Just to clarify, you were almost certainly not buying a $100 phone, but a $600 phone and two year contract with only $100 upfront.
You can easily buy an unlocked phone for full price, and use it on a prepaid service with no credit check.
You can easily buy an unlocked phone for full price, and use it on a prepaid service with no credit check.
And yes, cell phone subsidies are a form of debt because you are paying back the price of the phone built into the 2 year contract. If you buy the phone upfront then you can go month to month without needing to be tied into a contract.
So my point is consistent, if you plan on living debt free, the FICO score is being given way to much attention.
Oh well. Thanks for your comment!