Cell Phone Shops with Credit Check Update

Thought I would update everyone on the results of the cell phone shops with the mandatory credit check. I did two of these shops back in September amist the great debate on this forum as to how much of an affect they would have on your credit score. For the first two months my credit score did not change. Now, four months after the shops were completed, my credit score has gone down a total of 4 points. Just to note, my credit score is in the 800's, so I don't know if it would have had a greater affect on someone with a lower credit score.

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You are right. It sure DOES show up on your credit report.

I see mine there every time I go to the credit site. The ONLY reason I allowed it, was because they said "if" a credit check is requested, you must allow it. Now, I won't think twice about not accepting something that dings your credit (just for a shop).

I can see if you really wanted a cell phone, or needed to buy a car and or anything else that requires a credit check.

Thanks for letting us know.

If you're not making a purchase that requires credit (new home, car, etc) in the next 6 months an inquiry on your credit report has no affect whatsoever. People are WAYYYY too hung up on short term changes to their FICO.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

BGRIFFIN Apparently you are not buying a house or a car or refi soon. It ABSOLUTELY DOES affect it.
If you think that $10 shop fee was worth the hassle you can go for it.

@bgriffin wrote:

If you're not making a purchase that requires credit (new home, car, etc) in the next 6 months an inquiry on your credit report has no affect whatsoever. People are WAYYYY too hung up on short term changes to their FICO.

Apparently you cannot read. I clearly said if you are not buying a house or car in the next 6 months it doesn't really matter. Which is exactly what you said.

A credit inquiry has a low and short term impact on your FICO score. Yes, it will cause a small drop in the score over a short term but all other things being equal (like you keep paying your bills and don't run up a lot of new credit) then an inquiry itself will have very little impact 6 months later. Additionally unless you are close to one of the score thresholds that companies have to determine interest rate or if you even qualify, it will not have an effect. Sorry, but a 725 is just as good as a 745 for just about any company.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I did three of them. Only one inquiry showed on my report. One did a hard, one did a soft, the other didn't check credit at all.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

I can read quite well. Thank you for your concern BGriffith.
Cell phones for another example do a credit check so it does matter. I know for a fact a few points can put you into a different price plan on several cell phone plans.

@bgriffin wrote:

Apparently you cannot read. I clearly said if you are not buying a house or car in the next 6 months it doesn't really matter. Which is exactly what you said.

A credit inquiry has a low and short term impact on your FICO score. Yes, it will cause a small drop in the score over a short term but all other things being equal (like you keep paying your bills and don't run up a lot of new credit) then an inquiry itself will have very little impact 6 months later. Additionally unless you are close to one of the score thresholds that companies have to determine interest rate or if you even qualify, it will not have an effect. Sorry, but a 725 is just as good as a 745 for just about any company.

I've done some phone shops that ask to for the credit check. I calmly tell them no. I tell them that the only time I will do the credit check is when I'm actually buying. I explain the point loss, and "we" move on.

Won't give banks my SS either.

I found that out the hard way, a year ago when I purposely messed up a credit application at a Kohls. I didn't need another card, but wanted the additional discount.

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

I can read quite well. Thank you for your concern BGriffith.

Apparently you can't because a, it's griffin not griffith, and b, I very plainly said "If you're not making a purchase that requires credit (new home, car, etc) in the next 6 months" which would include getting a new cell phone provider.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

bgriffin bgriffin bgriffin bgriffin bgriffin

Let's see did I get that correct?

Cell phones DO require a credit check for a contract. I defy you to find one ON a contract with zero credit check. And if you do you go for it.

@bgriffin wrote:

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

I can read quite well. Thank you for your concern BGriffith.

Apparently you can't because a, it's griffin not griffith, and b, I very plainly said "If you're not making a purchase that requires credit (new home, car, etc) in the next 6 months" which would include getting a new cell phone provider.

Again you are having reading comprehension issues. I never said a cell phone contract didn't require a credit check. Again, I said small changes to your FICO score are not important if you are not making a purchase that requires credit in the next 6 months. I specifically mentioned new homes and new cars. I also said "etc" after those two examples. I never said that new homes and new cars are the only thing that required credit, and adding the etc clearly states that there ARE other things that require credit.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

As a side note I read an article yesterday that said T-Mobile rejects 54% of applicants who apply for their best specials

A SMALL change of one to two points into the next category WILL make a difference.

You go for it.

@bgriffin wrote:

Again you are having reading comprehension issues. I never said a cell phone contract didn't require a credit check. Again, I said small changes to your FICO score are not important if you are not making a purchase that requires credit in the next 6 months. I specifically mentioned new homes and new cars. I also said "etc" after those two examples. I never said that new homes and new cars are the only thing that required credit, and adding the etc clearly states that there ARE other things that require credit.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/2015 11:38PM by bgriffin.

Bg, weren't you complaining about photos in another thread? ;-)

Yes but it's been decided that photos are ok.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

You mean YOU decided when it fits pictures are

@bgriffin wrote:

Yes but it's been decided that photos are ok.

Nope. I would prefer no photos at all. But if you take a look at the photo discussion in the meta thread it seems most people are ok with photos. I'm just going with what the group says. Cause I'm easy to get along with like that.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

You're right, I wasn't very clear in my original post in this thread, however I was very clear in subsequent posts.

It also appears that I have pissed you off and you are going to attempt to pick fights with me. Please do. I welcome the entertainment.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Always decline the credit check. As a shopper it is not necessary unless you are getting compensated for the check.

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