I want a pay monthly mobile but keep getting rejected!

samdaman80

I have attempted to sign up for a pay monthly mobile phone several times but keep getting rejected. I was told by someone this may be because I have no credit history. I am a 20 year old student and as a result I don't have any credit history. But what am supposed to do about this? I can't afford to keep paying £50 a month with my pay as you go. I just wanted a £10-£15 contract.

HappyMJ

Get a better PAYG plan. Have you tried a SIM only contract?

Are you on the electoral roll?

grumbler

Do you have a bank account with an overdraft? If so, you have to have some history.
Where do you live? I think lenders don't like student halls.
Many applications (=credit searches) within a short time interval negatively affect you credit scoring - see Martin's article: Credit Ratings

And finally, for a start it is easier to get a sim-only contract, especially if you pay some deposit. Try talkmobile.

smartphone

As above, and having worked for one of the networks, I know the two biggest factors they look for is a bank account and that you're on the electoral roll. As above, start on a SIM only contract, there's some good deals out there on the main networks and the virtual ones (eg Tesco), then work your way up to a full contract.

Stuart_W

Well, in the immediate term, if you are spending £50/month on PAYG, you are on the wrong PAYG tariff for a start. As HappyMJ said in the first reply, get a better PAYG plan!

What is your monthly usage - minutes/texts/data?

Given that for £25/month you can get 1500 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data on PAYG, it is pretty safe to say that your first and easiest savings to make are by moving to the right PAYG deal. If you don't need all that, the savings could be even bigger.

Grumbler's suggestion of TalkMobile SIM-only is also a good one. They may ask for a deposit, but you can get 300 mins, 1000 texts and 500MB of data for £8/month if that's enough for you, or 1200 mins 3000 texts and 750MB of data for £12/month.

bengalknights

samdaman80 wrote: »

I have attempted to sign up for a pay monthly mobile phone several times but keep getting rejected. I was told by someone this may be because I have no credit history. I am a 20 year old student and as a result I don't have any credit history. But what am supposed to do about this? I can't afford to keep paying £50 a month with my pay as you go. I just wanted a £10-£15 contract.

Your best bet might be sim only for 6 months before boosting up

OK_Sauce

Do you have a parent willing to put a contract in their name and you just set up a standing order to them, to cover the payment. This is what I do with my son.

spike7451

smartphone wrote: »

As above, and having worked for one of the networks, I know the two biggest factors they look for is a bank account and that you're on the electoral roll. As above, start on a SIM only contract, there's some good deals out there on the main networks and the virtual ones (eg Tesco), then work your way up to a full contract.

Yup,not only that but when I worked for O2 selling,we were told if you do a credit check on a customer,& with O2 this was the final stage of all transactions,be it Pay Monthly Sim Only or Contract,the search is recorded on the customers credit file & the more times the customer applies & gets rejected,the more damage it does to the customers credit rating.And with O2,if a customer is rejected,they recommend contacting Equifax over it.
Not sure how accurate that is now as it was Jan-June 2010 I worked for them.

broughton2010

A friend had a similar problem a year ago. I would personally follow the others advice, electoral roll, check credit record for any anomalies.

If all is fine, ring orange and say you are struggling and mention a trial period. They give you a roll on contract for 3 months, if you pay on time each month they offer you a contract.

He despite defaults, used this method.