UK Demand for No Credit Check, SIM Only Deals is on the Rise
- Uswitch experts assess how many Brits are searching for SIM only deals that won’t affect their credit rating
- On average, demand for ‘poor credit check’ deals has risen by 18% compared to 2022[1]
- Over 50% of Brits think it’s unfair that having no credit history has a negative impact on your credit score[2]
Data from YouGov found that 12% of Brits were denied a financial product based on their credit rating between 2018 and 2021[3]. For many, a phone contract may be the first time they’ve had a credit search on their file, even if it’s for an affordable SIM only deal. Research by Opinium showed that 55% of Brits found it unfair that a lack of credit history could negatively impact their credit score and that acquiring a contract from a mobile network provider relied on such[2]..
Whilst most major mobile network providers will require a credit check, the Uswitch mobiles experts have found that demand for no credit check SIM only contracts has risen by an average of 18% in the past year[1].
In general, there are nearly 20,000 searches a month in the UK for advice on getting a phone contract with poor credit[1]. As average mobile plan prices rose by as much as 17.3% from 1st April, the use of credit also increased during the cost-of-living crisis[4]. So UK mobile phone users may be looking for an affordable SIM only deal that won’t harm their credit rating.
| Provider | Credit Check Terms | Current cheapest SIM only deal |
| giffgaff | No credit check required | £6 a month, 2GB of data |
| VOXI | No minimum credit score requirement | £10 a month, 30GB of data |
| SMARTY | No credit check required | £6 a month, 5GB of data |
| Lebara | No credit check required | £1.58 (for 3 months), £3.95 after, 1GB of data |
Whilst providers such as giffgaff offer low-cost options, be wary of how much data you may actually need. The lowest cost options are also data-lite, which means using TikTok or Netflix to stream while using mobile data could see you run out fast if you’re on a 2GB a month plan, for example.
VOXI’s cheapest offer at the moment is a £10 a month SIM only deal, which includes a solid 30GB of data. VOXI offer unlimited data specifically on social media apps, which are some of the most data-hungry – meaning that that 30GB could go far further if choosing a VOXI deal.
The current cheapest deal on Uswitch from a provider with no credit checks is from Lebara, which is offering 1GB of data for £1.58 a month for the first 3 months. Nonetheless, should you frequently find yourself on the move, travelling, or in locations with unreliable Wi-Fi access, you might quickly exhaust your data allowance.
How can a SIM only deal help your credit score?
Uswitch mobiles expert, Max Beckett, has shared insights on applying for a SIM only deal without credit checks, and what to look out for if you’re navigating the market:
“When choosing a SIM only provider, make sure to read its payment terms and conditions to see if it runs a credit check on new accounts. Providers that don’t run credit checks are a great option for those with no credit history, or who may have been rejected for a contract previously.
“Keep in mind the length of the contract, too. A rolling monthly SIM only plan is likely to be seen as lower risk, which means they don’t often need a credit check. Six, 12 or 18-month contracts are longer commitments, so some providers would want to make sure you can pay a fixed amount for that length of time.
“However, rolling contracts often come with higher monthly prices as a result. So if you’re looking for a lower-cost deal then you may have to commit to a longer contract, which means a no credit check SIM provider could still be your best bet.”
