Question regarding upgrading to iPhone 5 on ATT

[bosoxnm3]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

I got my 3GS in August 2009, so I've been eligible for an upgrade for quite some time. I received the phone as a gift from my parents, so they pay my bill. The bill is under my mom's name. When the next iPhone comes out, I will be in school in DC and they will be home in Connecticut. I got my 3GS at ATT, but plan on getting the next one at Best Buy as i have a ton of gift cards for there. What exactly is the process when I get my phone at Best Buy? Do I have to sign a contract renewal there? If I do, would my mom need to be with me as the phone is under her name and she gets a discount on the monthly plan from her work?

 

[saving107]

The account holder has to be present, and this rule applies no matter what phone you upgrade to or from which retailer.

 

[bosoxnm3]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

Damn. How does it work if you order it online from say Best Buy?

 

[saving107]

It must ship to the address that is on the bill.

 

[AreYouIn?]

Actually your mother just needs to add you as an authorized user and you can do everything she can, including a contract renewal. I am also a student on my parents plan and I handle all of their upgrades/service issues as I understand it more than they do.

Edit: I've only purchased phones from best buy directly from the store so I can't comment on online purchases.

 

[Statusnone88]

Seconded for authorized user. As long as your bill is paid (not overdue) and you have the last 4 digits of the SSN you can do as you please as an authorized user.

And you can do it from Apples website, AT&T's, in store, where ever you want, my friend.

 

[saving107]

Maybe I just had bad luck when trying to by an iPhone 3GS, at that time (2009) I was authorized on my mom's account and the Apple employee would not allow me to get an iPhone unless my mom was present with her photo ID.

 

[shelbymayer]

Seconded for authorized user. As long as your bill is paid (not overdue) and you have the last 4 digits of the SSN you can do as you please as an authorized user.

And you can do it from Apples website, AT&T's, in store, where ever you want, my friend.

you are absolutely correct! The only thing an authorized user can't do is add a line to the account or cancel a line!

 

[hypervish89]

Just make sure your an authorized user on her account. She can add you by calling AT&T or by going online to att.'s website and adding you there.