It seems odd that you need a credit check to get something you pay for month to month, but you do.
Broadband is regarded as a financial product so many providers will want to perform a credit check so they can assess the risk.
Not all do though.
There are also some viable alternatives if you would rather not go through a credit check.
If you have bad credit, are recovering from a situation or are gradually building your credit score, you may like to know that you can get broadband without a credit check.
Why do broadband contracts have credit checks?
As I mentioned at the top, broadband contracts are treated as financial products as they involve contracts and monthly payments.
As financial products involve risk, many providers will perform a basic check to make sure you are who you say you are and are likely to make your payments.
It’s a ‘light’ check, with much lower acceptance criteria than a bank loan or credit card, but it’s still a credit check.
According to most providers, the majority of those applying for a broadband contract will pass a credit check. Very few people will fail as the barrier to entry is so low.
How to check your credit score before applying for a broadband contract
If you don’t already know, you can check your credit report for free once a year.
There are three credit reference agencies and each must provide one free copy per year. Those agencies are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Each has a simple request process you can complete to get your free copy of your report and I would suggest checking with one at a time.
Each agency calculates their scores slightly differently but will give you a ballpark of where your score currently is.
How to get broadband without a credit check
Not all broadband providers perform credit checks. It’s the main ones like Vodafone, Sky, Virgin Media and others that will perform them.
As I said earlier, most broadband providers perform credit checks for verification and even those with bad credit are likely to pass.
The following providers don’t perform credit checks:
- Plusnet
- NOW Broadband
- TalkTalk
- BT Home Essentials
- Direct Save Telecom
Don’t forget social tariffs either. If you’re in receipt of any of the main benefits, providers all have a cheaper tariff to help you get by.
These will often be much more achievable than a standard broadband tariff so could make sense depending on your needs.
Do you get less with broadband without a credit check?
No, you don’t get less broadband without a credit check. They are the same types of contracts as everyone gets and will offer the same speeds.
You can still get unlimited data, unlimited calls, bundles and many of the same features.
The main difference is a lack of free gifts or incentives. Some providers will charge a little more for them too, but it’s a competitive market so there are deals to be had.
What other options do I have to get online?
Fixed line broadband is one way to get online but it isn’t the only way. If you cannot get broadband for whatever reason, you still have options.
You can:
Use mobile broadband
If you have a phone with data as part of the contract you can tether it to your computer relatively simply. You can then use mobile data to enable your computer to access the internet.
It’s easy to go but won’t be the fastest. Plus, you’ll need to check to see if your contract has data caps and make sure you don’t exceed them!
No contract broadband
There are a few broadband providers that offer rolling monthly contracts rather than fixed contracts. They don’t involve credit checks but will be slightly more expensive than a standard contract.
You pay a month at a time, in advance for broadband. You’ll get similar speeds but not all providers offer them.
Libraries and other spaces
Your final option is to use your public library, coffee shop, shopping centre or other space that offers free WiFi.
Make sure to use a VPN app to protect yourself while using it but this is otherwise a good option.
Credit checks and broadband
Credit checks are very one dimensional and never tell the full story, yet it’s what we and businesses have right now.
It’s less than ideal but until something better comes along, it’s best to work with the system rather than against it.
Fortunately, if your credit report is less than perfect, you still have options to get online. When you need internet access to do anything now, that’s vital!
