The new, cool thing is for cellular providers to offer a discount when you set up auto-pay; they want their money coming automatically each month without your manual input. Since cellular bills are a common bonus category on credit cards – notably, they earn 5x on the INK Cash/Plus cards – let’s take a look at which cellular providers allow paying with credit cards in conjunction with the auto-pay discount and which force you to pay with a bank.
Please sound off in the comments with information missing here, and also let us know if you’ve ever had issues getting the 5x INK multiplier with any cellular provider.
Contents
Verizon
Verizon postpaid only offers the auto-pay discount when it’s set up with a checking account or debit card. Credit cards can not be used in conjunction with the auto-pay discount.
A lot of people used to prepay their bill and still get the auto-pay discount. However, they now charge you the next month the discount amount when you do this. There are still two workarounds mentioned:
Update: Both of the ideas below are disputed by some, maybe it’s YMMV or maybe it’s changed or maybe it depends on prepaid vs postpaid or other factors.
- Pay part of your bill with the credit card and leave a little left over to get paid with the auto-pay. (1)
- Pay with a Verizon gift card and you’ll maintain the auto-pay discount. The Verizon gift card can be purchased in-store with the your INK card to be eligible for the bonus telecommunications category bonus. It’s a bit roundabout, but some might find it worthwhile. (1, 2 )
Verizon prepaid DOES allow credit card in conjunction with the auto-pay discount.
T-Mobile
T-mobile no longer allows credit card payment in conjunction with the auto-pay discount.
AT&T
AT&T allows credit card in conjunction with the auto-pay discount. Both prepaid and postpaid.
Other Providers
Add me.
H20 Wireless
H20 Wireless allows credit card in conjunction with the auto-pay discount. (1)
Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless allows credit card in conjunction with the auto-pay discount. (1)
US Cellular
Cricket Wireless allows credit card in conjunction with the auto-pay discount. (1)
Related:
View Comments (96)
Might want to conduct a complete audit of this page:
- Sprint | Delete/No longer in business (acquired by T-Mobile)
- T-Mobile | Killed off autopay discount with credit card
@will @chucksithe
Updated, thanks
I'm late to the party... are replies to this article still monitored/replied to? I have a question about Verizon, particularly this snippet, "The Verizon gift card can be purchased in-store with the your INK card to be eligible for the bonus telecommunications category bonus." Can anyone verify? Thanks!
I just found out about Verizon only giving discounts if you use auto pay with a debit card, checking account, or the new Verizon Visa. I found out about it too late. I switched from my old shared data plan to a new unlimited plan thinking I would get a discount with auto pay with a credit card. After switching, I found out the discount wouldn't apply unless I used a debit card, checking account, or a Verizon Visa credit card. I would have stuck with my old plan if I had known. I asked them to switch me back, and they said they can't because they no longer offer it. Verizon makes me mad.
any current tricks to get the verizon autopay disscount?
does paying with a visa gift card work to continue to receive the autopay?
Pageplus
For Verizon, if you split the bill to get autopay discount and pay the rest with a CC, will you still qualify for cell phone insurance coverage through your CC?
Net 10 Wireless has a 10% discount for autopay - for all plans except the cheapest one ($20 per month plan).
Google Fi is only automatic, so no discount as far as I can tell
Verizon is pure trash. I used CC to pay my Dec bill and received email stating autopay discount loss...
The main reason I use CC is cellular phone insurance. Any workaround?
Cricket Wireless