Consumers might think they have no way to buy a Dish Network plan without a credit card, but that’s simply not the case. In a time when more people are living with bad credit or no credit, most satellite television providers have had to change their business models to accommodate this customer demographic.
Over time, many of the other satellite service providers are going to add their own alternative plan. Some time in the not too distant future, you’ll probably visit this blog and find a post about whatever Direct TV’s cash and debit plan is. For now, let’s focus on DishNetwork.
About Dish Network
The services and payment requirements for Dish Network may change over time.
Dish Network Corporation has over 14.3 million direct broadcast subscribers and employs of 24,000 employees, most of them right here in the United States. The Dish Network corporate hq is found in Meridian, Colorado, where they grew from a small satellite equipment business in 1980 by Charlie Ergen (and others) into the massive satellite tv giant they are now.
Dish Network announced a few months ago they want to transform (over the next 10 years) into a combined Internet, phone, and television service with full mobile and home applications. This is just one more example of the vision which drives Dish Network to a try new marketing concepts, such as Flex TV.
Flex TV on Dish Network
Flex TV is the no-credit satellite television service offered by Dish Network. Customers do not sign a long term contract and they are not obligated to stay with Dish Network unless they want to. Incentives are in place to convince people to join in a long term plan, but you can pay month by month and never have to sign a contract. You might be wondering what the catch is?
FlexTV Costs
If there is a catch, it’s that you have to pay an up-front cost. To stay on the Flex TV plan, you have to pay one month in advance. The up-front costs are how most debit and cash-only plans work. Consider it something like a deposit at a hotel room or when you rent an apartment. This assures you’re a serious customer and you’ll pay your bills, thus it’s worth the time and energy spent by Dish Network to hook you into their system. Plans start at $44.99 per month, so this is the minimum amount you’ll need to pay in advance.
Customers also need to have their own satellite dish equipment. When you use the FlexTv option, you can’t rent or borrow equipment from Dish Network. Also, DirecTv equipment won’t work for you. The FlexTV Minimum Qualifying Package costs $199, which includes the Dish Network satellite dish.
So for around $245 and an additional $45 a month, you can get Dish Network without a credit card. I should mention this is SD equipment and you’ll need to pay $99 for an HD equipment upgrade, but these are the only costs incurred.
Other Plans from DishNetwork
Those who want something more than the basic plan can pay more money for premium channels and more viewing options. Like most of these plans, once you get in on the basic package, you can bump up your services for nominal additional fees. These add up, of course, but any one jump is going to be another $5 a month. I’d suggest you find the channels you watch 95% of the time and not pay for anything beyond what it takes to get these channels. If you’re like me (and most people, according to statistics), you have only 3-5 networks you really watch a lot anyway.
Why Shop with No Credit Card?
Some people cannot live with temptation. If they are constantly tempted to use a credit card for impulse buys and other purchases they don’t need, they eventually give in. Some people decide they would rather live without a credit card, or at least without one burning a hole in their wallet all the time. Others find they simply don’t have the credit score to make charging on the Visa or Mastercard feasible.
These people need to know how to buy things without credit and I started reading a few sites that devote themselves to that subject. So on occasion, I might post about how to buy goods, services, and information using debit or cash. I hope people who need that info can learn how to live better.
