Can you pay off installment plan early if phone discounted?

[ACG12]

Best Buy is running a promo of $170 off an iPhone 7 32gb with an installment plan. My question is can I pay it off early? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp/iphone-7-offer/pcmcat1486666437327.c?id=pcmcat1486666437327

Fine print says "Requires credit approval, wireless service plan, qualifying device and a monthly installment plan for the carrier's required term."

 

[Bulldog Dave]

Yes you can but they won't let you pay ahead. Like make two payments instead of one. But you can pay it off whenever you want and get it unlocked.

 

[ACG12]

Yes you can but they won't let you pay ahead. Like make two payments instead of one. But you can pay it off whenever you want and get it unlocked.

So if I pick it up today, I can pay it off tomorrow?

 

[C DM]

Best Buy is running a promo of $170 off an iPhone 7 32gb with an installment plan. My question is can I pay it off early? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp/iphone-7-offer/pcmcat1486666437327.c?id=pcmcat1486666437327

Fine print says "Requires credit approval, wireless service plan, qualifying device and a monthly installment plan for the carrier's required term."

It depends on how they are going to give you the discount. If you are financing the whole full price of the device and then getting some sort of a monthly credit for the discount, then if you pay it off early you might not get the full discount basically. If on the other hand you are financing just the sale price with the discount already accounted for in it, then it sounds like you can simply pay off that price in full and that's it.

 

[Bulldog Dave]

I bought an iPhone 7 256 gig from bestbuy 150.00 off paid 699.00 plus tax on next billing shows 699.99 for 30 payments. So the payments are based on what you paid for the phone not the full price of the phone.

 

[jetsam]

So if I pick it up today, I can pay it off tomorrow?

You'll probably have to wait until you get your first bill from your carrier - then you can pay in full, if you want.

Edit: Now that I think of it, AT&T OLAM had a place where I could pay off the balance in full within a day or two of activating the phone. (I've chosen not to, since I don't need the phone unlocked, and I see no reason to pay off an interest-free loan early.)

I bought an SE from Best Buy last month on sale, and also had to buy it on a carrier installment plan (AT&T Next, in my case). The credit agreement they gave me explicitly states "Prepayment. If you pay off all of your debt early, you will not have to pay a penalty."

 

[ACG12]

Thanks. I want to switch to T-mobile soon to get on 3 lines for $100 promo, but I don't know how long it's going to last.

And my bill cycle with ATT starts on Saturday 3/4 and I'd rather switch before that date.

 

[Brandonjr36]

Thanks. I want to switch to T-mobile soon to get on 3 lines for $100 promo, but I don't know how long it's going to last.

And my bill cycle with ATT starts on Saturday 3/4 and I'd rather switch before that date.

I don't think bestbuy has T-Mobile iPhones. I'm here where I'm at they don't sell T-Mobile service. Cause they have terrible service here.

 

[ACG12]

I don't think bestbuy has T-Mobile iPhones. I'm here where I'm at they don't sell T-Mobile service. Cause they have terrible service here.

Yeah, I'm aware of that, sucks . That's why I want to buy an AT&T one, pay it off asap next day if possible and get it unlocked so I can move my service to T-mobile.

 

[Arran]

Yes you can.

I bought a 256 GB iPhone 7 (AT&T) at Thanksgiving. BBY was offering a $250 gift card and I love a deal! Gift card paid for the AppleCare on the day, with something left over.

Just paid the phone off in full. No problem. Need to get it unlocked now.

 

[jetsam]

Yeah, I'm aware of that, sucks . That's why I want to buy an AT&T one, pay it off asap next day if possible and get it unlocked so I can move my service to T-mobile.

If you activate the phone with a Verizon SIM card - even from an inactive account - the phone will be unlocked permanently. (See https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...bject-to-the-us-reseller-flex-policy.2006324/ )

Activating with Verizon will free you from having to wait for AT&T to unlock the phone after you pay it off. In fact, if the phone is unlocked, you can port first, and then just wait for the bill from AT&T.

Hopefully you have a friend or family member with a Verizon account.

 

[ACG12]

If you activate the phone with a Verizon SIM card - even from an inactive account - the phone will be unlocked permanently. (See https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...bject-to-the-us-reseller-flex-policy.2006324/ )

Activating with Verizon will free you from having to wait for AT&T to unlock the phone after you pay it off. In fact, if the phone is unlocked, you can port first, and then just wait for the bill from AT&T.

Hopefully you have a friend or family member with a Verizon account.

My sister has Verizon. But won't Best Buy activate the new phone there in store? Or should I just purchase the phone online and have them ship it?

 

[jetsam]

My sister has Verizon. But won't Best Buy activate the new phone there in store? Or should I just purchase the phone online and have them ship it?

Though they will ship you the phone unactivated, you said your billing cycle ends Saturday. You may not have time to have the phone shipped by then.

I'll leave it to someone who has done this in-store to answer about how to get them to do it, or if it's even an issue. It shouldn't be a big deal - put in Verizon SIM, activate iPhone, remove Verizon SIM, insert AT&T SIM.

 

[Brandonjr36]

Yeah, I'm aware of that, sucks . That's why I want to buy an AT&T one, pay it off asap next day if possible and get it unlocked so I can move my service to T-mobile.

You might check into it but I think buying a Verizon one would be a better option since they come unlocked out of the box.

 

[C DM]

You might check into it but I think buying a Verizon one would be a better option since they come unlocked out of the box.

Actually, as mentioned in a few preceding posts, the Best Buy ones are basically unlocked as long as the first SIM you put in is a Verizon one.

 

[Applejuiced]

If you activate the phone with a Verizon SIM card - even from an inactive account - the phone will be unlocked permanently. (See https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...bject-to-the-us-reseller-flex-policy.2006324/ )

Activating with Verizon will free you from having to wait for AT&T to unlock the phone after you pay it off. In fact, if the phone is unlocked, you can port first, and then just wait for the bill from AT&T.

Hopefully you have a friend or family member with a Verizon account.

Do what the poster above said.
If they insist to activate it at the store bring your sisters sim for a minute and do the initial activatation with the verizon sim.
Then its unlocked for good.
After it activates and lets you in the homescreen put the AT&T sim inside and let them set it up.
You're the customer so tell them what you need done and why.
If they give you any problems tell them where to go or order it online and do the whole thing at home on your own
[doublepost=1488466414][/doublepost]

You might check into it but I think buying a Verizon one would be a better option since they come unlocked out of the box.

He's trying to get the special promo Best buy has for his current AT&T account.
He doesn't want to pick up a verizon one since he doesn't have an account with them and he will not get the AT&T promo he's talking about above.
Read what he's describing that he wants to do above.

 

[ACG12]

Went ahead and bought the phone yesterday (iPhone 7 32gb) and I'm staying with AT&T after retentions lowered my bill. Can't complain, I got the phone for $479 + $100 Best Buy gift card.

 

[Bulldog Dave]

Yea I screwed up and activated mine with att sim now it's locked.just like you said applejuiced.

 

[jetsam]

Went ahead and bought the phone yesterday (iPhone 7 32gb) and I'm staying with AT&T after retentions lowered my bill. Can't complain, I got the phone for $479 + $100 Best Buy gift card.

Glad it worked out for you. And you still have an iPhone with the Qualcomm modem (and CDMA compatibility), which is a plus, even if you stay with AT&T.

 

[Bulldog Dave]

Hope this fellow who bought 32 gig used Verizon sim to activate so it didn't lock.But if going only with att no big deal.just the idea that it's locked is what irritates me. Don't really see the point if you don't pay for it they black list it anyway.