Credit checks and ISPs

Hi all,

Basically I'd like to find out which ISPs don't run credit checks. I found out that apparently not all of them do when I rang up Zen to enquire. However, having seen all the negative posts about them here and elsewhere I'd like to know from your experience of signing up which other ISPs don't usually run credit checks so I have alternatives. I don't have CCJs but have been declined for a credit card recently, so I want to avoid making things worse for my credit rating that's all, thanks!

Most ISP's

The ones that do are

Sky Maybe?
BT - definitely
Virgin Media -definitely

I think that's it.

Plusnet,
AAISP
Talk Talk
Zen
Pulse8
and others, don't as far as I know.

Any that don't sell calls won't credit check you.

Unless you've a mountain of defaults and/or are in serious trouble with regards to current debt you've no worries about a credit check. They aren't at all strict as the amount of credit in question is pretty low - a month of call charges.

Talktalk do.

Considering you pay for your connection one month in advance, why would you need a credit check. Your account is always in credit anyway

BT don't show on my credit file as having made a search on me.

EE do, too. My order got delayed because I made it over the weekend and they couldn't complete a credit check on me (quote from the email I got).

In reply to a post by Discus:

BT don't show on my credit file as having made a search on me.

That's weird.. They are on mine.

Which credit agency's file were you looking at?

Like most "credit" providers, BT reports to only some of the 3 agencies, I think it's Equifax for sure and possibly also Experian. I don't think they report to CallCredit.

In reply to a post by Perseus99:

Hi all,

Basically I'd like to find out which ISPs don't run credit checks. I found out that apparently not all of them do when I rang up Zen to enquire. However, having seen all the negative posts about them here and elsewhere I'd like to know from your experience of signing up which other ISPs don't usually run credit checks so I have alternatives. I don't have CCJs but have been declined for a credit card recently, so I want to avoid making things worse for my credit rating that's all, thanks!

TalkTalk definitely do, although my TalkTalk was originally in the wrong name (advisor error), to a person who does not exist at all. That name apparently passed with "flying colours." So I would say despite running a credit check they pretty much give anyone a service. What I have noted is that the Credit Check is often used as a way to determine a max spend on an account e.g. TalkTalk only gave the mystery name £75 spending power, whereas when I changed it that was upped to £500.

Do not be afraid, ISPs are unlikely to turn around and say no. If you go onto the money saving expert site you will find a tonne of people with CCJs and bankruptcy who regularly switch providers without a problem. They often ask if they'll get declined and reply saying all went fine.

BT only use Equifax

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

Considering you pay for your connection one month in advance, why would you need a credit check. Your account is always in credit anyway

At a guess because you are contracted for a fixed term, even though you can buy out.

BT will do a credit search for broadband and for SIM cards as i have seen them on my file.