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Do I REALLY need my dad to help me pick up my new iPhone??

G

GREEN4U

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 24, 2010
714
454
Very simple--I'm a graduate student who lives far away from home. I'm on a family plan and I just ordered my first iPhone for store-pickup. Now I get an email with pickup instructions, part of which that says "In most cases, the primary account holder on your wireless plan must pick up your iPhone. The primary account holder is the person whose billing information is linked to the wireless plan. "

My dad's fine with me getting an iPhone. He gave me the last 4 of his SS# and I know the codeword for his sprint account. But does this mean I can't get my iPhone?? :mad: Surely this happens all the time.....
 
GREEN4U said:
Very simple--I'm a graduate student who lives far away from home. I'm on a family plan and I just ordered my first iPhone for store-pickup. Now I get an email with pickup instructions, part of which that says "In most cases, the primary account holder on your wireless plan must pick up your iPhone. The primary account holder is the person whose billing information is linked to the wireless plan. "

My dad's fine with me getting an iPhone. I have the last 4 of his SS# and all that other jazz. But does this mean I can't get my iPhone?? :mad: Surely this happens all the time.....
Click to expand...

I wish there was an easy answer. When I bought my 4s they wouldn't let me pick it up unless the primary account holder was present. However, when I bought my 5 they just let me pick it up. So I'd say it all depends on the apple employee you end up getting to help you. I will note that they will need a credit card and some kind of ID.
 
As long as you have the last four of his SSN, which you say you do, you should be fine. Well, I've never had any issues, and I was in the same boat as yourself :)
 
Main account holder or anyone authorized on the account.. Just do what they said^ or simply go with him. I
 
BFizzzle said:
just have your dad add you to the account as an authorized user!
problem solved
Click to expand...

This is what I did. I went and they said I couldn't pick it up but they told me if my mom added me as an authorized user, it's fine so 5 min. later, had a brand new iPhone in my hands!
 
I had real trouble with this when i upgraded to the 4 while on a family plan. I couldn't do it without the main account holder present. maybe they've become more lax with the rules now though.
 
Depends on the store. Mine wouldn't let me pick it up without the primary account holder. These are the official rules unless your store is lenient:

1. New accounts and add a new line to existing require both the primary account holder and the person who paid for the phone (possible the same person).

2. Upgrades require an authorized user and the person who paid for the phone (again, possibly the same person).
 
Your Dad can actually add you as an authorized user by just logging in to the verizon wireless account online.

If you have access to the account, you can do that as well.

Just login and go to "Assign Account Managers"

Then you create a billing password, this is instead of using the last 4 of a social.

Then you add the authorized account manager by name, phone number and email address.

Then, you're set!
 
thefredelement said:
Your Dad can actually add you as an authorized user by just logging in to the verizon wireless account online.

If you have access to the account, you can do that as well.

Just login and go to "Assign Account Managers"

Then you create a billing password, this is instead of using the last 4 of a social.

Then you add the authorized account manager by name, phone number and email address.

Then, you're set!
Click to expand...

OP clearly stated Sprint.


But @ op, I think you should be fine. I was kind of in the same situation as you - wanted to buy an iPhone 5 without dragging my whole family to the Apple store. The person I spoke to said you must be authorized on your carrier's account to be able to make changes and get the phone, and you also have to bring valid ID. Since you know the info to your family's account and the SSN, then I think you should be set. But to make sure, just call the Apple store that you're going to pick up your phone from and ask them.
 
Just know the last 4 digits of his ssn. It has worked for me twice. It could be due to the fact that i have the same first name as my dad though.
 
..stopped reading after I read that you had Sprint

but yeah as others have stated, have your Dad add you as an authorized user and have all the necessary info to pick up the phone
 
aimee.elizabeth said:
OP clearly stated Sprint.


But @ op, I think you should be fine. I was kind of in the same situation as you - wanted to buy an iPhone 5 without dragging my whole family to the Apple store. The person I spoke to said you must be authorized on your carrier's account to be able to make changes and get the phone, and you also have to bring valid ID. Since you know the info to your family's account and the SSN, then I think you should be set. But to make sure, just call the Apple store that you're going to pick up your phone from and ask them.
Click to expand...

Ah, totally missed that! Sorry OP!

With Sprint I think you may need to just verify the PIN or security question, if you know either you can just call them and add yourself.
 
Thanks guys.

I'm trying to reach my dad and telling him to do this. He's a very busy man. :( Hopefully he gets it done.

