Can I get a cell phone with bad credit?
It may be possible and there may be different pricing options available for varying credit scores and income levels. However, if you have bad credit when financing a cell phone, you may have less favorable terms, such as higher monthly payments or interest rates.
Will paying my cell phone bill improve my credit?
Paying your cell phone bill generally only affects your credit if the account is reported to one or more of the major credit bureaus. If you consistently make on-time payments in full, the account may help build positive payment history over time.
Can I finance a cell phone device?
Typically, you can get financing from a carrier, manufacturer or 3rd party to purchase a cell phone. Financing accounts may require a hard credit check and may be reported to credit bureaus, which could impact your credit report.
The hard credit inquiry may cause an initial, temporary drop in your score. The addition of a new account and outstanding balance may temporarily reduce your score as well, but positive actions like on-time payments may help your credit score over time.
Can I use a credit card to buy a cell phone?
If you have enough credit available on the account associated with that credit card, you can generally use a credit card to purchase a cell phone. A purchase of this nature would appear as a balance on your credit card, which could affect your credit utilization and/or payment history over time.
