Hi. What is better, paying your cell bill with a check card, or credit card? -19 year old college student?

Question

Hello, I am signing up for my own cell phone plan, it had been under my moms name, (I would just pay her cash) and I was wondering what is the best way to pay for the monthly bill? I could have it automatically taken from my checking account or have it put onto my credit card. I was wondering what it the best way? I just want to make sure that it will get paid on time, every time. Thank you very much, I need the adivce. Have a good day.

Answer 1

well, here's the thing:



if you want it paid on time (as you mentioned) then paying either way would be fine



if you want to start building credit then i would suggest paying by credit card but then you risk getting into debt because even though you paid the cell bill, you now have to deal with paying the credit card bill and tacking on interest



if you pay by check card then you know that its taken from your account immediately and there are no other bills; BUT you dont have any kind of credit history



so it depends on which route/purpose you are going for

Answer 2

Pretty late to ask for advice now. But since you asked. #1. Get rid of the credit card. Get rid of ALL of them. You clearly are not responsible enough to have one so get rid of them. #2. Pay the minimum amount each month. #3. See if you can either get them to lower the interest rate or get a new credit card that offers a "0" percent interest on transfers. If you can swing one of those for the entire amount, at least you will not have interest to deal with. However, even if you can lower the interest rate 1-2 percent that will help. #4. Cut expenses elsewhere and put the savings on the debt. If you are sitting at home with a computer and have internet service, cut the service and use the computer at the library. Even if you have a $10 internet access, that is money you can put on the debt. If you have a cell phone and a home phone, get rid of one or the other, you do not need both. If you have a cell phone, do not use text or photo messaging. Do not use any of the additional services as they cost money. #5. Get a room mate. Get the room agreement in writing and whatever money they pay you, put it on the debt. #6. Drop out of college a year, get a job and pay off the debt. Considering how dumb you were racking up that kind of debt, your grades probably are not that hot anyway. #7. Forget trying to stick the credit card company for responsibility cause they "knew it was a gambling site." YOU knew it was a gambling site. If anyone "cheated" it was you. #8. Forget declaring bankruptcy. It got harder to do for exactly this kind of thing, people racking up debts then trying to get out of them. #9. Your credit rating is going to be OK if you pay off the debt, by paying at least the minimum each month. If you do not make payments, each time you miss one, your credit rating will drop 10 points. When you hit 500, the credit card company may just turn the entire debt over to collections and then you will really be in trouble. #10. Sell some stuff. If you are like most kids, you got some junk laying around you do not need. CDs, DVDs, quality bike, IPOD. etc. Even if you only get a few hundred and put it on the debt, it will help. And go forth and sin no more.

Answer 3

Either automatic method would be fine. Some people prefer giving a credit card or debit card number out than their bank account routing information. You can change your debit card number with a phone call--if you give your bank info to the wrong person, it causes a lot more trouble. Credit cards have better protection against fraud (usually $50 vs. $500 for a debit card and no limit for drafts directly against your checking account). Using your debit card ensures that you aren't spending money you don't have (which is really easy to do).



The choice depends a lot on you and how well you handle yourself and your finances, but if you want me to decide what a typical 19 year old college student, I'd say use the debit card, but have the checking account backed up with overdraft protection.

Answer 4

Checking. A credit card for one usually has a high interest rate and if you plan on paying your cc bill off every month you would be fine if not you will be paying your bill plus interest. Check into having some type of set up where if you are running low on cash in checking the bank automatically pulls from savings to avoid an overdraft charge. Credit cards can suck the life out of a college student if you ask me. They should be banned from sitting in the student union lobbies and sucking you into a plan you don't understand completely.

Answer 5

A check/debit card- credit cards add interest, so you end up paying more than the actual bill (no matter how low they claim your interest rate is!).



A good way to do it (it's what I do), is I set up the automatic payment to come out the day after I get paid. That way I can make sure the money hit the bank before the company takes it out, and I've not had a chance to spend the money before the bill is paid.



Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Billpay on the checking account is probably the best.



Personally, I don't like using the automated bill pay. I move a balance over each month to pay all may bills then schedule 1 time payments for that month for each of my bills.



The only advantage I can see using the credit card is that you are not likely to overdraft if you forget 1 month. That being said, using the credit card is a guarenteed way to get buried in debt if you are not paying it off each month.



