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Do I need to the main account holder when I pick up my iPhone?

Dmac77

Dmac77

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 2, 2008
2,165
3
Michigan
Does anyone by chance know if I'll need the main account holder with me when I go to pick up my iPhone? My mother is the AT&T account holder, and she doesn't really want to take off of work to go pick up an iPhone. If she were to give me her Social Security number, and the password for the AT&T account, would that be okay? Or will the people at the Apple Store require her to be there when I pick up my iPhone?

Thanks,

-Don
 
Dmac77 said:
Does anyone by chance know if I'll need the main account holder with me when I go to pick up my iPhone? My mother is the AT&T account holder, and she doesn't really want to take off of work to go pick up an iPhone. If she were to give me her Social Security number, and the password for the AT&T account, would that be okay? Or will the people at the Apple Store require her to be there when I pick up my iPhone?

Thanks,

-Don
Click to expand...

i think she can call in and make you an authorized user.. that should do the trick but dont hold me to it.. maybe someone else might have a clearer answer.
 
That would be great if she can actually do that. Sometimes it sucks having to jump through hoops because I'm 16. Also, does anyone know if we'll be able to pay with cash?
 
Just have to be an authorized user. If you know her social security # you can do it, or she has to set you up on the account. If you're going into a store then yes, most places take cash. :)
 
All she has to do is add you as a authorized user, and you have to be 18 to sign the 2 year contract.
 
I seem to recall issues with non account holders trying to pick up their 3GS models.
 
rdowns said:
I seem to recall issues with non account holders trying to pick up their 3GS models.
Click to expand...

Please don't tell me that. lol. I'll call the Apple Store and see what they say. Also, does anyone know if I'll be able to pay with cash?

-Don
 
Dmac77 said:
Please don't tell me that. lol. I'll call the Apple Store and see what they say. Also, does anyone know if I'll be able to pay with cash?

-Don
Click to expand...

90% sure you just have to be an authorized user and know the primary account holders SSN. That's what I did when I picked up my iPhone 3G two years ago, however that was at an AT&T store

And I wouldn't count on cash only...I heard a lot of stories saying Apple demands some kind of card
 
CherryJello said:
90% sure you just have to be an authorized user and know the primary account holders SSN. That's what I did when I picked up my iPhone 3G two years ago, however that was at an AT&T store
Click to expand...

So I should be good as long as she adds me as a authorized user. She'll do that as long as she can remove me as an authorized user later.

Don
 
If you are picking up at the apple store, for previous iphones, you had to be the primary account holder.

Before the 3Gs came out I called them (since I had issues with the 3G and had to buy from att). They said I was fine. And then a couple days after it came out, they said the policy had changed and no apple store in MA would let me do it.

At the ATT store, all you need to be is authorized.
 
If you are going to apple the account holder must be present says right under the authorized user section on my At&t online account. Now if you are going to At&t then you only need to be an authorized user
 
I think it also has to do with what Specialist you get paired with. Some will let it go and give you your phone. Others will throw the book at you and make you come back with the Primary Account holder.

On the morning of the 3GS launch I had been waiting in line for 4 hours, I was about 10th in line. Some Apple reps gave us coffee and bagels. Once I got in the store one of the reps that was handing out the coffee earlier recognized me and set me up with my pre-order. Once we got to the contract part he saw I was not the Account holder but I knew the SSN for the account. He was ok with me signing and I got my phone. This could have gone a lot worse but this Apple rep was a nice guy.

It's kinda like M rated video games. It depends on the cashier if your under 18 and you want to buy.
 
I had issues in the past with this. They let me "slide". However, I called the Apple store I would be going to, and they very rudely said no.

I can understand that they have been answering these questions all day, but it is not our fault that no one is providing such basic information to us!!
 
eggmclovin said:
I think it also has to do with what Specialist you get paired with. Some will let it go and give you your phone. Others will throw the book at you and make you come back with the Primary Account holder.

On the morning of the 3GS launch I had been waiting in line for 4 hours, I was about 10th in line. Some Apple reps gave us coffee and bagels. Once I got in the store one of the reps that was handing out the coffee earlier recognized me and set me up with my pre-order. Once we got to the contract part he saw I was not the Account holder but I knew the SSN for the account. He was ok with me signing and I got my phone. This could have gone a lot worse but this Apple rep was a nice guy.

