Do phone carriers' 'security deposit' apply for my own GSM unlocked phone?

[Karl H]

I'm really not that comfortable with the idea of putting down hundreds of dollars on a security deposit for a phone carrier. So I was wondering if I can just buy an unlocked phone (even though they are more expensive), and go to a carrier and sign up for a month-to-month service plan, without putting down the security deposit. Is that doable? Thank you.

[BraxOwl]

You can purchase a new phone (full price) directly from a cell carrier or use a phone you have (GSM phones only work with T-Mobile and AT&T) and avoid a security deposit by choosing a pre-pay plan. T-Mobile has Flex Pay, which gives you the benefits of a plan but you pay ahead of time instead of afterwards. If you run out of minutes, the phone will not work until you add more or until the next month.

The security deposit is not on the device itself, but on the account- if they are charging you "hundreds of dollars" then you either have bad credit, or they have an awful policy.