Age to buy iPhone

[JohnnyQuest]

So I'm finally ready to buy an iPhone but I just turned 17. I remember hearing that you had to be 18 (but that might have just been on iDay). Is this true? Do I need to take a parent with me or something? Or can I just go to the local ATT store and pick one up by myself? Thanks!

[TEG]

In the US, to sign a contract, you MUST be 18, this included cell phone contracts. You might be able to get one for pay-as-you-go as there is no contract, but they may still not sell to you because you are not 18.

TEG

[JohnnyQuest]

I realize that you must be 18 to sign the contract. But isn't all that done online through iTunes? I'm talking about actually going to the store to buy the phone.

[brian doherty]

I would imagine you could. Perhaps tell them it is a gift for a parent?
If not, try just ordering online.

[Sir Tony]

They are probably going to ask you to use a credit card. Also, it is illegal, tisk tisk.

[aross99]

Do you have an existing AT&T contract? If not, I suspect AT&T will want you to get signed up in the store. if you went to an Apple store, I don't think you would have any issues.

Might want to take a parent just in case, or just call them first...

[TEG]

Do you have an existing AT&T contract? If not, I suspect AT&T will want you to get signed up in the store. if you went to an Apple store, I don't think you would have any issues.

Might want to take a parent just in case, or just call them first...

You never sign a contract in the store when you buy an iPhone, ever. It is always done through iTunes.

TEG

[aross99]

You never sign a contract in the store when you buy an iPhone, ever. It is always done through iTunes.

TEG
I got my iPhone from an Apple store (back in July), and I went to AT&T to ask some questions, and they signed me up there. I didn't activate my phone there, but they signed me up and did all of the paperwork...

[TEG]

I got my iPhone from an Apple store (back in July), and I went to AT&T to ask some questions, and they signed me up there. I didn't activate my phone there, but they signed me up and did all of the paperwork...

They are not supposed to, and it was invalidated by you activating through iTunes. iTunes covers all the paperwork, so you just wasted precious moments of your life to do something redundant.

TEG

[marykay9507]

So I'm finally ready to buy an iPhone but I just turned 17. I remember hearing that you had to be 18 (but that might have just been on iDay). Is this true? Do I need to take a parent with me or something? Or can I just go to the local ATT store and pick one up by myself? Thanks!

buy one at the apple store, but you need to use a credit card...i don't remember if they ask you for your birthday when you activate through itunes- anyone?

[philgilder]

im 17 and bought my iphone in the uk
just walked in, asked for iphone, gave a debit (cash) card and that was it
didnt ask for age or anything...
good luck :)
(and yes, in the uk you need to be 18 to sign a contract and you activate at home through itunes)

[aross99]

They are not supposed to, and it was invalidated by you activating through iTunes. iTunes covers all the paperwork, so you just wasted precious moments of your life to do something redundant.

TEG

Not to disagree, but my iTunes activation was only to activate the phone - the account was setup at AT&T. I selected my minutes, game them my credit card info, my name and address - everything.

When I got home to setup my iPhone, iTunes already had my account information from the setup at AT&T.

It was like adding a phone on an existing contract at that point...

Maybe it was just 1st day confusion on AT&T's part, but that's how it worked for me.

[avaloncourt]

Some stores do seem to do it. When I got mine they wouldn't even consider doing it there. She sold me the phone, put it in the bag and told me to go home and activate it through iTunes. She actually told me they weren't allowed to do it in the store.

[mikelong622]

I just bought my iPhone yesterday and they asked to see an ID. Not sure if that was for age verification or not.

[mrobison]

When I bought mine a couple weeks ago I just wrote a check and then showed my driver's license I think.

I just turned 18 and signed on an existing contract though...