Does the account holder need to sign the new 2-year contract?

[deannnnn]

In order to get the iPhone last year, I switched from my family's Sprint family plan to my grandparent's AT&T family plan. I'm 17 years old, and the law prohibits me from getting a plan under my own name until I turn 18. My question is, a friend and I are planning on going to get the new iPhone on July 11th... but obviously, the account isn't in my name... AND I'm a minor.... Will AT&T allow me to sign the new two year contract? Or will my grandpa have to come with me? (He lives 2 1/2 hours away and that really wouldn't be too convenient.)

 

[Sonicjay]

You're out of luck, unless grandpa comes for a visit.

 

[tritonj]

you can try and see if your grandfather can put you on the list of authorized users to make changes to the account. but since you are a minor, ATT may not allow that

besides you may be required to use a credit card to make the purchase, so unless you are a minor walking around with credit cards you are going to be out of luck

 

[swordfish5736]

ive been thinking about this too. I share a plan with my brother to make it cheaper for both of us but he lives on the other coast. Last time just activating in itunes it automatically bumped the contract when i chose my plan. Now if they are going to activate them with itunes again i dont see why things would change.

you need the last 4 of the account holders social, billing address and of course his name.

dont quote me on any of this though

 

[automatickyle]

Ask about this yesterday as I will be doing this for the family plan I am under. They told me you will need the account holder to call in and add your name to the Authorized Retail User and then when you come in the day that you plan to sign it you need to have their full name, last 4 digits of their social security and a form of government ID for yourself.

 

[deannnnn]

Ask about this yesterday as I will be doing this for the family plan I am under. They told me you will need the account holder to call in and add your name to the Authorized Retail User and then when you come in the day that you plan to sign it you need to have their full name, last 4 digits of their social security and a form of government ID for yourself.

Hmm... That's fine... and I have all that information already.
I just don't know if they'd let me do it because I'm a minor.
Would they ask for my birthday?
I'm only a minor for another month and a half =P lol

I'll send AT&T an e-mail later and see what they say.

 

[Niiro13]

Get someone with access to the AT&T account. Login online, then add an adult's name to the authorized users list (or have your grandpa do all that).

Then have them come with you on launch day.

Note: in terms of age, the law allows 24 hours leeway, I believe. So you can be 17 years and 364 days old (or 365 if leap year) and sign a contract (this applies to all contracts of any sort).

 

[swordfish5736]

i think i'll call att and do the online thing just incase.

i shipped my original iphone out this morning and am back to my old moto phone and i already miss the iphone.

 

[deannnnn]

If anyone is curious, this is the e-mail I got from AT&T.
Pretty much reiterates everything that's already been said.

Dear Dean,

Thank you for contacting the new AT&T regarding the purchase of a new
iPhone although you are not the account holder on the service. I am
happy to address your inquiry.

I have reviewed your account information. From the information that is
currently available, only the account holder can purchase and activate
the iPhone on the service unless he calls Customer Support at
1-800-331-0500 from a landline and adds you as a Retail Authorized User
on the service. We can add this information via email correspondence.

We encourage you to visit our web site, www.att.com/wireless, often to
view current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop
for new product and service offerings. If I've resolved all of your
issues today, there's no need to reply to this communication. We do
appreciate the fact that you have been a valued customer with us since
2004! Again, Dean, thank you for being part of the new AT&T
Family!

Sincerely,

Joyce Branic
AT&T
Online Customer Care Professional

 

[lesliegolf]

Get someone with access to the AT&T account. Login online, then add an adult's name to the authorized users list.

Thanks for pointing this out! I logged into my dads page and was able to add my name as an authorized user. I also was able to change our names on the phones. Now, if that just carries to call ID I will be happy. Have had enough people picking up the phone and asking why I changed my name to Robert.

 

[deannnnn]

Thanks for pointing this out! I logged into my dads page and was able to add my name as an authorized user. I also was able to change our names on the phones. Now, if that just carries to call ID I will be happy. Have had enough people picking up the phone and asking why I changed my name to Robert.

I just did the same =)
But no. It won't carry to the caller ID. I tried that a while back... but if you call customer service (from your phone), they will change your caller ID to whatever you want it to say. It was surprisingly simple actually lol.

 

[newyorksole]

My mom is the holder on our account and it is just her line and my line on the account. I added myself as an authorized user and edited the profile for my number about a week ago. Will it be possible for me to sign the contract when I go in?

 

[coryetzkorn]

I asked AT&T a similar question:

I am planning on upgrading to the 3G iPhone on the 11th as I am
upgrade eligible.

Will I be able to sign a new contract as an authorized user? Does the account holder need to be present at the time of purchase or
can ATT just call him to verify the upgrade?

What information should I bring to ensure that the activation goes
smoothly?

And got a similar response:

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail the new AT&T regarding if you
(as an authorized user) can visit a store location and upgrade a phone,
as well as wanting to know what you will need to bring so we can
complete the upgrade. We are happy to help you with your inquiry.

We refer to authorized users as RAU's (Retail Authorized Users),
which you are. The Retail Authorized User must be 18 years of age to
complete an equipment upgrade that requires a contract
extension/agreement. Only a verified Retail Authorized User (RAU) or the
Account Holder may receive information or make changes when visiting a
retail location. If visiting a retail location, the RAU must provide a
Government Issue Photo ID which matches the RAU name, such as a State ID
or a Driver's License. You will also need to know the last 4 digits of
the account holder's Social Security Number.

 

[protekt0r]

Ask about this yesterday as I will be doing this for the family plan I am under. They told me you will need the account holder to call in and add your name to the Authorized Retail User and then when you come in the day that you plan to sign it you need to have their full name, last 4 digits of their social security and a form of government ID for yourself.

nevermind

 

[geekmommy4]

Everyone should go and check their status as a Retail Authorized User. My husband is the primary account holder and we have dealt with this before that they wouldn't let me do anything to the account in a store, but we thought that we'd gotten that fixed a long time ago.

I just went and looked at our online account, however, and it did not have me listed as an RAU. I added me and he received a text message telling him that it had been changed online almost immediately as a security measure. I would not have been happy if I'd gotten to the store and they wouldn't let me get one! Why can't spouses be co-account holders???? Really annoying!