Yes, you can pay Cricket Wireless directly from your bank account
Cricket Wireless accepts bank account payments through their online account portal, their mobile app, and by phone. You provide your routing number and account number, and the payment goes through as an electronic transfer. The payment posts to your Cricket account within one to two business days, though Cricket processes most payments the same day you submit them.
You do not need a credit card or debit card to pay Cricket this way. If you have a checking or savings account at any U.S. bank, you can use it to pay your bill. Cricket does not charge a fee for bank account payments, which makes this the cheapest way to pay if you have other payment options available.
Key Takeaways
- Cricket accepts bank account payments through their website, app, and phone line without charging a fee.
- You will need your routing number and account number from a checking or savings account to set up a bank payment.
- Payments typically post within one to two business days, though many process the same day.
- You can set up automatic recurring payments so your bill pays on the same date each month.
- If your bank account information changes, you will need to update it in your Cricket account before your next payment is due.
How to pay through the Cricket website or app
Log into your Cricket account on their website or open the Cricket app on your phone. Go to the "Pay Bill" or "Payments" section. Select "Bank Account" as your payment method. Enter your routing number (the nine-digit code that identifies your bank) and your account number (the number specific to your checking or savings account). You can find both on the bottom left of any check you have, or call your bank to ask.
Enter the amount you want to pay and the date you want the payment to go through. Cricket will show you a confirmation screen with all the details before you submit. Once you confirm, the payment is scheduled. You will receive a confirmation email with a reference number you can use if you need to contact Cricket about the payment later.
Paying Cricket by phone
Call Cricket customer service at 1-844-839-9969. Tell the representative you want to pay your bill with a bank account. Have your routing number and account number ready. The representative will walk you through entering the information over the phone. They will confirm the amount and the date the payment should process, then submit it on your behalf.
Phone payments work the same way as online payments — the money comes from your bank account and posts to Cricket within one to two business days. You will still receive a confirmation email with a reference number. Some people prefer phone payments because they can ask questions during the process, but the end result is identical.
Setting up automatic payments from your bank account
If you want your Cricket bill to pay automatically every month, you can set up a recurring payment in your account. Go to the Payments section of your Cricket account and look for "Autopay" or "Automatic Payments." Select your bank account as the payment method and enter your routing and account numbers. Choose the date you want the payment to come out each month — most people pick the date their bill is due or a few days before.
Once autopay is on, Cricket will charge your bank account on that date every month for your full bill amount. If your bill changes (because you added a line or changed your plan), the new amount will charge automatically. You can turn off autopay anytime through your account settings, and you should do this if you close the bank account you have on file or if the account information changes.
What happens if a bank payment fails
If Cricket tries to charge your bank account and the payment bounces — usually because of insufficient funds or an account that has been closed — Cricket will mark your account as past due. You will receive a notice that the payment failed. You have a few days to submit a new payment before Cricket suspends your service.
If you have autopay set up and a payment fails, the automatic charge will not retry on its own. You will need to manually submit a new payment through your account or by phone. If you know your account will not have enough funds on the scheduled date, log in and change the payment date before it processes, or turn off autopay temporarily.
Bank account information you will need
Before you start a bank account payment to Cricket, gather these two pieces of information from your bank:
- Routing number: A nine-digit code that identifies your specific bank or credit union. It appears on the bottom left of your checks. You can also find it on your bank's website or by calling customer service.
- Account number: The number specific to your checking or savings account. It also appears on your checks, usually to the right of the routing number. Do not use a credit card number or loan account number.
Do not share your full account number with anyone except Cricket. If you are paying by phone, make sure you are calling the official Cricket number (1-844-839-9969) and not a number from a text message or email, because scammers sometimes send fake payment requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a bank payment to show up on my Cricket bill?
Most bank payments post within one to two business days. Some post the same day you submit them. Weekends and holidays can add time. If you are close to your due date, submit the payment at least two business days early to be safe.
Can I pay Cricket from someone else's bank account?
No. Cricket requires the bank account to be in the name of the account holder. If someone else's name is on the account, the payment may be rejected. You can use a debit card instead if you need to pay from a different source.
What if I enter my routing number or account number wrong?
Cricket will usually catch the error and reject the payment before it processes. You will get a notification that the information is invalid. Go back and re-enter the numbers carefully. If a payment does go through to the wrong account, contact your bank when ready — they can sometimes reverse it.
Do I have to use the same bank account every time I pay?
No. You can use different bank accounts for different payments. Each time you pay through the website or app, you can enter a different routing and account number. If you use autopay, it will charge the same account every month unless you change it in your account settings.
What if my bank account is closed after I set up autopay?
The next automatic payment will fail, and Cricket will mark your account past due. You need to log into your Cricket account and either turn off autopay or update it with a new bank account number before the next billing cycle. If you do not, your service will suspend.