Deposits with cellular providers

phonkenstein

I'm looking in to getting my own cell phone plan, but I don't have any credit history. Cingular wants a $300 deposit, which sounds high to me. Does anyone know how much other carriers charge?

Snake Gandhi

I just got a Sprint, and they require $250.

Euphoria

huh, I have no credit score to speak of and even have some delinquent accounts with hospitals and Verizon only wanted $125.

supersloth

I would make sure you like the provider and the service you will receive and then make your decision based off that. 300 may seem like a lot now but it's small fries compared to what you will owe them over the course of a contract. It will be better to put down the 300 and get a quality service over 2 years than to put down 125 and get shit for 2 years. (this is just an example, i have no idea who is the ideal provider in your service area)

Oh, and after you're all done, get yourself some credit history

Thanatos

supersloth wrote: »

I would make sure you like the provider and the service you will receive and then make your decision based off that. 300 may seem like a lot now but it's small fries compared to what you will owe them over the course of a contract. It will be better to put down the 300 and get a quality service over 2 years than to put down 125 and get shit for 2 years. (this is just an example, i have no idea who is the ideal provider in your service area)

Oh, and after you're all done, get yourself some credit history

After a year of paying his bill on time, he'll have credit history.

supersloth

I didn't mean to imply that his contract wouldn't build credit history, just that taking steps to build good credit history should always be taken.

webguy20

Depending on how bad they want your buisness you can tell them you wont go with them if a deposit is required. Thats what I did with my first cellphone and they magically waived the deposit. YMMV