It's kinda like M rated video games. It depends on the cashier if your under 18 and you want to buy.
Click to expand...

I don't think I'll risk it. I'll have one of the precious Mother/Son bonding moments. A moment filled with me texting my friends about my mom being, well my over controlling mom. While my mom emails her secretary every 10 seconds on her crackberry, and has her calls forwarded to her:rolleyes:

Joy
 
Dang, so if my mom, who is the primary account holder lives 3 hours away from me, is not with me while I go to the apple store, apple won't let me buy the phone?
 
^ That is how I understand it.

AT&T Store: Any authorized user can pick up the iPhone
Apple Store: Only account owner
 
I was one of the lucky people who was able to reserve an iphone 4 for pickup at the local apple store by me. That being said, my friends waited to long, and our store ran out of the allotted iphones that could be reserved. We were all going to go together to get our phones but now they plan on camping out at the store in hoping to be one of the first few people to get whatever they have in stock for first come first serve.

I plan on going with them, so I'll get to be one of the first in the reserve line (woo lol), however I am not the primary holder on my account but know the social and I know my dad (authorized user) is not going to want to come to the apple store at 7 AM just to make face so I can pick up the phone which worries me.

I figure they are going to be so ridiculously mind fvcked on launch day they will have more problems to worry about then whether or not you have "authorized user status"

If not, a few of the employees know me from previous transactions, and know I'm legit so I think I should be good.
 
Okay so I know this topic is about a week old, however I felt that it'd be better to post in this topic rather than to make a new one.

Anyway, I'm going to be a walk-in at my local Apple store. I'm not the primary account holder, however if I am authorized, will I still be able to purchase an iPhone? I'm a year short of 18, which worries me, however I'll be heading there with my aunt if that helps any...

Would it work out if I simply became an authorized user on my dad's account and know all relevant information such as email, password, and the last four digits of his SSN?
 
Echthros said:
Okay so I know this topic is about a week old, however I felt that it'd be better to post in this topic rather than to make a new one.

Anyway, I'm going to be a walk-in at my local Apple store. I'm not the primary account holder, however if I am authorized, will I still be able to purchase an iPhone? I'm a year short of 18, which worries me, however I'll be heading there with my aunt if that helps any...

Would it work out if I simply became an authorized user on my dad's account and know all relevant information such as email, password, and the last four digits of his SSN?
Click to expand...

I spoke to my Apple Store today and was reassured that authorized users could purchase a phone without the account holder present as long as they know the last four digits of their SSN.

All that doesn't matter however since you're under eighteen. If your aunt is going with you, try getting her added as the authorized user.
 
actionvaughn said:
I spoke to my Apple Store today and was reassured that authorized users could purchase a phone without the account holder present as long as they know the last four digits of their SSN.

All that doesn't matter however since you're under eighteen. If your aunt is going with you, try getting her added as the authorized user.
Click to expand...

So just to clarify, if I'm under 18, being an authorized user under my dad's ATT account does nothing as I'm unable to sign the contract due to my age?

If that's the case, I'll just see if my aunt can do it. If she's an ATT customer, however on a different account than that of my father's, she's still able able to become authorized under my dad's account, correct?
 
Echthros said:
So just to clarify, if I'm under 18, being an authorized user under my dad's ATT account does nothing as I'm unable to sign the contract due to my age?

If that's the case, I'll just see if my aunt can do it. If she's an ATT customer, however on a different account than that of my father's, she's still able able to become authorized under my dad's account, correct?
Click to expand...

Correct.

I'm not sure about your aunt being added while she's already an AT&T customer but it seems like it wouldn't be problem? Hopefully someone else has a more definite answer for you.
 
actionvaughn said:
Correct.

I'm not sure about your aunt being added while she's already an AT&T customer but it seems like it wouldn't be problem? Hopefully someone else has a more definite answer for you.
Click to expand...

Mmk, I understand. Thanks for the information!
 
actionvaughn said:
I spoke to my Apple Store today and was reassured that authorized users could purchase a phone without the account holder present as long as they know the last four digits of their SSN.
Click to expand...

Ahhhh nice. Thank you so much for the info. I was so worried about going in tomorrow and not being able to get a phone
 
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