Do you have to have a credit card to.....

jonmbarlow

The title of the thread says it all really,do you have to have a credit card to have a mobile phone on contract,every online dealer seems to require one but i do not nor do i wish to own a credit card!

grumbler

jonmbarlow wrote:

...a credit card ...,every online dealer seems to require one...

Are you sure? CPW, for example, accept Visa Delta, Switch and Solo debit cards. However, buying a contract phone involves a credit search. If you don't have any credit history, your credit score is likely to be low and you are likely not be allowed to buy a contract phone. Having a credit card is a good way to build and maintain your credit history even if you don't use it at all or pay balance in full every month (i.e. don't pay any interest).

redux

networks will accept direct debit; indeed some prefer dd to credit card

online dealers will mostly sign you up by direct debit, and the credit card is for proof of address and credit rating

Hellfire

i would have thought that a debit card was as good as a credit card, unless they are afraid that if the customer goes too far overdrawn the direct debit won't be honoured? on second thought, i fail to see how much better a credit card would be.

i'd stick to my guns and find a place where they accept the debit card.

voucher_queen_3

I work for one of the telecomms companies doing credit checking.

No you do not need to have a credit card !!!

However most of the mobile co's are accepting a credit card as proof of both id and address

If you do not have one you normally need to supply Passport or Driving Licence and current utility bill

The problem with not having a credit card is that banks do not supply details of an account to credit agencies, therefore there may be a lack of info.

However if you are on the electrol roll and have some sort of (good) payment history, you should be ok