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*important* if you have AT&T business account that is paid for by your employer
- Thread starter einmusiker
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CAUTION: Customers who have a FAN on their account may or may not be able to upgrade through Apple. It depends on the agreement between AT&T and your respective companies. If the phone is CRU then it will not be able to be upgraded through the Apple Store.
Unless things have changed since the 3G release, I don't think you can go to the Apple store to buy if you have a FAN attached to your account. Had the hardest time when I was getting my 3g because of the FAN # attached to my account
If you have a IRU (Individually Responsible User), aka you have a discount because of where you work, but you pay your bill, you can get your iPhone at the apple store. If you are a CRU (Corporate Responsible User), aka your company pays your bill, the apple stores cannot process that kind of account, so you must go to an AT&T store.
this has been this way since a few months after the 3G launch.
this has been this way since a few months after the 3G launch.
Really?
Funny, guess all the bs I went through trying to get my 3g was my imagination. Things could have changed since the 3g release and that is why I prefaced my statement by saying "unless things have changed since the 3g release"....
See the guys above response. With the 3G there was some problems with this. This was fixed for the 3GS launch. Heck, I was even able to pre order my 3GS from Apple.com and got it delivered to me at home on release day without any problems.
. That will be my plan again this year. Was just so much easier.
See the guys above response. With the 3G there was some problems with this. This was fixed for the 3GS launch. Heck, I was even able to pre order my 3GS from Apple.com and got it delivered to me at home on release day without any problems.
Glad to see the issue was addressed/fixed
If *639# tells you can upgrade, you should be alright. i ran into the same issue you mentioned with my at&t premier account. i figured it out by looking at my brother-in-law's account who has the same discount.
log into your account, click 'check upgrade options', then 'upgrade eligibility'. this will take you to the store (it's not a loop like you mentioned, though i thought it was at first, too). then click 'view all iphones'. on the page showing all of the available iphones, if you don't see blue info boxes at the top describing your upgrade eligiblity date, you're good to go.
i don't see the boxes on my account as i am upgrade eligible right now. i do see the boxes on my bro's account, stating that he can take advantage of no-commitment pricing, but is not upgrade eligible until 12/2011 (he bought a 3GS two months back against my advice, impatient bugger). the best i can figure is that they don't show your upgrade eligibility date if it's in the past, only future eligibility dates appear.
That's why I said to read. If you had read before your post you would have realized that yes, it did change since your 3G. I had the same issues w/ my 3G. But not my 3Gs.
I plan on preordering from apple.com on the 15th. I have a FAN account that is IRU. You are saying that it is hit or miss with an IRU but definitely won't work with a CRU, correct?
If apple.com won't let me I'll just jump over to att.com and preorder from there.
I have a FAN number from my school since 3G, I didn't have problem with the upgrade when I pre order my 3GS at Apple.com.
But the key thing with 3G to 3GS is just change out the sim card. Now that we all going to switch to the new mini sim, there will be some sort of AT&T involvement during the switch.
All my incoming calls are from google voice, so I just route my number to another number till it is fixed. Assuming it is broken
But the key thing with 3G to 3GS is just change out the sim card. Now that we all going to switch to the new mini sim, there will be some sort of AT&T involvement during the switch.
All my incoming calls are from google voice, so I just route my number to another number till it is fixed. Assuming it is broken
Not an issue, but if you are worried remove it
I have never had an issue upgrading either online or at the store and have I have FAN- That being said if you are worried, then simply call and remove the damm thing, really not that complicated.
When you get the phone, call back and it the back- That should be the end of it.
I have never had an issue upgrading either online or at the store and have I have FAN- That being said if you are worried, then simply call and remove the damm thing, really not that complicated.
When you get the phone, call back and it the back- That should be the end of it.
There is a very easy way to check if your FAN is an issue at Apple. Go to this link and check your Eligiblity status.
https://buyiphone.apple.com/WebObjects/IPACustomer.woa/wa/IPAToolAction/checkUpgradeEligibility
It is a deep link from this page ( left side lower left ) http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTgxMDQ3Mjk
Note: I included both since so posters were concerned that the url with the WebObjects in the path. If you get an error message that tells you to contact AT&T then expect to have an issue with Apple purchases.
A CRU account means the business is responsible for your payment, and for some reason, AT&T does not want to share all Customer data for large clients (or high value) with Apple for some reason....
Dave
https://buyiphone.apple.com/WebObjects/IPACustomer.woa/wa/IPAToolAction/checkUpgradeEligibility
It is a deep link from this page ( left side lower left ) http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTgxMDQ3Mjk
Note: I included both since so posters were concerned that the url with the WebObjects in the path. If you get an error message that tells you to contact AT&T then expect to have an issue with Apple purchases.
A CRU account means the business is responsible for your payment, and for some reason, AT&T does not want to share all Customer data for large clients (or high value) with Apple for some reason....
Dave
I've had trouble with upgrading IRUs at Apple... it depends on the FAN restrictions.
And yes you can try but it might turn into a mess... (just from personal xp)
Same here. I got a replacement iPhone last Summer from an Apple store and they had no problem activating it, even though I get the Nationwide discount through my company.
I do appreciate you posting this. You are being helpful, and even though they have evidently fixed it for all except those who have accounts paid by their employer (CRU is the acronym, I think), your intent was honorable.
Since I have a Best Buy gift card I want to use up, I was wondering if I can get a FAN discount from them on preorders? or do I have to go through ATT or Apple? BB has had preorders for previous iPhones and they have released at launch right? thanks!
Premier customer since before original iPhone launch and never and a problem at a corporate AT&T store, Apple Retail Store or Apple online purchasing and activating the original iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS. I've got 3 iPhones on my account, FAN/Premier has never been an issue for any reason even for non-iPhone related issues. In fact, i get treated better at AT&T Corp stores with FAN than pre-FAN.
My FAN is FedEx
My FAN is FedEx
FAN = Foundation Account Number (corporate discount).
They had this issue with the 3G but it was fixed with the 3GS. I was able to purchase 3GS via apple with my FAN.
I posted this because I stood in line for the 3G for 6 hours and was turned away because of my FAN account.
The people that are calling me names because this issue has apparently been resolved (but not for employer paid accounts!) are being rude and unhelpful, when I was just trying to be helpful.
I'll edit the OP to reflect this info.
Thanks to those who haven't been rude.
The people that are calling me names because this issue has apparently been resolved (but not for employer paid accounts!) are being rude and unhelpful, when I was just trying to be helpful.
I'll edit the OP to reflect this info.
Thanks to those who haven't been rude.