Apple/Verizon wouldn't sell me a phone because I'm 'too young'

[FriarNurgle]

Ok, let's all calm down here.

The guy obviously is a tad inexperienced but we have no right to judge him. Different people are in different places in their lives and have different capabilities & issues.

I would suggest you sit down with your parents and ask for their assistance with the phone situation and begin explaining personal finance. If they are not very knowledgeable with money, seek out a friend, coworker, family member that can help you. If you have a bank account, go there and ask to speak to the bank manager. They will be more than happy to assist and point you in the right direction in learning about money and credit. If you don't have a bank account, go get one. Local credit Unions are a good suggestion.

I'm sure you will be able to resolve the issue and get your iPhone... but you REALLY REALLY REALLY should sit down with someone you trust and begin learning more about personal finance.

Good luck.

 

[TPadden]

Ok, let's all calm down here. The guy obviously is a tad inexperienced but we have no right to judge him......

Only someone VERY inexperienced would think they could post anything on the internet without inviting judgement .......

 

[cowbellallen]

Okay, now I'm really starting to get ticked off.

I called Verizon Wireless and spoke with a customer service rep who admitted that he had no idea why they would have turned me down last night, and that he doesn't know much about creating new accounts. He put me on hold for a minute and then gave me a phone number to someone that could help me.

I then called the new number, and another rep took my call. I started to explain what had happened last night and if he might have heard of anything similar, and if there was a reason for it. Before I could finish, he told me to forget about buying it locally anyways because they were all out of stock and I would have to wait for it to be mailed to my house anyways, and then said he would sell one to me over the phone. I told him that what he said wasn't true, and that the stores have plenty in stock.

He abruptly put me on hold and then came back apologizing because he didn't realize the iPhone was already available for purchase. He then told me it would be better to buy the phone through him because he would give me a discount on a phone and beat the internet and store price. I asked him what kind of deal he could get me n the iPhone, and he fumbled around and said that he could give me 10% off a car charger and case, as well as free shipping. I asked if he could give me more information about how the approval process works in the store, and he said that he couldn't tell me. I gave up and said that I'd rather buy it in person because I didn't trust him.

I'm not impressed with the customer service I've gotten from Verizon so far, and I'm not looking forward to going to a Verizon store tonight. Last time I was in there, I watched my mom get pressured into signing a plan by a jerk saleswoman. I'm getting fed up dealing with this and may just consider going to AT&T if this happens again.

 

[Surely]

So....let me get this straight..... a Verizon rep apologizes to you for what happened, offers to sell you the iPhone and discounted accessories, and ship it all to you, and you turn him down?

That makes sense.

 

[cowbellallen]

So....let me get this straight..... a Verizon rep apologizes to you for what happened, offers to sell you the iPhone and discounted accessories, and ship it all to you, and you turn him down?

That makes sense.

Wow, reading your description he sure sounded like a saint.... WTF was I thinking? At the time I thought he was a greaseball salesman who didn't know what he was talking about.

I'm swinging by the Verizon store tonight, I hope this works out well.

 

[Surely]

You have such a high opinion of salespeople.

Did he not call you "sir" enough times?

If you weren't happy with his service, you could have requested to speak to another rep or to a supervisor.

You were offered what you want- an iPhone 4- and you turned it down. WTF were you thinking, indeed.

 

[Jessica Lares]

This actually happened to me too. I suggest you try and get your parents to use their information and get the phone for you with their social security info.

The pre-order seemed okay with my information at Willow Bend, but on the day of getting the phone at launch at Stonbrier, it denied me because of having no credit history, so my dad opened an account under his name for me using his info.

It's because you probably don't have any investments in anything worth over $2,000. You also don't bring that kind of money home every month from work.

(I base that $2,000 mark on my social security payments which state that if you have any investments/income worth over that amount, they won't issue you a check because that's like a 'you're doing okay' mark)

 

[Geffen]

Wow, reading your description he sure sounded like a saint.... WTF was I thinking? At the time I thought he was a greaseball salesman who didn't know what he was talking about.

I'm swinging by the Verizon store tonight, I hope this works out well.

You'll have to let us know if you get an iphone tonight.

 

[Jessica Lares]

And I'm pretty sure that guy WON'T sell you the iPhone discounted without the credit check passing by the way. Otherwise if you're not paying the bills, they won't have any backup funding to grab from. It's like selling a car to a 16 year-old. And if he does, he's probably going to get fired pretty soon. You better make sure they at least ask for the deposit.

