Why does AT&T charge $600 just for a deposit ?

[imanidiot]

I assume it's because of your credit or lack there of. I don't pay a deposit and have 5 lines open.

Plus I don't feel the need to protest as I would pay more with other carriers. Sorry I won't join you in all your anger, it's fun to watch though.

^This to the max.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I think it's funny for att or any company to charge more than $250 for a desposit.

The US govt will give up potentially up to a $729k housing loan with as little as 3.5 downpayment or even still 0% down if doing a VA housing loan. And they have low credit requirements. It used to be given to people with credit scores in the 500s. And even with the housing crash, you can still get hundreds of thousands in loans with a credit score in the low 600s.

$600-700 is a ridiculous amount of money for a desposit considering ur monthly bill probably won't be more than $100-125 a month with one line.

Landlords usually don't charge more than one months desposit on their homes.

You are forgetting that our government is foolish and we saw one house loan crisis and they are now working for getting another.

Believe me if ATT wants a $600 deposit, there is a reason for it.

I am sure the OP has got this worked out as his post was years ago.

 

[scaredpoet]

I have the same thing with Verizon. But mine is $750. The girl that ran my credit was just flabbergasted. She had never seen that before. And NO that is the security deposit and not linked to buying the phone. You have to pay the deposit AND pay for the device. This is the ONLY reason I'm with T-mobile cause they're the only service provider that doesn't require a massive deposit. Also don't get that deposit twisted. My credit score is in 700's and still can't get service with AT&T and Verizon.

You should do some research then as to why this is. Did you default on a wireless bill at some point in the past? Did someone take out an account in your name, with or without you knowing?

Did you recently switch carriers? Maybe a couple of times over the past year?

Cell carriers use more than just your credit score in making their decisions on deposits. If there are any red flags that suggest risky or fraudulent activity, like wireless accounts being opened in closed rapidly, or lots of port ins/outs, then you'll get penalized for it.

Also, some wireless carriers will penalize a customer for leaving and then wanting to come back later as a new customer within a year or two, by requiring a high deposit to come back, even with good credit. It's their subtle way of saying that if you're going to be finicky and leave, only to come back too soon, then you're more trouble than you're worth to them as a customer.

 

[keanasenasa]

Why all the trouble, while you can just apply for a simple card credit, and avoid the debts that can come from using such credit cards?

 

[Rayy42]

Get a small secured credit card and PIF every month for 6mo-12mo and watch your score jump up if you don't have credit then try to reapply once you are a bit more established.