Can I Pay Half of My Sprint Bill? How Partial Payments Work

If you’re short on cash one month, you may wonder if you can pay just part of your Sprint wireless bill. While Sprint does not offer an official partial payment program, there are some options to pay a portion of your bill and avoid service interruptions

In this article, we’ll explain how making partial payments to Sprint works, your payment options, and tips for covering just part of your monthly Sprint bill.

Does Sprint Allow Partial Payments?

Sprint does not have an official partial payment program for cell phone bills. Their standard policy is that you must pay off the whole balance by the due date to keep your account from being closed.

There are times, though, when Sprint customer service reps might be able to make an exception and take a partial payment. Some of the factors that may help get a partial payment approved include:

• You have a history of on-time payments
• It’s your first time requesting a partial payment arrangement
• You only need to pay a small portion of the total bill
• You agree to pay the remainder by a specific date

If approved, Sprint will temporarily suspend your account from suspension to allow a partial payment. But getting a partial payment arrangement isn’t guaranteed. Talk to a Sprint rep to see if it’s possible in your situation.

Payment Options for Partial Payments

If Sprint grants an exception for a partial bill payment you have several options to submit your payment

• Online – Pay a custom partial payment amount through your Sprint online account.
• Phone – Call Sprint billing and request to make a one-time partial payment.
• Sprint Store – Visit a store and speak to an employee about your payment situation.
• Automatic Payments – If enrolled, Sprint will charge your partial amount instead of the full balance.
• Mail – Send a check or money order for your partial payment.

The best ways to choose your partial payment amount are through your online account, phone payments, and Sprint stores.

Tips for Paying Part of Your Sprint Bill

If you need to pay just a portion of your Sprint bill, keep these tips in mind:

• Explain your situation – Provide context on why you need to make a partial payment when contacting Sprint. Financial hardship or temporary unemployment may persuade them to help.

• Pay more than the minimum – Try to pay at least 50-60% of your total bill rather than the minimum payment. It shows good faith.

• Get a due date for the remainder – Ask Sprint when the rest of the balance will be due and mark your calendar.

• Enroll in auto-pay – Sign up to have your bills paid automatically to avoid future missed partial payments.

• Stay in communication – Keep Sprint updated on your situation and when you expect to pay the remaining balance.

• Use payment assistance programs – If available, utilize government and nonprofit programs like the Lifeline Assistance Program.

• Prioritize phone bills – Reduce spending in other areas of your budget so you can pay your phone bill in full each month. Cell service is often a top priority bill.

• Sell unused devices – Consider selling old devices through sites like Decluttr to earn extra cash to pay your Sprint bill during hardship.

With some planning and communication, paying part of your Sprint bill is possible. Just remember to pay the agreed upon partial amount by the due date to avoid account suspension.

What Happens If You Only Pay Half Your Bill?

If you pay only half your Sprint bill without getting approval, here’s what will happen:

• Your account will show an unpaid balance equal to the amount you did not pay.

• Late fees will be assessed on the unpaid balance. The fee is typically $10 per line.

• Your account will remain active but you may experience an interruption in service within a few days.

• If the partial payment continues for multiple months, Sprint will likely suspend your account due to non-payment.

• Any devices still under a Sprint installment plan will go into default if suspended. The remaining balance will become due immediately.

• Partial payments increase the risk of collection agency involvement and damage to your credit.

As you can see, the consequences can be serious if you only pay part of your Sprint bill without making arrangements. Work with Sprint on a partial payment plan if possible.

Partnering With Sprint for Partial Payment Success

If your financial situation makes paying the full Sprint bill difficult for a month or two, partner with Sprint for the best outcome. Explain your hardship and ask politely if you can make a partial payment by a specific date and pay the remainder later. Sprint may waive late fees and allow you extra time.

Keep your end of the agreement by paying the partial payment on time and staying in touch about your capacity to pay the remaining balance. This good faith will go a long way in building trust and goodwill with Sprint during the hardship period.

Once you’re financially stable again, you can get back on track with paying your Sprint bill in full each month. But in challenging times, know that a partial payment arrangement may be possible with some cooperation from Sprint.

Other Ways to Get Help Paying Your Sprint Bill

In addition to partial payments, here are some other options if you’re struggling to cover your monthly Sprint bill:

• Payment Arrangement – Set up a payment plan with Sprint to divide your balance into multiple smaller payments over several months. Get it in writing.

• Account Credits – Sprint may credit your account a certain dollar amount each month to help offset your bill.

• Defer Payment – Request to defer one month’s bill to the end of your contract term. You’ll still owe the amount but can skip a month.

• Bill Review – Have Sprint review your plan and features to see if a less expensive option will lower your monthly bill.

• Financial Assistance – Inquire about financial hardship programs like Lifeline Assistance if you meet eligibility requirements.

• Temporary Suspension – Voluntarily suspend service for a set period of time (maximum 3 months) during financial difficulty.

• Account Closure – As a last resort, you can close the account and port your number to a cheaper carrier.

If you communicate openly with Sprint about your challenges and use these options, you can get through a tough month when you can’t pay the full bill.

Options Once Your Sprint Service is Suspended

If you’re unable to pay your Sprint bill and your service gets cut off, don’t panic. You have a few options to potentially get your service restored:

• Pay the full past due amount to have service reactivated.

• Agree to a partial payment plan to have service turned back on while paying down the balance.

• Request account credits from Sprint to help cover the past due amount.

• Port your number to another carrier who may offer a buyout of your Sprint account balance.

• Transfer your number to a discounted prepaid carrier like Boost Mobile to reduce costs.

• Let a friend or family member take over responsibility for the account by transferring it to their name.

• File a complaint with the FCC if you feel Sprint did not follow proper disconnection procedures.

• If eligible, enroll in the Lifeline federal assistance program to get discounted cell service.

• Switch to free WiFi calling services like Google Voice for basic talk and text.

Don’t hesitate to contact Sprint and explain your situation. With a cooperative spirit, you may be able to settle the past due balance and restore your wireless service.

Sample Scripts for Requesting Partial Payment

When you call Sprint to request paying part of your bill, it helps to be prepared. Here are some sample scripts to guide your conversation:

“Hi, I’m calling because I’m having some financial difficulties this month and can’t pay my entire Sprint bill. My bill is normally $85 but I can only pay $50 right now. Is it possible to pay the $50 today and the remainder on the 15th of the month?”

“I apologize, but with my hours being cut at work, I can really only afford to pay half of my Sprint bill this month. Is there any way to just pay $45 today instead of the full $90 since I have been a loyal customer for several years?”

“Money is really tight for me due to medical bills. Would Sprint allow me to pay 50% of my monthly phone bill now and the other half in two weeks? I want to keep my service active but can’t swing the full payment today.”

The key is to be honest about your situation, polite, and flexible on repayment plans. Sprint wants to keep you as a customer, so if you communicate well, they will likely try to find solutions.

Closing Thoughts on Partial Payments

Paying a portion of your wireless bill during financial hardship can help you maintain critical cell service. While Sprint does not advertise partial payments, a kind customer service rep may grant an exception if you have a compelling reason.

Be proactive by