing to stay with their service for 2 years. If we are financing the phones, our monthly bill would decrease after we fulfill the required service timeframe but it doesn't.
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I have to disagree. Just because the monthly fee doesn't go down has no connection with the cost of the phone. The monthly fee is the same even if you purchase a phone outright from Apple - still pay the same fee as if you got it from the carrier for $199... keeping the same monthly fee is great for carriers - the phone is now paid for and the money that was subsidizing the phone now goes to carrier profit. It would be absolutely great if you could pay less if you bought your own phone, but the carriers aren't going to give up on their profits and own enough politicians to make sure the government doesn't force the to change.

In Europe it's a different story - you typically buy the phone outright and monthly cost is lower.
 
If you are buying one for $200 when the company is selling it for $650, they aren't just gonna take a promise from you that you can and will pay them back for it. This is a fairly simple concept I'm afraid
 
Obama paid for mine. Service too! Gotta have an iPhone, it's my right as an 'Merican.

Credit checks are for people that have jobs! I just watch Teen Mom 3 and drink Dr. Pepper (diet, because I care about myself!).

Boo-YA!
 
I have no issue with them checking my credit. The issue I have is that in turn they should report each month to the credit bureaus. They only report if you fail to pay them.
 
Oui said:
I have no issue with them checking my credit. The issue I have is that in turn they should report each month to the credit bureaus. They only report if you fail to pay them.
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I wish they did report positive payments. Agree there.
 
Question about the T-Mobile iPhone 5S purchase with bad credit

Anyone here got the iPhone 5S with bad credit on T-Mobile? My question is if they allowed you to get it how much extra do you have to pay per month and or if you need to pay a deposit first. Like if you would only need to pay $5 more per month or something. Thanks...
 
if you got bad credit tmobile requires you to pay higher down payment and less month
 
ross1998 said:
if you got bad credit tmobile requires you to pay higher down payment and less month
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Less month? what do you mean by that and how much higher do you have to pay? If they are offering the iPhone for $0 down then people with bad credit has to pay $100 ?
 
I think people with bad credit have to pay something like $250 upfront for the 5S.

Also keep in mind that you will pay $250 + taxes on the full price of the device (around $45 in most states) + your deposit (usually around $50-75).

So you could end up paying anywhere from $350-400 out the door.

Your monthly EIP payments are lower though. Only around $18 instead of $29 like someone who qualifies for $0 down.
 
DBZmusicboy01 said:
Less month? what do you mean by that and how much higher do you have to pay? If they are offering the iPhone for $0 down then people with bad credit has to pay $100 ?
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Sorry I'm using swipe beta on iphone and lots of typos. I ment less per month.
 
AutoUnion39 said:
Maybe if you have bad credit, it is not wise to buy an iPhone right now?
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He may have bad credit because of things in his past. It does not mean he is currently not financially responsible or able. He may be In the process of building back his credit.
 
jav6454 said:
Doesn't matter. End result is there. Also, like I said, OP will be punished due to lack of an account.
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What exactly are you responding to? I was responding to the guy that said the op should not be getting an iphone 5s because of his bad credit.
 
Not directly relevant as I assume you are in the US but in the UK it's a black and white decision, you can either have the phone on a normal monthly contract or not, it's not a matter of paying more per month for bad credit. If not you have to buy a phone and do PAYG or a sim-only contract. This is based upon experience of a friend of mine who had clean credit history but no job so "failed" that part of the credit check.
 
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