Can you guys help - I'm really confused

[episodic]

I've resisted being a cell phone geek for a long time. Partially because I use to live somewhere where service was never very impressive and partially because I just used whatever prepaid was easy. I mainly kept one for emergencies - and have never been into talk/text - all that.

Times are changing and I have gadget lust. I really like almost all of the current smartphones. I've played on blackberries, palms, androids, and on the iphone of course. I really don't have much of a preference - I just want internet access on the go. That is the 'main' reason I'd have one - along with calendar sync ups.

I have a problem thought. One divorce and lots of bills later - I'm paying on everything - but my credit is pretty much shot.

I'm willing to front the cost of the phone - even the nexus - but I want to know if I do this can I get service with no regard to my credit? I don't want to buy the phone - a new palm, or a nexus, or an iphone for that matter outright then be told - nope sorry.

Where I'm at - Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile are my preferences due to coverage.

Thanks for any information

 

[rudeguy]

tmobile will make you pay for the phone and first month of service.

Lets say you get a nexus...it would be about $250 out the door

 

[YoungGun21]

Don't believe that your credit matters when it comes to cell phone service. They'd love to have another paying customer.

 

[TheWart]

Don't believe that your credit matters when it comes to cell phone service. They'd love to have another paying customer.

Yea, if you have a credit card then you are good to go, no credit checks.

If not, you can just mail your checks in cause they don't care either way heh

 

[nickbits]

They will probably do a credit check. But if you have bad credit you just have to put down a deposit I think. AT&T asks for your SSN if you sign up online.

 

[rudeguy]

every cell carrier is going to run a credit check unless you do prepaid. Tmobile offers their flexpay for bad credit/no credit. Everyone else is going to require a deposit or a different tiered rate plan.

 

[aceO07]

T-Mobile has no contract plans. 'Even More Plus'. The prices are pretty good if you already have a gsm phone. Or even if you buy a phone elsewhere and use it with their service.

(I don't know if they check credit for this.)

 

[zerocool84]

every cell carrier is going to run a credit check unless you do prepaid. Tmobile offers their flexpay for bad credit/no credit. Everyone else is going to require a deposit or a different tiered rate plan.

Yep they all do credit checks if you're going on any kind of contract.

 

[vshah]

you could buy a used G1 for $150 and then go a no contract plan or prepaid plan...

if you don't mind not having the latest and greatest that is

 

[rudeguy]

you could buy a used G1 for $150 and then go a no contract plan or prepaid plan...

if you don't mind not having the latest and greatest that is

I just bought my son a myTouch off craigslist for $170. If you look...there are lots of good deals on slightly used phones.

I would never buy one off Ebay though. CL, then have them meet you at the tmobile dealer so you can make sure its all good to go.

 

[episodic]

you could buy a used G1 for $150 and then go a no contract plan or prepaid plan...

if you don't mind not having the latest and greatest that is

Ok - help me out here. I've always avoided 'used' phones as I thought they locked the phones serial if you owed money? So if I ebayed a G1 - and whoever I bought it from left a large bill on their account - would the phone be able to be activated?

 

[sygyzy]

tmobile will make you pay for the phone and first month of service.

Lets say you get a nexus...it would be about $250 out the door

Is this really true? They make you PRE-PAY your first month's service? What happens after that? Do you keep pre-paying or is it like every other utility where you pay after you use?

 

[boomhower]

Ok - help me out here. I've always avoided 'used' phones as I thought they locked the phones serial if you owed money? So if I ebayed a G1 - and whoever I bought it from left a large bill on their account - would the phone be able to be activated?

I don't believe they can block GSM phones(AT&T and T-Mobile) since they take sim cards you can just swap them out. They can and do block CMDA phones(Verizon and Sprint). That said I have bought a few Sprint phones off ebay without issue. Just like anything else you have to read carefully and watch who you buy from.

My suggestion would be to go with Sprint with the credit thing in mind. Sprint doesn't do deposits anymore(at least I haven't heard of one in a long long time). What they do is put a spending limit on your account. $150 is pretty common. What it basically means is that once you hit that amount your phone is shut off immediately. This protects them from being hit with a big bill without having to require big deposits. T-Mobile would be the next in line but since you are focusing on mobile data Sprint's much larger 3G network would be a better fit for you. The downside is their phone selection isn't the best but both the Pre and the Hero are solid phones.