[mijoharas]

Wait... It's been a long time since I got a new phone or internet contract, do they require a credit check now? In the UK too?

How long has this been a thing?

[Tsiklon]

In the UK I think for at least a decade. I think I can remember submitting to a credit check for a mobile phone contract in 2012, and certainly again when I changed provider in 2015

[mijoharas]

Hmmm... I probably changed provider within that timeframe so maybe I just don't remember.

Thanks for the info!

[midasuni]

Is it an actual credit check, or used as a proxy for an identification check?

[Tsiklon]

Last year I took out a new line with a EE and from looking at Experian it was a hard pull by them and a soft pull by Lexis Nexis for identification.

I don't have my records from 2015 to recall if it was hard or soft.

[edgyquant]

Definitely not a requirement in the US but may be in the UK.