Can I Pay Half Of My Sprint Bill? Everything You Need To Know

Having trouble paying your full Sprint wireless bill? You’re not alone. Many people face financial constraints that make paying the entire monthly phone bill difficult. In this situation, you may wonder if Sprint allows paying half your bill or just a portion of the total amount.

I’ve researched this question fully, and in this article I’ll provide a complete guide to making partial payments on your Sprint account. I’ll cover Sprint’s policy, your payment options, tips for getting a partial payment approved, sample scripts to use, and what happens if you only pay some of what you owe.

Let’s dive in so you understand your possibilities with Sprint when you can only pay part of your monthly phone bill.

Does Sprint Allow Partial Payments?

Sprint does not advertise or have an official partial payment program for cell phone bills Their standard policy is that you must pay the full balance by the due date to avoid account suspension

However Sprint customer service representatives may sometimes make exceptions and accept a partial payment if you contact them. Here are some of the factors that can help get a partial payment arrangement approved

• You have a long history of on-time payments with Sprint
• It’s your first time requesting to make a partial payment
• You only need to pay a relatively small portion of the total bill
• You agree to pay the remainder of the balance by a specific date in the near future

If approved Sprint will temporarily suspend your account from suspension to allow the partial payment to process. But getting a partial payment arrangement is not guaranteed. You’ll need to explain your situation to a Sprint agent to see if it’s possible.

How To Make Partial Payments on Your Sprint Account

If Sprint does grant an exception for a partial bill payment, you have several options to submit the partial payment:

• Online – Pay a custom partial payment amount through your Sprint online account dashboard.

• Phone – Call Sprint billing support and request to process a one-time partial payment over the phone.

• Sprint Store – Visit a local Sprint store and speak to an employee about your payment situation. They may be able to collect a partial payment in-person.

• Automatic Payments – If you’re enrolled in Sprint autopay, they can charge your partial payment amount instead of the full billed amount.

• Mail – You can mail a check or money order to Sprint for the partial payment amount you want to pay.

In most cases, the easiest ways to pay a specific partial amount are through your Sprint online account, over the phone, or by visiting a Sprint store.

Tips for Getting a Partial Sprint Payment Approved

If you need to pay just part of your Sprint bill, keep these tips in mind to increase your chances of success:

• Explain your situation – Provide context on why you need to make a partial payment. Financial hardship, temporary unemployment, or an unexpected emergency may persuade Sprint to help.

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

• Get a due date – Ask what date the remainder of the balance will be due and mark your calendar.

• Enroll in autopay – Sign up to have your bills paid automatically to avoid missing future partial payments.

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

• Use payment assistance – If available, utilize government and nonprofit bill assistance programs.

• Prioritize phone bills – Reduce spending in other areas of your budget to pay phones first.

With some planning and politeness, getting approval for a partial Sprint payment is possible.

Sample Scripts for Requesting a Partial Payment

When you call Sprint to ask for a partial payment exception, being prepared with what to say can help. Here are some sample scripts to guide your conversation:

“Hi, I’m calling because I can only pay $50 of my $85 bill this month due to financial hardship. Is it possible to pay the $50 today and the remainder on the 15th of the month?”

“Money is really tight for me right now due to medical bills. Could I please pay half of my Sprint bill today and the other half in two weeks? I want to keep my service on.”

“I apologize, but I can only swing about $45 of my $90 monthly phone bill right now. Is there any way to just pay that partial amount and the rest later? I’ve been a customer for 5 years.”

The key is being honest, flexible, and polite. Sprint wants to retain you as a customer, so if you communicate your situation well, they will likely try to find solutions.

What Happens If You Only Pay Half Your Sprint Bill?

If you pay just 50% or less of your Sprint bill without getting a partial payment approved, here is what will happen:

• Your account will show an unpaid balance for the amount you didn’t pay

• Sprint will assess a late fee, typically $10 per line

• Your service may be interrupted within a few days

• If partial payments continue for months, Sprint may suspend your account

• Any phones still on installment billing will default and the remaining balance will be due

• Your credit may be damaged and the account sent to collections

As you can see, the ramifications can be serious if you only pay part of your Sprint bill without arranging it beforehand. Work with Sprint to set up partial payments if possible.

Setting Up Partial Payment Arrangements with Sprint

If calling Sprint to request a partial payment exception, follow these steps:

1. Contact Sprint billing support and explain your financial hardship preventing full payment.

2. Request to pay a specific portion of your total bill immediately.

3. Ask what date Sprint would require the remainder of the balance to be paid.

4. Politely ask if the partial payment arrangement can be notated on your account to avoid disconnection.

5. Pay the partial amount as promised by the due date.

6. Follow up and pay the remaining balance by the agreed upon date.

With good communication and fulfillment of the terms, Sprint will likely grant some temporary leeway on partial payments during hardship.

Other Options If You Can’t Afford Your Sprint Bill

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

• Payment plan – Set up a multi-month payment arrangement with Sprint for the balance.

• Account credits – Sprint may offer monthly credits to help cover the amount due.

• Defer payment – Ask to defer one month’s bill to the end of your contract term.

• Review/change plans – See if a cheaper service plan is available to lower your bill.

• Financial assistance – Inquire about financial hardship programs you may qualify for.

• Temporary suspension – Voluntarily suspend service for up to 3 months.

• Account closure – Cancel service and port your number to a lower cost carrier.

• Payment assistance programs – Enroll in government or nonprofit bill pay assistance if eligible.

The key is communicating with Sprint early about any struggles you have paying in full. They can present you with options to maintain service during a temporary hardship.

Can Accounts in Suspension Be Reactivated with Partial Payments?

If your service is already disconnected by Sprint due to non-payment, reactivating it with a partial payment arrangement may be possible in some cases:

• Pay the full past due amount and all Sprint accounts can be reconnected.

• Set up a multi-month payment plan for the past due balance to get service back on.

• If you receive assistance funds, use those to cover a portion of the past due amount and arrange a payment plan.

• Porting your number to another carrier who offers balance payoffs may satisfy Sprint’s past due balance.

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

Getting reconnected will require paying or making arrangements on the full delinquent amount. But Sprint may reinstate service if you show good faith in resolving what’s owed.

Final Thoughts on Partial Bill Payments with Sprint

With financial constraints, maintaining open communication and demonstrating good intent to pay what you can goes a long way. Sprint would rather keep you as a customer on a payment plan than lose your business altogether.