Demand for no credit check SIM-only contracts that don’t require a credit check rose an average of 18 per cent in the past year according to Uswitch mobiles
There are nearly 20,000 searches a month in the UK for advice on getting a phone contract with poor credit As average mobile plan prices rose by as much as 17.3 per cent from 1st April, the use of credit also increased during the cost-of-living crisis, So UK mobile phone users may be looking for an affordable SIM only deal that won’t harm their credit rating.
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Provider
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Credit Check Terms
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Current cheapest SIM only deal
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giffgaff
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No credit check required
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£6 a month, 2GB of data
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VOXI
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No minimum credit score requirement
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£10 a month, 30GB of data
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SMARTY
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No credit check required
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£6 a month, 5GB of data
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Lebara
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No credit check required
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£1.58 (for 3 months), £3.95 after, 1GB of data
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Whilst providers such as giffgaff offer low-cost options, be wary of how much data you may actually need. The lowest cost options are also data-lite, which means using TikTok or Netflix to stream while using mobile data could see you run out fast if you’re on a 2GB a month plan, for example.
VOXI’s cheapest offer at the moment is a £10 a month SIM only deal, which includes a solid 30GB of data. VOXI offer unlimited data specifically on social media apps, which are some of the most data-hungry – meaning that that 30GB could go far further if choosing a VOXI deal.
The current cheapest deal on Uswitch from a provider with no credit checks is from Lebara, which is offering 1GB of data for £1.58 a month for the first 3 months. Nonetheless, should you frequently find yourself on the move, travelling, or in locations with unreliable Wi-Fi access, you might quickly exhaust your data allowance.
How can a SIM only deal help your credit score?
Uswitch mobiles expert, Max Beckett says
“When choosing a SIM only provider, make sure to read its payment terms and conditions to see if it runs a credit check on new accounts. Providers that don’t run credit checks are a great option for those with no credit history, or who may have been rejected for a contract previously.
“Keep in mind the length of the contract, too. A rolling monthly SIM only plan is likely to be seen as lower risk, which means they don’t often need a credit check. Six, 12 or 18-month contracts are longer commitments, so some providers would want to make sure you can pay a fixed amount for that length of time.
“However, rolling contracts often come with higher monthly prices as a result. So if you’re looking for a lower-cost deal then you may have to commit to a longer contract, which means a no credit check SIM provider could still be your best bet.”
