Up Your Chances Of Getting Your Mobile Postpaid Plans Approved In The Philippines

Written by Marc Adrian

According to the International Data Corporation’s latest Asia/Pacific Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, the Philippines is the fastest-growing smartphone market in Southeast Asia to date.  In the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, it was predicted that smartphone users in the country will more than double, hitting 90 million in 2021 from the current 40 million.  

While many of the more mature smartphone markets of the world have already displayed signs of saturation, the Philippine smartphone market continues to enjoy robust growth.

As the Filipinos become more acquainted with the internet, the demand for phone service has become higher than ever. Due to this, Filipinos rely heavily on telcos for services beyond the traditional call and text features.

There are a variety of services that telcos offer for different budgets, needs, and lifestyles. From cheap unlimited call and text prepaid services to more complex packages with free smartphones (postpaid).

The most common (and the default) mobile phone service that everyone is subscribed to is a prepaid service. It’s a cost-efficient option, but it’s not always convenient. Postpaid plans, on the other hand, offer a lot more flexibility, but it’s tied with a contract.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Postpaid Plan

While a mobile postpaid plan is an easy way to get a flagship phone without having to splurge a huge amount of cash, that isn’t the only way to get one. Before deciding whether you should get one, or if you should just stick to your prepaid line, make sure you understand what it means to be locked in a 24-month contract with a provider. 

As convenient as a postpaid plan may sound, getting approved for one in the Philippines isn’t as easy as applying for a home internet connection. Rather, it’s almost as stringent as a credit card application.

To make the application process a tad less difficult, we break down the do’s, the don’ts, and everything in between, to make your mobile postpaid plan application fast and seamless.

Factors Considered in your Mobile Postpaid Application

All mobile postpaid plans are not created equal. Some plans are made for the heavy internet use, some are made with a balance of call, text, and data in mind, while some are made to be easily affordable to the masses.

Depending on your capacity to pay and your current financial condition, you may or may not get approved for a mobile postpaid plan of your choosing. If you want to increase your chances of bringing home that two years contract for the latest flagship device, these are the things that you must keep in mind.

Income

Having a big income will look good on paper, but that alone can’t guarantee your approval. Just like banks, at least one-year length of employment upon application is a standard requirement for mobile postpaid plan application if you’re employed.

You don’t necessarily need to have a significantly big income to get approved, your income will be matched to a corresponding mobile postpaid plan. The bigger your income, the more expensive the plans you can apply for.

The price of the plan

Mobile postpaid plans vary in price according to the availability of the service that they offer. The plans attached to expensive flagship devices will definitely be more expensive, which means the salary requirement will be higher. Most often than not, service providers will disclose the income requirement for a corresponding mobile postpaid plan.

To boost your chance of getting approved, choose a mobile postpaid plan that’s one notch below your income category.  

Mobile postpaid plan with another provider

This factor could work towards your advantage if you’ve managed to establish a good payment record with your current or previous mobile postpaid plan provider. Smart, Globe, and Sun usually grant approval faster for those mobile postpaid plan applicants who had good payment history with another mobile postpaid plan provider.

Common Documentary Application Requirements

Every telco has their own internal protocol for the approval process, however, their documentary requirements are almost the same.

1. Proof of identity

• Two valid IDs such as SSS ID, Passport, Driver’s License, Unified Multipurpose-ID, Postal ID, or PRC/IBP ID.

2. Proof of billing address

• Utility bills (electricity, water, cable, telco, DSL)
• Waybill or proof of shipping
• Club membership bill
• Bank statement of account
• Credit card bill
• Insurance premium bill

3. Proof of income and financial capacity

The following should be under your name and should be the latest issued copy.

• Bank Certificate of Deposits
• Certificate of Employment + 1 month pay slip
• Latest ITR (Form 2316) + 1 month pay slip
• Bank Statement of Account
• Credit Card Statement of Account (SOA)
• Bank Account Passbook
• Proof of Remittance and Proof of Relationship
• Business documents (business permit and latest ITR with audited FS)

4. Contact information

• Personal mobile number
• Home or office contact number

Step-by-Step Application Process 

All the telcos in the Philippines have a similar flow in mobile postpaid plan application. While they may have a differing internal process, the process that customers go through is nonetheless the same.   

Perhaps the most significant difference that mobile postpaid plan providers in the Philippines have is their pricing.  

Providers	Lowest price	Highest price
Globe	₱599	₱7,999
Smart	₱399	₱2,999
Sun	₱350	₱1,999

It’s possible to apply for a mobile postpaid plan even if you don’t have income documents. Here are what you can do:

Additional requirements for foreigners

• I-Card
• DOLE Employment Permit
• Immigration Certificate of Registration
• Special Retiree’s Residence Visa (SRRV)
• Company Guarantee (if staying less than the contract period)
• Employment Contract or Certificate of Employment

1. Submit online or through Globe’s business center.
2. Approval will usually take 3 to 5 business days.
3. Once approved, you’ll receive a call or text from the provider and will be asked to pay for the upfront payment if applicable to the mobile postpaid plan you’ve applied for.
4. If the device for your mobile postpaid plan isn’t available yet, they will notify you of the timeframe.
5. You can either claim in store or have it shipped to your address.

Other things you need to consider

Despite having a streamlined external process for mobile postpaid plan applications, different providers have their own different internal processes. Depending on which provider you go for, here’s what you need to know:

For Globe

• Existing Globe customers or a line-only applicant can simply provide a valid ID to the nearest Globe Business Center and instantly get approved.
• Income document for applicants who are a beneficiary of an OFW can submit certificates of allotment for the last 3 months and/ or a copy of your foreign remittance slip.
• If you’re a housewife, you may present original copies of electricity bills or rental lease.

For Sun Cellular

• Credit Card Statements with Credit Limit of at least ₱ 25,000 (for Plan 350) will automatically be approved.
• Plan 350 application should at least have a basic gross annual income of at least ₱ 120,000 as shown by their latest ITR (Form 2316) or Certificate of Employment and 1-month pay slip.

A mobile postpaid plan provides an on-demand access to call, text, and data services. It provides users with the flexibility to stay connected anytime and anywhere. Most often than not, getting one makes more sense if you rely heavily on your phone line for calls, texts, and internet connection. If getting connected is more of a necessity for your lifestyle than a luxury, a mobile postpaid line makes more financial sense.

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