Internet with no credit check: how it works
Many providers look at your credit before they hand over equipment. A low score rarely means no service. It usually means a deposit, or a prepaid plan where you pay in advance.
- A credit check mostly decides whether you pay a deposit.
- Prepaid internet plans usually need no credit check.
- Ask whether the check is a soft or a hard inquiry before you agree.
Why providers check credit
With a normal plan you use the service first and pay later, and you take home a modem or gateway that belongs to the provider. The credit check is how the provider decides whether to ask for money up front.
What happens if your credit is low or thin
- A deposit. You pay an amount up front. It is returned or credited after a period of on-time payments. Ask how much and when it comes back.
- Prepayment. You pay the first month before service starts.
- A different plan. The agent may offer a prepaid version of the same service.
Ways to get internet without a credit check
- Prepaid internet. You pay for each 30 days in advance. There is no bill to fall behind on, so most prepaid plans skip the check.
- Pay the deposit instead. Some providers let you choose a deposit in place of a check.
- Bring your own equipment. If you own the modem and router, the provider has less at risk. See modem and router: rent or buy.
- Automatic payments. Agreeing to autopay sometimes lowers or removes the deposit.
Soft or hard inquiry?
A soft inquiry does not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry can lower it slightly for a while. Providers differ, so ask the agent before you give your Social Security number: is this a soft or a hard check?
If cost is the real problem
A credit check and a low income are different things. If the monthly price is the issue, read internet help for low-income households, which covers the federal Lifeline discount and provider low-cost plans.
Common questions
Do all internet providers run a credit check?
No. Many do for standard plans, but prepaid plans usually do not. Policies differ by provider and by plan.
Can I be refused internet because of bad credit?
Refusal is uncommon. A deposit or a prepaid plan is the usual result.
Do I have to give my Social Security number?
Only if the provider runs a credit check. For prepaid plans it is usually not needed. You can ask what other ID is accepted.