 

[Surely]

It's because you probably don't have any investments in anything worth over $2,000. You also don't bring that kind of money home every month from work.

(I base that $2,000 mark on my social security payments which state that if you have any investments/income worth over that amount, they won't issue you a check because that's like a 'you're doing okay' mark)

Sorry, but that's not how it works.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/11896443/

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/11896721/

 

[Jessica Lares]

Sorry, but that's not how it works.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/11896443/

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/11896721/

My dad was able to pass the credit check. Our house was THIS close to getting foreclosure 4 times in the last TWO years. We filed for bankruptcy a few years ago too, we hardly EVER pay our bills on time. We can hardly pay our car bill. Yes, it does depend on insurance rates/etc, but the fact is that we HAVE a house, and we HAVE a car. This guy may have a job, but that is the only thing he DOES have if not a car. Sure, they could take the phone back, but at that point it may have lost value and it's not a real lost to the person.

 

[cowbellallen]

I went to the Verizon store this evening. The guy there was very helpful. He started out by saying they don't have any iPhones in stock, and the only place to get them now would be at an Apple Store.

I told him my situation, and he searched for me in the application system. He then called a phone number and told them my story. On a piece of paper, he wrote down a 1-800 number for me to call. He said that in order to proceed, I would need to call the 1-800 number and ask them for a fax number, as I would need to fax them my driver's license and social security card for verification. I have been approved to start a contract with Verizon, without a deposit, but they want to make sure I'm not stealing someone's identity.

On the other hand, I just got off the phone with a woman the local AT&T store. She was extremely kind and told me that she's never even heard of anything like that before. AT&T apparently sometimes require a social security number if some other flags go off, but that they'll never ask you to bring it in or fax it (or as she humorously put it, make you go through a full body scanner).

I don't know what I'm going to do. Any feedback ya'll have would be helpful.

 

[Gryzor]

Frankly, I'm really ticked off. I just wanted to buy an iPhone... I feel really let down that they wouldn't sell it to me... Sigh.

You are ticked off because you have a bad (i.e. "no") credit history to verify your ability to keep up payments on a contract? That's your fault, not theirs, and shows how much harm it does being a "mummys" boy at home. At 23 I was out working, paying a mortgage on my house and bought my first brand new car, cash. 10 years on I have now paid off that mortgage and have a house worth over double what I paid for it.

Edit: Right, so you have been told what to do to get a phone and you are still asking for help and feedback? Can't people think for themselves anymore? Maybe you should just speak to mummy about it...

Edit 2: Even worse, I read above that you were offered a phone AND discount on accessories, and you turned it down? You are beyond help, and are clearly just being awkward about this whole situation.

 

[cowbellallen]

You are ticked off because you have a bad (i.e. "no") credit history to verify your ability to keep up payments on a contract? That's your fault, not theirs, and shows how much harm it does being a "mummys" boy at home. At 23 I was out working, paying a mortgage on my house and bought my first brand new car, cash. 10 years on I have now paid off that mortgage and have a house worth over double what I paid for it.

Edit: Right, so you have been told what to do to get a phone and you are still asking for help and feedback? Can't people think for themselves anymore?

Edit 2: Even worse, I read above that you were offered a phone AND discount on accessories, and you turned it down? You are beyond help, and are clearly just being awkward about this whole situation.

I'm a 'mummys boy' because I'm on a family plan? Because I have a full-time job in addition to a car, just like you did. It must be the house and cell phone plan that makes you a serious badass.

Or maybe it's the fact that you've never asked for advice before. But then again, you spend your Friday night trolling a forum.

 

[Surely]

But then again, you spend your Friday night trolling a forum.

It's not night where I am, perhaps it isn't where he/she is either.........

 

[Jessica Lares]

Call the number the Verizon people asked you to. You should be okay. They HAVE to have a SS on file, I don't know what that AT&T lady was on about them never asking. Maybe she thought you were after a GoPhone?

 

[Knowimagination]

I don't know what I'm going to do. Any feedback ya'll have would be helpful.