I would do it myself as someone said, but I don't know the login to our sprint account online. But yeah I can verify the security question/answer and the last 4 digits of his social. That's about it. Tonight when I get it will be interesting.
 
I waited in line at the Apple store on release day only to be turned away slightly before opening because I needed to be the primary account holder to add a new line, and even though I was an authorized user on the account, I still couldn't get a phone. That was with Verizon though so YMMV.

I walked into a Verizon store a half hour later and walked out with the phone with no problems. Never again will I wait in line at an Apple store.
 
jmunter said:
I waited in line at the Apple store on release day only to be turned away slightly before opening because I needed to be the primary account holder to add a new line, and even though I was an authorized user on the account, I still couldn't get a phone. That was with Verizon though so YMMV.

I walked into a Verizon store a half hour later and walked out with the phone with no problems. Never again will I wait in line at an Apple store.
Click to expand...

When you say "add a new line" do you mean that you needed a completely new line and phone number, or were upgrading the account from a non-smart phone to smart phone? In my case, I'm upgrading my line from a non-smart phone to smart phone. I really hope that doesn't complicate things.

I also ask because I just saw this:

In most cases, the primary account holder on your wireless plan must pick up your iPhone. The primary account holder is the person whose billing information is linked to the wireless plan.

If you're upgrading or replacing an iPhone, however, another authorized user on the account may be able to pick up the order. Please contact your carrier to verify authorized users.
Click to expand...

I am not upgrading or replacing an iPhone. This is my first iPhone. It'll be the same phone number and "line" but does that mean I still need a primary account holder present (if there's a difference between "primary account holder" and "authorized user," as referenced in their policy)?
 
GREEN4U said:
When you say "add a new line" do you mean that you needed a completely new line and phone number, or were upgrading the account from a non-smart phone to smart phone? In my case, I'm upgrading my line from a non-smart phone to smart phone. I really hope that doesn't complicate things.
Click to expand...

In your case you should be fine, since you are just upgrading your line. Just as long as your dad puts you as an authorized user.

When you add a new line then you need a primary account holder present. However this can by bypassed only if you order it online and have it shipped to you.

When I purchased a 4S last year, I was able to reserve and pick it up and I was the authorized user, my mom being the primary account holder, didn't need to be there.
 
Picked up the 5 last Saturday. I am neither the primary account holder nor do I believe I am labeled as an "authorized user" on the account.

The Genius at the Apple Store simply asked if I was an authorized user, to which I responded yes. She said okay, and we moved on with the phone pickup. No issue at all..
 
I would be a little concerned if they DID allow you to pick it up.

No offense intended but he is the one on the hook for the bill should anything go wrong. And a note from daddy doesnt cut it if he tried to come back and claim he never authorized a contract renewal.

Your own account would eliminate your concerns.
 
GREEN4U said:
Thanks guys.

I'm trying to reach my dad and telling him to do this. He's a very busy man. :( Hopefully he gets it done.

I would do it myself as someone said, but I don't know the login to our sprint account online. But yeah I can verify the security question/answer and the last 4 digits of his social. That's about it. Tonight when I get it will be interesting.
Click to expand...

If you know the security answer you can just call and add yourself without needing to login.

They will pull up your account by phone number and then you're set.
 
My dad called me and he talked to Sprint customer service. I'm an authorized user now! I'll let you know what unfolded after I pick it up tonight. I desperately want to get out of lab right now.
 
Well that was interesting and scary. I almost didn't get the iPhone. The guy scans my credit card and my dad's name shows up as the Primary Account Holder, with my name nowhere to be seen. He warns me I may not be able to take it home, but things might resolve themselves when he scans the actual phone with his EZpay. Then a guy brings the phone downstairs and my specialist scans it....same problem! He says believes me, he just "can't do it," against store policy. So he decides to call Sprint for me. They also say I'm not listed as an authorized user. :mad: I explain to the Specialist that my dad called them during the afternoon to make sure this wouldn't happen. I also tell him I have my dad's SS#, PIN #, and security question, in case he needs any of that. Fast forward a few minutes later on the phone with Sprint and OH WAIT - there's a NOTE in Sprint's system that says I'm to be an authorized user. Way to be on top of it Sprint. :rolleyes: Anyways, that's good enough for the Apple employee, so we proceed. YAY!

It wasn't as easy as some of you said it is, but in the end I got my iPhone!

Oh I also told the Specialist about my time working at the Apple Store in Palo Alto and how I saw Steve Jobs a few times. He LOL'd at my stories. Good times at the Apple Store..
 
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