Credit check?

[dtcarson]

This is really kinda an embarassing question, but thought I'd ask before getting hopes up.

In the fine print of Dish's website [and DTV's, of course] for the Digital Home Plan it says something like 'Major credit card and social security number required; credit check required.' 

How tight is the credit check?  My credit isn't very good, and like many twenty/thirty somethings, we have an [in]decent bit of debt over our head.  On the plus side, we are homeowners [well, by now we own the front door and the mailbox], two cars, and my pre-tax/pre-debt salary is decent.  Has anyone been rejected by the credit check part of Dish [or DTV], or is that just lawyer-speak?

Thanks,

--T

[TNGTony]

They really don't care about your debt to income ratio. They only want to know if you pay your bills! :)

Statistics show that cable and satellite customers are more likely to pay their TV bill than their phone or electric bill! They want to make sure you pay THOSE! :D

See ya
Tony

[Frapp]

Don`t worry about it. As was remarked to me by several satellite and electronic distributors over the years, you probably have better credit than "most" of the local dealers you can find to run an Echostar credit check ;)

[KhakiBoy]

Well, I was actually declined when I tried to sign up for the Digital Home Plan. I still have my dish anyway, just put it under my mom's name/credit. When they got the dish for their place my sister signed up. The good side to this is once my credit has been restored I can always sign up myself and take advantage of being a "new" customer :)

[Rick_EE]

There is a difference between bad credit and a lot of debt. Like Tony said, bad credit is if you don't pay your bills. A lot of debt is just that, a lot of debt. If you pay your bills on time, they like you. I have heard that the CC industry calls those of us who don't carry a balance "deadbeats" or something like that.

[HTguy]

If your credit score isn't high enough for DHP they will try to "fit" you to another promo. "Free Dish" does not require as high a credit score since you are "buying" the eqmt instaed of leasing.
"Free-For-All" does not require a credit check at all.

Go to a local independent full-service retailer to get what's best for you, a real professional installation and better help & service after the sale.

[Jacob S]

It is total hogwash that customers are more likely to pay their phone or electric bills. My customers let the satellite bill go FIRST in most cases. It might be true that they may let the phone bill go in some cases but definitely not the electric bill, because most heat by electric, and what good is satellite if you have no electric to operate the tv and satellite receiver?

[TNGTony]

Jacob...I suggest you do a little research. I know of what I speak. Cutting off some one's electric is not automatic when they miss a payment. Lots of options are opened up for regulated utilities. This incudes phone. With TV (cable or satellite) cut-off is nearly immediate. People (on average) will skip an electric bill or a phone bill before they skip a cable bill. I don't make these things up.

See ya
Tony