Do you need a criminal record check to apply for a phone card? Jiangxi Provincial Communications Administration issued a situation notice.

Recently, some consumers have reported that when applying for a phone card offline, they were required by the telecommunications business hall to provide additional proof materials such as a "certificate of no criminal record," "proof of employment," or one of "bank statements." Furthermore, some were asked to prepay 500 to 1000 yuan for phone expenses, and to have their property certificate or business license reviewed. In response to this, the Jiangxi Provincial Communications Administration issued a situation report on November 4: in light of recent media reports of telecommunications, mobile, and Unicom business outlets in Nanchang, Jiujiang, Jingdezhen and other places in our province requiring high prepayments and proof of employment for out-of-town residents to apply for phone cards, we attach great importance and have instructed the relevant companies to conduct comprehensive inspections and rectification to effectively protect the rights and interests of users.