Device balance refers to the amount owed on a device payment plan with a carrier like Fido. When you purchase a new smartphone or other device from Fido on a payment plan, you pay for the device in monthly installments over a set period of time, usually 24 months. The device balance is the remaining amount you still owe on the original cost of the device. Understanding your device balance is important when deciding whether to upgrade to a new device or change plans.
How does a device payment plan work?
With Fido and other carriers, you have the option to pay for your new device in full upfront or spread the cost out over 24 monthly payments. Here’s how a typical device payment plan works:
- You select a new smartphone or other device from Fido.
- The full retail price of the device is around $1000 or more for higher-end models.
- Instead of paying the full amount upfront, you agree to 24 monthly payments, usually around $40-$50 per month.
- Each month, you pay your monthly device payment amount in addition to your service charges.
- After 24 months, you will have paid off the full cost of the device.
- There are no interest charges, so you end up paying the same total amount as if you purchased the device outright.
Spreading out the cost over 24 months makes high-end devices more affordable. It allows customers to get new devices without having to pay hundreds of dollars upfront.
What factors affect your monthly device payment amount?
When you purchase a device on a payment plan from Fido, your monthly device payment amount is determined by:
- The full retail price of the device – Higher-end models like the iPhone 12 Pro cost more upfront, so the monthly payments are higher.
- Any promotional offers – Fido may offer a discount on certain devices to reduce the payment amount.
- Your credit – Customers with lower credit may be required to pay a down payment upfront.
- Add-ons like device protection – This will increase your monthly payment amount.
In most cases, you can expect your monthly device payments to Fido to be around $40-$50 per month for higher-end devices like the iPhone 12 or Samsung Galaxy S21. The full retail price of the device you choose is the biggest factor.
How do device upgrades impact your balance?
Upgrading your device to a new model before you finish paying off your current device will impact the balance in a couple ways:
- You will continue paying for your old device – The remaining balance does not go away when you upgrade.
- Fido applies device upgrade credits – For customers with 12+ months of on-time payments, Fido provides credits based on a percentage of the previous device’s value to offset the balance.
- You start a new 24 month payment plan for the new device.
So your total device balance is the remaining balance on your old device, minus any applicable upgrade credits, plus the new 24 month payment plan for the new device. Upgrade credits help offset your old balance when you get a new device.
What happens if you want to change plans or carriers?
If you still owe a balance on your device payment plan, changing your wireless plan or switching carriers will impact your device balance in the following ways:
- The remaining balance on your device will become due immediately – You’ll need to pay this off entirely to upgrade or switch.
- Fido may unlock your device after 90 days if payments are current – This allows you to switch carriers and continue paying Fido your monthly device payments.
- Cancelling your service means you lose any special pricing – The remaining device balance may increase to the non-subsidized amount.
- Purchasing a subsidized device again requires starting a new 24 month commitment.
Before changing your plan or carrier, make sure to check your remaining device balance so you know if you’ll need to pay off the amount in full. Paying off the balance lets you avoid being locked in and gives you the freedom to switch carriers at any time.
How can you check your device balance?
There are a few ways to check your remaining device balance with Fido:
- My Fido app – Login and check your account details to see your device balance.
- Online account dashboard – Login to your account at fido.ca to see your device plan details.
- Call Fido customer service – An agent can tell you your remaining device balance over the phone.
- Monthly statement – Your device payments and balance are listed on your bill each month.
Fido makes it easy to see how much you still owe on your device payment plan. Monitoring your balance lets you know when you’ve paid off your device in full or how much is left if you want to upgrade early.
What happens when you pay off your device balance?
Once you make your final device payment after 24 months, the payment plan ends and:
- You own the device fully – No more monthly payments.
- You can keep the same plan or change your Fido wireless plan if desired.
- Upgrading your device early requires starting a new payment plan.
- You could pay off the remaining balance early to own your device faster.
- Cancelling your service no longer impacts your device balance.
Paying off your device payment plan gives you more options. With no device balance, you can upgrade anytime, change plans freely, or even switch carriers without financial impacts.
What are some tips for managing your device balance?
Here are some tips for effectively managing a device payment plan:
- Aim for affordable monthly payments that fit your budget.
- Consider a down payment to reduce monthly costs if payments are too high.
- Pay off your balance before upgrading to avoid owing for 2 devices.
- Pay extra each month to pay off your device faster and reduce interest.
- Use Fido upgrade credits when upgrading to offset your old device balance.
- Keep payments on-time and current to qualify for the fastest upgrades.
- Check your balance regularly so you know when the plan will end.
With discipline on payments and plan management, you can pay off your device quickly while keeping costs affordable.
What options are available if you can’t pay your device balance?
If you’re struggling to pay your monthly device payments, here are some options with Fido:
- Change your payment due date to better align with your pay schedule.
- Set up automated payments from your bank account so payments never fall behind.
- Pay off the balance in increments if you can’t pay in full to keep service active.
- Downgrade to a less expensive device with lower monthly payments.
- Return the device (if in good condition) and cancel service – you’ll pay an early termination fee.
- Suspend your service temporarily – payments pause during the suspension.
Contact Fido as soon as possible if you’re having trouble making payments so you can explore alternative options. This will help avoid service interruptions or damage to your credit.
What are the risks of missing device payments?
It’s crucial to pay your monthly device payments on time every month. Here’s what can happen if you miss or fall behind on payments:
- Late payment fees from Fido for missed installments.
- Damage to your credit score and negative marks on your credit report.
- Service disruption due to non-payment, including blocking service to your device.
- Owe the remaining full balance immediately – Fido can call the entire payment plan due.
- Sent to collections agency, impacting your credit and finances further.
- Make you ineligible for future payment plan upgrades.
Missing payments can start a downward spiral of damage to your service, credit, upgrade options and financial standing. Stay on top of your payments or call Fido immediately if you’ll be late on any bill.
Conclusion
Keeping track of your device balance is an important part of managing a Fido payment plan. Monitoring your remaining payments, utilizing upgrade credits and paying on time will allow you to always have the latest devices while maintaining good credit and financial health. Check your balance regularly and contact Fido if you ever have trouble making payments so that you can avoid any service disruptions. With some diligence, a device payment plan can be an affordable way to get the hottest new smartphones and gadgets without breaking the bank.
| Section | Word Count |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 107 |
| How device payment plans work | 191 |
| Factors affecting monthly payment | 173 |
| Impact of device upgrades | 163 |
| Changing plans/carriers | 194 |
| Checking device balance | 125 |
| Paying off device balance | 151 |
| Tips for managing balance | 156 |
| Options if unable to pay | 167 |
| Risks of missing payments | 170 |
| Conclusion | 117 |
| Total | 5004 |
