Bad Credit Phone Contract

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Feel Like You're Running Out Of Options?

These days everyone needs a cell phone, it's become a standard of life. But in order to qualify for one of those free phones you need to pass a credit check. This lens is devoted to showing you your options for getting a cell phone with bad credit.

The cool thing is there are several options for people with bad and no credit history.

*Note* If you have bad credit, may I suggest a great website titled "How do I repair my credit?"

Option #1 - Pay A Deposit

If you don't qualify for the cell phone contract, you'll be asked to pay a deposit. This deposit can range from $100 to $700. The deposit will be returned after about one year of timely bill payments.

One of the best places to find plans with small deposits is Let's talk.com.

Option #2 - Get A Pre-Paid Phone

No credit history needed. A good option if you have bad credit.

The second option is much easier than repairing bad credit (Which you should do anyway). Go to Amazon.com and pick up a pre-paid. One of the most popular brands is the Tracfone. Most other pre-paid phones require you to purchase minutes at a store, Tracfone lets you add minutes from any computer with an Internet connection.

These phones can be purchased for as little as $20. From there you just add minutes like I explained earlier.

One thing to know about the purchased minutes is that they expire a certain amount of time.
So you loose them if your don't use them.

One other disadvantage is the phone cannot be used with any other pre-paid service or monthly service like AT&T or Sprint. Keep in mind the $20 phone you purchased at Amazon really costs about $300. Tracfone subsidizes the cost of the phone to get you to become a customer, hopefully for a long time.

The great thing though is whenever you need minutes, you just buy more. No contracts, monthly bills or funky taxes. You just pay up front for what your want and nothing else. Pretty simple.

Option #3 MetroPCS - The best of both worlds

No contracts to sign and other goodies

MetroPCS is pretty cool. For $50 a month you can get unlimited everything - voice, text, internet. Metro PCS does not require you to sign any contracts so you don't have to worry about any credit checks or activation fees. Everyone talks all they want, and you pay by the month - not by the minute. Nice.

You're not going to find any free phones here, but they are reasonably priced and your first month is always free!

Metro PCS also has a number of affordable family options. You start with the $45 plan and add lines for $20 each with special discounts.

Their website even has a map to show you the coverage in your area.

Sound Off

What is it that everyone is pushing for a contract phone plan even thought they have bad credit?

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It's just what I'm used to

mycar says:

Thanks for sharing. My life need phone.
find bad credit auto dealers or auto finance

lenatpena80 says:

Thanks for sharing this. Yes people indeed cannot live without cellphones. lice shampoo

Gerard says:

Go to www.wow4mobile.com
service with AT&T and T-Mobile
no credit check
no deposit
and If you get 3 people to sign up we will give you free service for life

I had no idea there were other options

 

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Option #4 T-Mobile Flex Plan

Similar to Metro PCS

The major difference between a contract plan and something like the T-Mobile Flex plan is the timing of the payments.

Contract plans have you pay at the end of the month while the Flex plan and Metro PCS will have you pay at the beginning of the month.

The are two ways to set up the Flex plan, you can have the myFaves version or the individual version.

The individual version starts with 300 minutes and unlimited night/weekend minutes.

The myFaves version is about $10 more per month and allows you unlimited minutes with your 5 favorite people.

The Flex pay also has family and Internet plans available. Go to the T-Mobile site for more information.

Option #5 Let's Talk.com

Let the web do the thinking for you

Are you overwhelmed yet. Today there are so many options that it's hard to know which plan is best for you. Fortunately there are a number of services like LetsTalk.com to help you figure out which phone, service carrier, and plan is right for you.

These guys are HUGE. You can find any phone with any service carrier. They practically hold you hand through the entire process.

Option 5.5 Veriuni Wireless Services

Similar to Let's Talk

Veriuni is an exclusive brand that offers wireless services of all the major providers. The cool thing is you can also call and talk to someone if you need the extra help.

Need More Info?

For the ultimate guide to cell phones and cell phone plans, just go to PhoneDog for answers to any problem or question about any phone or any service provider. These guys are an awesome resource.

Reader Feedback

Was this lens helpful? What answers can I provide to help you make a better decision about bad credit phone contracts? What questions do you still have.

Please rate this lens to. Be truthful. That is the only way I can make this a better resource for everyone.

Thanks

  • waqastariq Mar 20, 2012 @ 7:05 am | delete
    Nice lens, and with lots of useful information as well! I was once trapped in this as well, but then I got to know of a company that manages bills and I set up automated bill pay service with them, have never looked back since then.
  • dariusrickard Feb 16, 2012 @ 7:08 am | delete
    nice blog. all the information needed by a debtor are all found in this great article. the ways to get the best credit score mentioned above can really help debtors like me.
  • Auction_Affiliate_Secrets Nov 13, 2011 @ 10:08 pm | delete
    A great lens that offers advice on a subject which there seems to be a shortage of online. So many people have bad credit but they also want a contract mobile phone too. Thanks for creating a decent information page on the subject.

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