Do you need a good credit score for AT&T?
Having a strong credit score helps one get authorized for mobile phone service from AT&T Internet and other business giants. While AT&T does not state a minimum credit score, the cost of the monthly mobile phone bill and whether you need to make deposits depend on your credit score.
What Credit Score Does AT&T Use?
AT&T looks at your FICO Score 8, a kind of credit score lenders use, to decide whether or not you should be allowed to use a smartphone. Any one of the three primary credit bureaus— Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion—will go over your credit. They will independently of the report they generate provide your FICO 8 score.
Applying for the AT&T mobile phone service benefits generally from a higher credit score. Good to exceptional credit is a credit score of more than 700; it increases your chances of acceptance without calling for a deposit. The deposit that could be needed or the likelihood of having a co-signer with a much better credit rating to open an account increases with decreasing numerical scores.
Does AT&T Do a Credit Check?
Indeed, when an applicant is seeking new mobile phone service, AT&T does undertake a mild credit check on them. Without damaging your score, soft credit checks let the lenders see the information on your credit report.
Soft credit checks that do not reduce your score by a few points are usually done when you are purchasing a new phone with the help of an ATT equipment installment plan. If so, AT&T has to pull a hard credit check to qualify the monthly financed payments for your new device.
Specific AT&T Deposit Requirements Depending on the Credit Level
Currently, AT&T does not state any credit score minimums or maximums that they expect from their customers. But customer reports indicate that your credit tier with them generally breaks down as follows: But customer reports indicate that your credit tier with them generally breaks down as follows:
Good Credit – FICO Score of 650 to 699
- Most casinos do not require the players to deposit any money to start playing the game.
- Qualify for the lowest advertised monthly rates
Average Credit – FICO Score between 650 and 699
- May need a small refundable deposit
- Marginally higher monthly tariffs
Average Credit – FICO 600-649
- A $250+ refundable deposit is probably going to be necessary.
- Higher monthly rates
Bad/No Credit Score – Below 600 FICO Score
- Deposit needed, if not more than $500.
- May require a qualified co-signer
- Significantly higher monthly charges
Customers with no SSN or credit history will face challenges and may be required to submit identification documents and proof of residence. So, non-citizens will usually need a large amount of deposit before they can start making purchases.
The deposit amount that AT&T will ask for also varies based on the plan and the device that you wish to take. For instance, funding high-end novelty smartphones or acquiring unlimited data tariffs poses some more risk to AT&T than the cheaper models and tariffs; therefore, you might require a larger deposit.
If you have received a deposit and have made on time consecutive bill payments for roughly 6 months then you can ask for your deposit back from AT&T. Paying your bills on time also helps you qualify for better upgrade offers and reduced rates in the future.
What if AT&T's Credit is Low?
If your credit score or history is not sufficient to open a postpaid AT&T account, you still have options like If your credit score or history is not sufficient to open a postpaid AT&T account, you still have options:
Prepaid cellular service – AT&T Prepaid is a service that enables customers to make a one-time payment every month for cell service with no credit check. You can either use your compatible device or purchase the phone with a prepaid package. We find that there are fewer options for data compared to postpaid unlimited plans.
AT&T Affiliate – Other independent mobile phone dealers offer AT&T network internet service but have less strict credit checks than Cricket Wireless. Unlimited talk/text/data plans begin at $55 per month. Available speeds can be lower than those provided directly by AT&T and after 22 GB of monthly data usage.
Open a new Wireless Account – You may be able to open a new AT&T wireless account with little or no deposit by having a friend or family member with good credit add you as an authorized user. But they will be held accountable if you are the one to default the bill.
Security Deposit – If AT&T demands a deposit, then you may pay as little as $100 to up to several hundred dollars depending on your credit check. AT&T returns the deposit to the client after 12 on-time payments if the client has bad credit or no credit history at all.
Co-Signer Option – Anyone who has been rejected by AT&T due to a bad credit rating should consider applying with an account co-signer. The co-signer accepts liability for payments if you default on the agreement. This opens up AT&T plans with much less likelihood of service disruptions or accumulating bills.
Pay As You Go – Like some retailers, AT&T can allow customers to pay for the service with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card, and then charge the card at the end of the month, without having to check the credit rating of the customer. Just make sure that the card has a sufficient limit to pay the full amount every time you pay your bills.
In summary
the best experience and the most plan options with the most phone selections are offered to those with good credit scores and histories with AT&T or its authorized dealers. However one can still activate service with a poor/no credit score by availing of plans like prepaid, paying a deposit, getting a co-signer, or paying through debit. Regardless of the starting credit score, it is vital to ensure that bills are paid on time as this will help continue with the account and even improve the account status.
Upgrade to faster, more reliable AT&T Fiber Internet today! Call us at +1 844-905-5002 and get connected with speeds that keep you ahead.