My advice would have been to do a change of responsibility on your current line instead of starting a new contract the traditional way. Now it seems like you just have to decide which carrier you think you would be happiest with. Seems like you already know how Verizon is in your area so I would just figure out if AT&T is any better or worse. In my area I have no issues with AT&T and have been happy with their customer service and service.

 

[Knowimagination]

Call the number the Verizon people asked you to. You should be okay. They HAVE to have a SS on file, I don't know what that AT&T lady was on about them never asking. Maybe she thought you were after a GoPhone?

I am with the OP here I am not sure I would be willing to fax a copy of my ssn and dl just to get a cell phone.

 

[PNutts]

Wasteland, please. I think folks here have a hook in their mouths.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I am with the OP here I am not sure I would be willing to fax a copy of my ssn and dl just to get a cell phone.

You shouldn't worry that much to be honest. The 1-800 number goes to the financial service place that ONLY deals with the Verizon billing. They are not like the reps at the stores.

 

[cowbellallen]

Verizon is giving me the run around. I called the 1-800 number which ended up being a sales line. A guy named David took my call and when I mentioned the social security issue he said that I would have to finish the purchase through a storefront and promptly hung up on me. I tried calling the number again and ended up getting the same guy, who was really pissed that I called back.

AT&T it is. Hopefully I don't go over 2gb. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[iceterminal]

Verizon is giving me the run around. I called the 1-800 number which ended up being a sales line. A guy named David took my call and when I mentioned the social security issue he said that I would have to finish the purchase through a storefront and promptly hung up on me. I tried calling the number again and ended up getting the same guy, who was really pissed that I called back.

AT&T it is. Hopefully I don't go over 2gb. Thanks for the help everyone.

I live in Plano as well. And I work downtown. I"ll be the first to say that I'm not a fanboy of neither AT&T or Verizon. They are merely a means to an end.
But getting AT&T, in this town, you can't go wrong. Dallas is a headquarters for AT&T so you know you'll get good coverage.
Had iPhone since the 3G, no dropped calls to really speak of. Data speed is pretty good too. Faster than Verizon where I work.

 

[Knowimagination]

I live in Plano as well. And I work downtown. I"ll be the first to say that I'm not a fanboy of neither AT&T or Verizon. They are merely a means to an end.
But getting AT&T, in this town, you can't go wrong. Dallas is a headquarters for AT&T so you know you'll get good coverage.
Had iPhone since the 3G, no dropped calls to really speak of. Data speed is pretty good too. Faster than Verizon where I work.

Yeah the DFW area gets pretty solid AT&T service. People always call me a liar when I say I haven't had issues with dropped calls. I guess they have just never been to Dallas.

 

[ssbearsfan]

Actually Annualcreditreport.com is the official one and the only place you can get your free annual credit report as required by the government. The other sites are bad but this is the one good one.

From AnnualCreditReport.com:
"AnnualCreditReport.com is a centralized service for consumers to request free annual credit reports. It was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act).

AnnualCreditReport.com is the only service authorized by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for this purpose. The three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies have always encouraged consumers to regularly review their credit reports. "

ahh, you're right. I was thinking freecreditreport.com

 

[torbjoern]

I don't know what I'm going to do. Any feedback ya'll have would be helpful.

Okay, now I'm really starting to get ticked off.
…
I then called the new number, and another rep took my call. I started to explain what had happened last night and if he might have heard of anything similar, and if there was a reason for it. Before I could finish, he told me to forget about buying it locally anyways because they were all out of stock and I would have to wait for it to be mailed to my house anyways, and then said he would sell one to me over the phone. I told him that what he said wasn't true, and that the stores have plenty in stock.

He abruptly put me on hold and then came back apologizing because he didn't realize the iPhone was already available for purchase. He then told me it would be better to buy the phone through him because he would give me a discount on a phone and beat the internet and store price. I asked him what kind of deal he could get me n the iPhone, and he fumbled around and said that he could give me 10% off a car charger and case, as well as free shipping. I asked if he could give me more information about how the approval process works in the store, and he said that he couldn't tell me. I gave up and said that I'd rather buy it in person because I didn't trust him.

I'm not impressed with the customer service I've gotten from Verizon so far, and I'm not looking forward to going to a Verizon store tonight. Last time I was in there, I watched my mom get pressured into signing a plan by a jerk saleswoman. I'm getting fed up dealing with this and may just consider going to AT&T if this happens again.

Here is your feedback - enjoy: