what exactly do phone companies check when they determine if you need to make a down payment or not. b/c ive nevre had a cell phone and ihave barely any limit on my credit card...I have prob used it twice or 3 times in my life and I can get a nextel without making a down payment but my friend whos older, already had a cell phone, and has a much higher credit limit on his credti card has to make a deposit to get a nextel. what gives?

 

its about your credit score, not your limit.

 

we run the credit check on your ss#. as beetroot said, its all about your credit score. if you have no credit established, you will come up with a $400 deposit. this is with verizon though. we are the toughest when it comes to running credit. it will either be a $0, $125, or $400 deposit

 

I once had to put down a 150$ deposit with Sprint but never did with tmobile or nextel.

 

not true......nextel is the hardest, and they also get scammed the most out of any other wireless company.....

it also goes by if you have any other derigotry(sp?) things on your credit statement, late payments ect......

 

but....ive used my credit card maybe 3 or 4 times total probably spent about 500-600 bucks on it....i got a new card in the mail an di havent even ACTIVATED IT YET...and they still say im clear (no deposit) im not complaing im just wondering.

 

if someone is willing to extend you credit for a credit card odd's are you'll get approved, if you destroy your credit with late payments on your card or something then you will have to put down a deposit....

 

true, nextel is tough but we are right behind them. there are so many people in the 4h club with verizon though. you would think nextel wouldnt be that hard but i guess they are the only one with good push to talk. or squaky as some like to refer to it.

 

att is usually tough. with 0 credit its an $800 deposit. most of our cust who come in and say they owe bills or the oned who want you to run credit usually have a $400.
the last class we have is the $200 dep. my guess is that they have marginally better credit than the $400 people

now for people in the 18-22 range, att allows then either 2 lines 0 dep. or 1 line w/200 dep.

this does not represent the whole 18-22 market. they somehow choose who gets what. the purpose is to gets college kids with no credit or just est. credit b/c of student loans, active with att and brand recognition.

 

cingular
DEPOSITS
$0=good credit obviously
$90=limited credit but good history
$150=no prior credit history but nothing negative
$300=some bad credit
$500=jesus pay your goddamn bills
$800=why even mention, no one will ever pay 750 for a phone
$1000=wow kill yourself
NO Decision=Cingular just doesnt even want to bother

 

wow what a variation

 

well my credit card limit is like 200 or 500 i forget..so not much its never be raised but then again ive never asked....and i dont thikn i have any late payments...no deposit for me....i dunno.