Wireless Contracts and Credit Ratings part. 2

This post is the sequel to a post I made about the effects of bad credit on getting a mobile phone plan.

I focused on the wireless contracts of mobile phone carriers because they have certain policies when it comes to dealing with customers with bad credit. I began with the credit rating policies of Alltel and Sprint.

Both companies basically favor customers with good credit. They also require that a customer provide them access to credit records as well as credit status updates before the provide their services. Let's move on to the credit rating policies of other mobile phone networks.

Let us look at T-mobiles plicy regarding this issue. The Billing, Charges, and Late Fees section of T-Mobile's terms and Conditions states that, "You authorize us to verify your creditworthiness with a credit-reporting agency at any time" and "If we reinstate Service to you after discontinuing Service, you may be subject to a credit check and agree to pay reactivation charges or deposits."

These statements clearly indicate that a good credit rating will be an advantage if you are an customer of Touch Mobile. You will have to submit to a Credit status check policy so having a terrible credit history will get you nowhere. You will also be subjected to a credit check if you want to be reinstated after you discontinue services. Let us move on to US Cellular's attitude towards credit ratings.

The credit Information section of US Cellular's Terms and Conditions states that, "You authorize personal references or consumer reporting or credit agencies to furnish U.S. Cellular with your credit records or history."

Well, US Cellular did not indicate any penalty or restriction if a customer has less than perfect credit. However, they do require that you give them access to your credit records or history. This mean that you won't be able to hide your bad credit practices and that they may refuse to serve you based on your credit history.

Now, let us check out Verizon Wireless' credit status policies. According to Verizon's Customer Agreement.

WE CAN, WITHOUT NOTICE, LIMIT, SUSPEND, OR END YOUR SERVICE OR ANY AGREEMENT WITH YOU FOR THIS OR ANY OTHER GOOD CAUSE, including, but not limited to: (i) if you: (a) breach this agreement; (b) pay late more than once in any 12 months; (c) incur charges larger than a required deposit or billing limit (even if we haven't yet billed the charges); (d) provide credit information we can't verify

The Privacy section of Verizon's Customer Service Agrrement also states that,

Further, you've authorized us to investigate your credit history at any time and to share credit information about you with credit reporting agencies and our affiliates. If you ask, we'll tell you the name and address of any credit agency that gives us a credit report about you.

These statements show that Verizon appreciates honesty as much as a good credit record. You must avoid giving Verizon Wireless an unverifiable credit history or they will suspend your account. You will also have to give them authority over your credit records. This means that you must be honest with your payments or they will let credit reporting agencies know about your mistakes.

That's about it. We've learned that you will have to expose your credit status to major wireless phone carriers if you want to get a monthly plan. you have no choice about it because they all require you to give them authorization. The wireless contracts also state that you might face various penalties if you have bad credit or if your rating declines. I hope that the information I posted non credit ratings and wireless contracts will prove valuable to you.