iPhone Activation Issues

[jmyhasuk]

The plot thickens!

I just received another activation email this morning for a totally different number than the one I ported. I was assured that no one activation was in process, and I instructed the folks there to cancel any other activations-in-progress.

So now supposedly I have two mobile numbers, my old ported one and a new one.

 

[barnetda]

After spending 7 hours on phone to various ATT depts since friday and being promised it would be activated by this am at the very latest i am now being told it may take 5 days!!!!! as its being ported from t-mob. Its just bs

WTF !!!!!!1

 

[digimidi]

I too have been waiting for a while (over 41 hours) to get my iPhone activated. I finally got the activation email this morning. Click the link and iTunes still is saying I need additional time. AT&T not much help at this point as they are saying everything on the account looks activated. The sim card is already active as it works in my Treo 750. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Gil

 

[jmacdonagh]

The customer service rep from the porting department gave me this number:
1-888-898-7685

I don't know if your number is a typo or you wrote it down incorrectly.

Thank you! Nope, I wrote it down wrong. Gonna get the ball rolling today.

 

[nick718]

I'm an existing Cingular customer. Bought the phone on Sat early afternoon, still waiting for the activation email. Called about 8 different ATT folks, nobody could get me going, they just keep saying to wait. What should I do? Should I try going to an ATT store for a new Sim? I'm not porting a number, so I don't get why this is taking so long, but I'm so angry.
Thanks all!

 

[debo]

I've been on hold for 90 minutes. This is ridiculous.

 

[dnaleromj]

2.5 hours on hold so far today...

2.5 hours on hold so far. I guess I expected that this would happen especially since the people that were need for all of us "problem" customers were off over the weekend.

Anywho, my situation is this:

Phone 3 days old​

New line of service requested​

Phone not yet activated​

Instructed to wait various amounts of time by ATT. Anywhere from "It will be activated in 1 or 2 hours' to "There is nothing you can do but wait. And you may have to wait for up to 5 days".​

Sigh...

El Jomo

 

[herrade]

Porting after activation

FWIW, I just spoke to a CSR who is not sure whether I can simply replace my new number with my old number once I actually decide to do the port (I activated without porting old # from Verizon, so I have a new ATT #). He said I may have to have two numbers on my account in order to keep my Verizon number... for the price of $9.99 per month, though he did say that ATT might develop some new options given the number of odd configurations that have evolved in this crazy process.

Does anyone have a more definitive answer?

 

[jmyhasuk]

After all the drama with the phone, I'm taking it back after work. DO NOT pay a restocking fee; the store manager I talked to said they were obligated to take it back no charge. She was also going to call AT&T and see what she could do.

DO NOT PAY THE RESTOCKING FEE!

Also folks, the media is wrong. It is not an AT&T problem. My SIM card was activated, and I could use it in other phones. Its the iTunes unlocking process that is broken. I still can't unlock it.

Sorry, I'll wait for version 2.

 

[ShellyFM]

40+ hours for me as a former BLUE PLAN member...3701 number worked...got a CS rep who needed to add some feature to my plan and now it's up and running!

BLUE PLAN members who were forced to change their plans, anyone get a good deal?

So you couldn't keep your plan? What did you end up doing?

 

[fazekas]

Apple GREAT - AT&T VERY VERY BAD

Got my iPhone on Friday. Went to the AT&T store in downtown San Diego, there were only 24 people in line at 4 PM, so I thought I might as well wait 2 hours. By 6 PM there were almost 100 people in line. Got in the store, knew exactly what I wanted, the sales persons tried to ring up the phone, their POS system was so overwhelmed that it took 20 MINUTES for a simple transaction to process in their system, YIKES!

So I went home to activate it, got the wonderful cannot activate, call AT&T message in iTunes. I've had an account with them for 9 years, this going all the way back when they were known as Pacific Bell Wireless in California in 1998. So I call, the first rep says that I cannot activate because the type of contract is ineligible for the upgrade to the $20 data add on, and that I would need to get a whole new plan, even though NOWHERE on their brochure does it say that. Also for some reason their system had me flagged as a business account when this has ALWAYS been a personal account, it placed a lock that they had issues with figuring out how to unlock. After 90 minutes and 3 separate calls to AT&T purgatory, I finally got the phone activated.

First off the phone is awesome, far better in real life, especially the touch screen, than any photo or video could show. Apple truly lived up to all the expectations. AT&T basically sucked big time. I wonder how Jobs would feel knowing a mess AT&T has been with the activations and basically creating a bad image. Not that any of the other wireless carriers are that much better, I know people with Sprint and Verizon and I would say they are just as messed up as AT&T

 

[ShellyFM]

FWIW, I just spoke to a CSR who is not sure whether I can simply replace my new number with my old number once I actually decide to do the port (I activated without porting old # from Verizon, so I have a new ATT #). He said I may have to have two numbers on my account in order to keep my Verizon number... for the price of $9.99 per month, though he did say that ATT might develop some new options given the number of odd configurations that have evolved in this crazy process.

Does anyone have a more definitive answer?

I signed as a new customer because I was told by multiple AT&T personnel that I could port my number over anytime in the 1st 30 days.

 

[mrowl]

After all the drama with the phone, I'm taking it back after work. DO NOT pay a restocking fee; the store manager I talked to said they were obligated to take it back no charge. She was also going to call AT&T and see what she could do.

DO NOT PAY THE RESTOCKING FEE!

Also folks, the media is wrong. It is not an AT&T problem. My SIM card was activated, and I could use it in other phones. Its the iTunes unlocking process that is broken. I still can't unlock it.