Also, if you are paying the credit card off each month, regardless of when you are being charged interest (time of purchase or grace period), you ARE NOT establishing a credit history. To register credit card use you have to carry a balance over for 1-2 months. THe balance carried over is the balance reported to the credit bureau. If you always pay the balance each month you just have an open account, zero balance, that's never been late.

Answer 7

People are forgetting about fraud. I use my credit card for everything and just pay it off at the end of the month so i never accrue any interest. Most credit cards will instantly remove a charge if you want to dispute it (which has happened to me more than a few times). It is only slightly more difficult to do so with check card but harder is harder nonetheless.



Also, the more you use your debit card the more people have your account numbers for your cash storage. I do not want people figuring out my pin and then taking all my money out.

Answer 8

Go with the debit card. Why pay your cell phone company for cell phone service and your credit card company (the CEO of which is likely already a millionaire) for them to loan you what for them is pocket change? Don't help the rich get richer, keep the money for yourself, and develop these habits during your crucial formative college years. What you do now will dictate how you live your life later. Also, go with a cheap plan with few minutes. You don't need to be on the cell phone all the time, you need to be hitting the books so you don't end up being a dropout like me making $16/hour when I could easily be making $35 or $40/hour with my computer skills (not to brag).

Answer 9

Out of your checking account, although I wouldn't have it automatically taken out by enrolling in the auto-pay with the phone company (meaning I wouldn't have the phone company have access to my account) What I do is I have billpay set up and I put the address to the phone company on a list and every month at a specified time, my bank sends a check to the phone company so i'm never late......just be sure you have the money available in your account....if this is confusing talk to your bank and let them know you would like to add bill pay and they can walk you through it.



Try not to use your credit card, except for emergencies, and even then, pay it in full every month so you won't have to worry about accruing interest on your bill.

Answer 10

If you know you'll always have the money, then have it come out of your bank account. If you use your credit card, just make sure you pay it on time and leave a very low balance so you pay very little interest. If you pay off the balance on your credit card, they'll close the account without notice because they're not making any money. That would hurt your credit score.

Answer 11

You an pay online, they will draft from you checking. But not until you says so! Or write a check every month or automatic draft from checking. If you use cash get a receipt. Never use the credit card unless you absolutely have to !!!!!

Answer 12

Either way will get it paid on time, but if you don't pay your credit card every month then you will be charged interest, I would suggest using your check card

Answer 13

Check card is usually better, as it only spends money that you actually have, unlike a credit card, which will charge you interest.



You will certainly save money by using a check card.

Answer 14

never use your credit card unless you have no other money. i would pay bills with my check card because it is like cash. you should keep that thought in your mind. . ."only pay with cash." you dont wanna go into debt over your cell phone bill.

Answer 15

A credit card IF you pay the entire balance every month...but at your age that is not very likely

Answer 16

If you wait and want to pay fast on last day due, use check card..credit cards take longer to process.

Answer 17

out of your checking account is the best

If you use a credit card you have interest on that card.

Answer 18

check card because it's a service you will use quickly.



It's a good idea to never use credit cards for items you consume quickly.

Answer 19

check, automatically.

credit card companies will often steal money by holding checks over the late period and instilling a fee.



use checks.

Answer 20

ur checking account... putting it onto ur credit card will end up you paying more money in interest. just make sure u have enough money in ur checking account n url be fine.

Answer 21

Pay it on your debit card. Put as little as possible on your credit card.

Answer 22

Use a check, if you have a discrepancy you can have it resolved before it comes out of your account. Don't trust card companies anymore myself.

Answer 23

Have it taken from your checking acct. If you have it taken from your credit card, before you know it, you will be accumulating more debt on it!

Answer 24

Pay with your debit card.........the credit card is gonna kill ya with the interest when you got to pay them back

Answer 25

don't use the credit card - that's not "paying it off" - that only increases your debt - use your checking acct

Answer 26

check! don't want to accumulate interest on the card do ya!

Answer 27

If you have the money, put it on the debit card.



If you don't have the money, you don't need the phone.

Answer 28

check

Answer 29

check

Answer 30

trust me id pay with the checkin account....

Answer 31

check it sould cooler

Answer 32

credit offcourse, that way u can build good credit.