Can you get a cellphone if your parents have bad credit?

I have friends whose parents have bad credit, though they all manage to have cellphones, and I've met people who say they have no credit? And still manage to have cellphones. I don't know how that works out, but anyway.. I ask my parents for a cellphone, and their response is always, "We don't have a good enough credit." I don't understand it, as for I have friends who are on the brink of being broke but their parents still scramble money together. We're.. not that bad. What companies allow you to buy phones with bad credit? Where should I go? And no. I'm not buying a prepaid phone thank you.