Sorry, I'll wait for version 2.

enjoy your 2 year wait.

 

[TheSlush]

3701 no longer accepting calls??

Now they won't even let me wait on hold! A recording is saying they cannot take my call due to high call volume, then it hangs up!

WHAT???

Never thought I'd actually have to feel privileged to be allowed to wait on hold for hours!!

 

[Blurg]

I would suggest sticking with it, it will be worth it in the end. Eventually my problem was fixed by calling this number:

1-877-777-4192

I got right through to an agent every time I called, and they were always friendly and helpful. They sorted out my account, and about an hour later I was activated.

Good luck!

 

[chipchen]

I would suggest sticking with it, it will be worth it in the end. Eventually my problem was fixed by calling this number:

1-877-777-4192

I got right through to an agent every time I called, and they were always friendly and helpful. They sorted out my account, and about an hour later I was activated.

Good luck!

You know, I was very surprised... I thought that I would be waiting on hold for a long time the three times I called... but someone picked up right away.

Earlier in the thread I said to try a hard reset and reconnecting. But I said the hard reset was holding the home button 12 seconds. Apparently, it's not.. it's holding the sleep button and home button at the same time for several seconds. You'll know there's a reset when you see the Apple logo again.

So unplug the iphone and try it.... see what happens.

 

[scrogers]

I signed as a new customer because I was told by multiple AT&T personnel that I could port my number over anytime in the 1st 30 days.

+1... I have been following this thread now for days. I got a weird message in iTunes saying "The number you have entered cannot be transferred..." during setup. I then called ATT as I REALLY want my number (this was all Sat morn). They told me that they weren’t sure why iTunes couldn't transfer the number, but that I could do it later this week.

I just got off the phone with the porting dept. For some reason the computer says there are "network issues" with my old number (from Sprint) but my CSR talked to "the guys" who said it can in fact be ported over.

I have just started the "case" to port my number. The CSR said timing is 24hrs from when the case is processed; however, she then told me that the computer has said that my request will take place "by July 5th” (so if there are issues, don’t call before then I guess).

I am still glad I got a new temp number, and am porting now, I just hope it all goes smoothly, we'll see, at least my phone activated and works.

 

[chipchen]

+1... I have been following this thread now for days. I got a weird message in iTunes saying "The number you have entered cannot be transferred..." during setup. I then called ATT as I REALLY want my number (this was all Sat morn). They told me that they weren’t sure why iTunes couldn't transfer the number, but that I could do it later this week.

I just got off the phone with the porting dept. For some reason the computer says there are "network issues" with my old number (from Sprint) but my CSR talked to "the guys" who said it can in fact be ported over.

I have just started the "case" to port my number. The CSR said timing is 24hrs from when the case is processed; however, she then told me that the computer has said that my request will take place "by July 5th” (so if there are issues, don’t call before then I guess).

I am still glad I got a new temp number, and am porting now, I just hope it all goes smoothly, we'll see, at least my phone activated and works.

A lot of people porting numbers got random problems... Verizon, Sprint, and other carriers have been locking numbers from porting... I wouldn't be surprised if they got together (or separately) decided to cause porting issues.

 

[scrogers]

A lot of people porting numbers got random problems... Verizon, Sprint, and other carriers have been locking numbers from porting... I wouldn't be surprised if they got together (or separately) decided to cause porting issues.

Yeah, seems like a low blow, but it wouldn't surprise me too. Anything to slow the process I guess. I just hope it goes through, as I really don't want to change numbers again (Sprint MADE me change 3 years ago due to “carrier coverage issues”).

Still loving the phone though!!

 

[dnaleromj]

3 hours on hold...

Finally spoke to human. 30 minutes later my phone was finally activated.

Overall, I am happy that the phone is activated, pleased that I reach a helpful human, but absolutely not satisfied with ATTs service and preparation for the launch.

Since ATT is the only provider... I guess Ill have to eat their poo so long as I want the uber cool iPhone...

El Jomo

 

[Dark]

Ive talked with about 8 representatives within the past day ..and i've been on hold for about a combined total of about 9 hours and ive had about 2 hours of sleep....im serious. Every time I talk to the activation department...they tell me that there trying to activate my phone ...but there systems keep crashing or updating ...and to call back in two hours....every time! BULL****INGSHIT!!! They know damm well they have no clue what to do. I'm just about to reach the 48 hour mark that my iphone does not work. Im on the phone with a jamacian man as we speak that understands I'm about to track him down and kill him if he doesn't get my phone to work. I'm done playing the nice patient guy.

 

[nick718]

has anyone had any luck contacting Apple support?

 

[Dark]

Oh my god ...i think im crying . It works ....it actually works. Its so beautiful. Right at the 47 hour mark ..it works.

 

[barnetda]

Ive been trying to activate since 730 on Friday eve. Still nothing. I have given up counting the amount of times that i have spoken to ATT.
My number has been ported over from t-mob and they can see my account but still no activation.
I just gave up on an ATT rep who said to me that they now cant tell me when it will be activated as so many people (50,000 she said!!) bought the phone on fri and sat!!
Clueless but i now dont think i will get this thing activated. Last email i had was on sat eve when it sais that activation was completing.

$700 paperweight.

 

[nick718]

Oh my god ...i think im crying . It works ....it actually works. Its so beautiful. Right at the 47 hour mark ..it works.

Dark, can you document what you finally did to get it working? Were you porting a number or already an ATT customer?

Which number did you call?

Thanks