AT&T Credit Check - Addional Line

[EaglesFan2006]

Hello,

I'm looking to add an additonal line to my current ATT account.  I inquired at the store just to get general info and the clerk referneced that there could be a "small credit check."  I was a little surprised by this considering that I already have an account.  Do they normally do this?  And how would you interpret a small check?  I'm thinking it means a soft pull, but i'm not sure.  I've had perfect account history with ATT and my only negatives is high util which I'm bringing down.  I don't really think that will be an issue, but I'd rather not pay a deposit.  My bigger concern is having another hard inquiry on my report.

[Anonymous]

I had an account with them and was authorized 5 lines.  When I wanted to activate one of them no credit check was required.

I had to pay a deposit for the first 3 but they waived it for the last 2.

[RobertEG]

Adding an additional line of credit or requesting an increase in an existing line of credit is a consumer-initiated request for credit

FCRA 604 gives them authorization to pull your credit report based on that consumer-inititated request without any specific approval on the part of the consumer.

Requests for new or increased credit are the primary items that are intended to be shown to others in your credit report, and can always be coded as a so-called "hard" inquiry.  Any coding as soft is totally discretionary on the part of the creditor.  I would never rely upon a store clerk for reliable info on how an inquiry will be coded.

[MidnightVoice]

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@RobertEG wrote:

Adding an additional line of credit or requesting an increase in an existing line of credit is a consumer-initiated request for credit

FCRA 604 gives them authorization to pull your credit report based on that consumer-inititated request without any specific approval on the part of the consumer.

Requests for new or increased credit are the primary items that are intended to be shown to others in your credit report, and can always be coded as a so-called "hard" inquiry.  Any coding as soft is totally discretionary on the part of the creditor.  I would never rely upon a store clerk for reliable info on how an inquiry will be coded.

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Yup.  They did it me and I had been a subscriber for some time.  A hard pull

[EaglesFan2006]

Thanks all...guess there's no way around it.  Out of curiosity with regards to the first reply...how do you know how many lines you're eligible for?

[Anonymous]

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@EaglesFan2006 wrote:

Thanks all...guess there's no way around it.  Out of curiosity with regards to the first reply...how do you know how many lines you're eligible for?

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When I initially got the service they told me then I was authorized 5 lines on my account.  Only my first one required the credit check, none of the others did.

[themizlyne]

I just added another line to my att account two months ago and they didn't pull my credit.

[wHiTeSoL]

I am an executive for att ( a low level one) that deals mainly with this division, expect a hard pull. There are some exceptions including how many lines you were originally approved for and when the last time your credit was run with us.

[09Lexie]

I'm eligible for 5 lines too. It should say on your online account the number -if any- you are eligible for

[marty56]

I recently added a 3rd line and they did a hard inq on my CR.  I asked them prior to doing that and they stated that they wouldn't do that.  My original account as only a year old so perhaps that is why they did that.  IMHO I would assume the worse that they would add an INQ to your CR.