Best Family Phone Deals For You And Your Loved Ones
Some people might think that finishing school means saying goodbye to test scores and the like forever.
While they’re not wrong, there is one score that follows you around for your adult life and can impact your purchasing options: your credit score.
A credit score is a score ranging from 350-800 that determines your creditworthiness. In layman’s terms, it’s a track record for your spending and lending history.
The more you pay your bills on time and pay off any outstanding debts, the higher it goes, and vice versa.
Naturally, a low credit score can significantly limit your buying options, especially for higher-end investments like houses, cars, and even phones.
While they’re not wrong, there is one score that follows you around for your adult life and can impact your purchasing options: your credit score.
A credit score is a score ranging from 350-800 that determines your creditworthiness. In layman’s terms, it’s a track record for your spending and lending history.
The more you pay your bills on time and pay off any outstanding debts, the higher it goes, and vice versa.
Naturally, a low credit score can significantly limit your buying options, especially for higher-end investments like houses, cars, and even phones.
But there is some good news about buying a new phone with a low credit score: many carriers have payment programs that eliminate credit checks, thereby facilitating the process and getting a new phone into your hands as soon as possible.
Today, we’re going to talk a little about how you can take advantage of these consumer-friendly programs that don’t discriminate against people with lower credit scores.
Today, we’re going to talk a little about how you can take advantage of these consumer-friendly programs that don’t discriminate against people with lower credit scores.
Go with a prepaid carrier
Prepaid cell phone plans are a solid choice for those with not-so-sterling credit scores.
Because you’re paying monthly, mobile carriers are less likely to deal with the fallout should you be unable to make a payment.
The four leading mobile carriers in the U.S., Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T, all provide prepaid plans that typically run for less than their traditional programs.
Other smaller carriers offer only prepaid plans, like Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless.
One of the perks of these smaller carriers is that they’re often owned by one of the more prominent carriers, therefore combining the coverage of a big carrier with lower prices. Talk about a win-win!
Because you’re paying monthly, mobile carriers are less likely to deal with the fallout should you be unable to make a payment.
The four leading mobile carriers in the U.S., Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T, all provide prepaid plans that typically run for less than their traditional programs.
Other smaller carriers offer only prepaid plans, like Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless.
One of the perks of these smaller carriers is that they’re often owned by one of the more prominent carriers, therefore combining the coverage of a big carrier with lower prices. Talk about a win-win!
Find a cosigner
Remember your late teens and early twenties when the term ‘bad credit’ hardly registered on your radar?
These were also the days when you needed a cosigner to do anything significant, such as renting an apartment or leasing your first car.
Fortunately, you can still opt for a cosigner even if you’re well into adulthood and stuck with a low credit score.
Of course, your cosigner will need to have a good credit score (that’s the whole point of having a cosigner). However, unlike an apartment lease, your name will not appear on the payment agreement--only your cosigner’s will.
If you’re interested in maintaining a friendship with your cosigner, though, you’ll want to make your payments on time.
Otherwise, your cosigner will have to foot the bill, which could sour any good feelings between you two pretty quickly.
These were also the days when you needed a cosigner to do anything significant, such as renting an apartment or leasing your first car.
Fortunately, you can still opt for a cosigner even if you’re well into adulthood and stuck with a low credit score.
Of course, your cosigner will need to have a good credit score (that’s the whole point of having a cosigner). However, unlike an apartment lease, your name will not appear on the payment agreement--only your cosigner’s will.
If you’re interested in maintaining a friendship with your cosigner, though, you’ll want to make your payments on time.
Otherwise, your cosigner will have to foot the bill, which could sour any good feelings between you two pretty quickly.
Rent-to-own companies
Several rent-to-own financing companies help people with bad credit purchase phones on a payment plan.
One of these companies, FlexShopper, offers a list of payment plan options for the buyer.
You can choose to make weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly payments, which are spread over a year. To qualify for one of FlexShopper’s payment programs, you must be a U.S. citizen over 18 years old and also must have a monthly income of over $100.
Using FlexShopper is quite easy, too: log onto their website and create an account first. After filling out and submitting the application form, choose a phone, and wait for it to be delivered.
You will then sign a leasing agreement upon your new phone’s delivery. Pretty simple, right?
One of these companies, FlexShopper, offers a list of payment plan options for the buyer.
You can choose to make weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly payments, which are spread over a year. To qualify for one of FlexShopper’s payment programs, you must be a U.S. citizen over 18 years old and also must have a monthly income of over $100.
Using FlexShopper is quite easy, too: log onto their website and create an account first. After filling out and submitting the application form, choose a phone, and wait for it to be delivered.
You will then sign a leasing agreement upon your new phone’s delivery. Pretty simple, right?
Another great rent-to-own financing company is LeaseVille. It’s nearly identical to FlexShopper in that it requires no credit check, you can choose how often you’d like to pay, and you need to sign up and submit an application with LeaseVille before receiving your phone.
The only minor difference between FlexShopper and LeaseVille is that unlike FlexShopper, LeaseVille requires your social security number to sign up for its services, have an active U.S. bank account, and also have a consistent income.
The only minor difference between FlexShopper and LeaseVille is that unlike FlexShopper, LeaseVille requires your social security number to sign up for its services, have an active U.S. bank account, and also have a consistent income.
If you often worry that your low credit score will prevent you from enjoying some of the finer, newer things in life, let this information put you at ease.
There are plenty of viable options you can take advantage of to upgrade your phone, at least in the case of phones.
Even if you’re not so keen on the options mentioned here, it’s possible to join an existing family mobile plan with no additional credit check.
As you can see, a low credit score is not the obstacle you’d expect it to be when buying a new phone, and knowing there are companies out there ready to help you purchase a new phone should reassure you.
There are plenty of viable options you can take advantage of to upgrade your phone, at least in the case of phones.
Even if you’re not so keen on the options mentioned here, it’s possible to join an existing family mobile plan with no additional credit check.
As you can see, a low credit score is not the obstacle you’d expect it to be when buying a new phone, and knowing there are companies out there ready to help you purchase a new phone should reassure you.
