No credit check SIM only deals

Can you get a SIM card with no credit check?

Yes. Lots of big networks offer SIM only contracts without a credit check. So if you're worried your credit rating might affect you signing up for a SIM only plan, you can choose from the range of networks that don't require one.

This said, even if your credit rating is poor, SIM only deals aren't considered very high risk financially, so many providers that do run checks will still accept many customers who have a bad credit rating.

What are no credit check SIM only deals?

SIM only deals that don’t require you to pass a credit check tend to be short term contracts and last just one month, with the option to extend them or terminate them on a monthly basis.

If you want a longer-term SIM only contract, say for six months or a year, you’ll still have to pass a credit check before a network will accept you as a customer.

No credit check SIM only deals are typically on a rolling contract basis. That means that provided you give 30 days’ notice, you can cancel at any time and there’s no financial penalty to pay.

Pros and cons of poor credit SIMs

There aren't really any negatives to poor credit SIM only deals. The quality of service you get is exactly the same as one you'd get from a network that does require one. In fact, many people with a favourable credit rating purchase SIM only deals from no credit check providers without even knowing it.

So the main 'pro' is simply that you can get access to a fully-fledged SIM only contract without having your credit rating screened.

Which providers offer SIM only deals with no credit check?

Lots of well-known mobile networks offer SIM only plans without a credit check. Here's a list of ones you can choose from on Uswitch:

• giffgaff
• Lebara
• SMARTY
• VOXI

EE and Asda Mobile also offer no credit check options with their tariffs.

What do I need to do before signing up for no credit check SIM only deal?

To ensure you can pick from the widest possible choice of no credit check SIM only deals, you’ll want to make sure your phone is unlocked. To find out about phone unlocking, check out our one-stop guide.

If you haven’t got a phone, you can browse affordably priced models from the likes of Samsung, Sony and OnePlus, on our pay as you go phones comparison page.

Alternatively, you can browse reconditioned, nearly-new models on our refurbished phones page.

Who are credit check SIM only deals for?

Of course, no credit check SIM only contracts are ideal if you’ve been through a difficult patch financially and can even help you to help repair your credit rating. But they’re handy for other reasons too.

If you’re new to the UK, you may struggle to qualify for contract because you’ve got no credit history in this country. But you can get around that with a no credit check SIM only deal.

By the same token, teenagers and young adults are also unlikely to be accepted by networks for a standard monthly contract because they’re not yet old enough to have a credit history.

If you’ve moved house frequently or are on a zero-hours contract, both of which can damage your standing with mobile phone networks, a no credit check contract could be just the ticket.

Does a bad credit rating mean it’s impossible to get a standard phone contract?

The truth is that it’s unlikely that networks will let you sign up for a two-year free-phone contract if your credit rating is bad.

That’s not to say you can’t get a standard free-phone contract deal at all, though. Some sites exist expressly to cater for the market of people who want a regular contract but have a bad credit rating.

Naturally, there’s a catch. To mitigate their risk, these sites often demand a substantial deposit from customers. And they’ll frequently charge a higher monthly rate too. Especially if you want one of the latest handsets.

With all that in mind, it’s usually much more cost effective to buy a pay as you go phone outright and then sign up for one of the keenly priced no credit check SIM only deals in the tables above.

What is the easiest phone carrier to get approved with?

The likes of giffgaff, Lebara Mobile, VOXI, SMARTY, EE and Asda Mobile all allow you to take out a SIM only contract without a credit check. But the other networks will still likely accept you too.

SIM ony plans are a lot less financially risky than more expensive services like loans or mortgages, so could still be able to sign up to any network, even with a poorer credit rating than usual.

Does Lebara do a credit check?

Lebara Mobile does not run a credit check on potential customers. So if you're concerned your credit rating might affect whether you can sign up, you can trust Lebara to still offer you a contract.

Can you get a SIM only contract with bad credit

Yes. Not only are there networks that offer SIM only contracts without a credit check, but most networks still occasionally accept customers with a slightly poor credit rating.