So my dad's credit card has this thing where Visa will add 1 year to the warranty of anything you buy (at Visa's expense), so obviously we buy all our nice electronics with it. I need to buy my iPhone on Friday with it, but the problem is that both my parents are in Singapore for the next few weeks. My dad gave me his card and wrote a letter to show to the folks at the Apple store stating that I'm authorized to buy a 16GB iPhone with his card, along with his signature and phone number in Singapore. Do you think this will satisfy the folks at the apple store?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So I have to use my Dad's credit card, but he can't be there to sign for it
- Thread starter LoneWolf121188
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I highly doubt they would go for it. I think you're better off faking his signature/knowing his pin then showing them a letter.
I've rarely seen Apple check IDs for credit card purchases. That could of course change at any time, but I believe your ID is necessary for credit checks/ making sure you're an authorized user of the account (if it is your parents account).
No guarantees, but you're probably ok.
No guarantees, but you're probably ok.
I guess it depends on who your salesperson is. You might find someone nice who understands you situation and will let you do it. You won't know until you try and if you can't do it, the world won't end if you don't get the iPhone this week will it? (j/k) 
I would be very annoyed if Apple did accept a letter as an authority for the card -- way too easy to fake. It doesn't reflect well on them as an organisation.
I know it means that you cannot have your phone on Friday and I'm sorry about that.
I know it means that you cannot have your phone on Friday and I'm sorry about that.
No.
Credit card must match photo ID. I can guarantee you that you will not be able to use someone else's card at the Apple Store.
Our Apple Store will not sell you a USB cable unless you have an ID with your credit card.
Glad I don't live in Soviet Russia then.
All kidding aside, it likely varies from store to store and perhaps even cashier to cashier.
To OP: If you're concerned, it couldn't hurt to go today or tomorrow and expalin your situation in advance and see what answer you get. The worst they would say is no (and that's not even so bad because it saves you the hassle of standing in line). Granted, talking to one person today and another on Friday could give two different answers...
Kind of odd . . . when I was a kid my parents did this all the time and no store ever questioned it.
What I'd do is go with the letter, but just try to run the card without showing it. If they ask, show them your ID and the letter.
Ask yourself how suspicious it looks. Seriously…
What guarantee have they got you didn't just nick your dad's credit card and hoof it down to the Apple store? (Letters are easily faked.)
Stranger things have happened.
I would think your chances are zero. Nil.
Online ordering? Perhaps… But not in person at a store.
BTW, how old are you? Do you have the same names as your father? Odd that your dad even thought it might work. Of course he might just have done it to keep you quiet.
What guarantee have they got you didn't just nick your dad's credit card and hoof it down to the Apple store? (Letters are easily faked.)
Stranger things have happened.
I would think your chances are zero. Nil.
Online ordering? Perhaps… But not in person at a store.
BTW, how old are you? Do you have the same names as your father? Odd that your dad even thought it might work. Of course he might just have done it to keep you quiet.
How recent was that? Things have changed a hell of a lot since 2001.
What have you got to lose? Give it a shot -- I'd suggest simply acting like it's your card, then if they ask for ID, produce the letter. No one's going to arrest you.
Working for Disney we never let kids use their parents card. Would get kids all the time w/their parents card. I would look at the name to see if it matched the gender, then the sig. on back. If no sig. then always asked for ID. If no ID, no sale period. And if they looked too young to own a card I would always ask if this is their card and if they say parents then no sale.
I've used my parent's card in the past. (Though not at the Apple Store) The last name matches. With a letter it's not a difficult thing to figure out. Perhaps if they would say no you would just show the car insurance slip with both of our names on it.
Idea: Apple Authorization to Charge paperwork
Here's something to try, which is 100 percent legal and well-supported by Apple.
Call the Apple Store where you want to make the purchase. Ask for a form called an Authorization to Purchase (or something like that; I'm going from memory here). These forms are individualized for each Apple Store, so you have to get it from the one where you want to make the purchase. The business manager there should be able to give it to you, or even send it to you by fax or by email. This is standard stuff for them.
It will ask for your Dad's credit card information, signature, maximum amount to purchase, etc. It will also ask who will make the purchase. Your Dad will need to sign it, but he can send it back to the Apple Store by fax, since (as you said) he is out of the country. You will need to show a form of ID when you come to the Apple Store.
It should be very easy to accomplish. This is completely standard stuff, if your Dad has access to a fax machine and is willing to help accomplish this. It's not difficult to do at all. I would try to do it today or tomorrow, because I'm sure that the business managers at most of the Apple Stores will be swamped with work at the end of the week, getting ready for the iPhone 3G launch.
Good luck! Just a suggestion......
Here's something to try, which is 100 percent legal and well-supported by Apple.
Call the Apple Store where you want to make the purchase. Ask for a form called an Authorization to Purchase (or something like that; I'm going from memory here). These forms are individualized for each Apple Store, so you have to get it from the one where you want to make the purchase. The business manager there should be able to give it to you, or even send it to you by fax or by email. This is standard stuff for them.
It will ask for your Dad's credit card information, signature, maximum amount to purchase, etc. It will also ask who will make the purchase. Your Dad will need to sign it, but he can send it back to the Apple Store by fax, since (as you said) he is out of the country. You will need to show a form of ID when you come to the Apple Store.
It should be very easy to accomplish. This is completely standard stuff, if your Dad has access to a fax machine and is willing to help accomplish this. It's not difficult to do at all. I would try to do it today or tomorrow, because I'm sure that the business managers at most of the Apple Stores will be swamped with work at the end of the week, getting ready for the iPhone 3G launch.
Good luck! Just a suggestion......
late 1980s. Not sure exactly what's changed--if anything, fraud is easier to catch. Maybe stores were just more trusting then. Seems to me it's one thing if the names don't match, but if son steals dad's credit card chances are the issue will be between them and not result in a chargeback to the store.
I know this will make me sound like a jerk, but...
If you don't have your own credit card, you probably can't afford the iphone or aren't old enough to sign the contract. So someone else (your dad, I assume) will be paying the bills. So, you can wait a few weeks for him to get back and purchase it for you. It's not the end of the world if you can't get your shiny new phone on the day it's released. I'm willing to bet you already have a perfectly functional phone anyway.
Sorry to be so condescending, but kids (and I apologize if you're not a kid, but it seems to fit with the rest of your story) have an overwhelming sense of entitlement to the latest and greatest all the time. It really gets on my nerves, even though I remember being that way myself 15-20 years ago.
If you don't have your own credit card, you probably can't afford the iphone or aren't old enough to sign the contract. So someone else (your dad, I assume) will be paying the bills. So, you can wait a few weeks for him to get back and purchase it for you. It's not the end of the world if you can't get your shiny new phone on the day it's released. I'm willing to bet you already have a perfectly functional phone anyway.
Sorry to be so condescending, but kids (and I apologize if you're not a kid, but it seems to fit with the rest of your story) have an overwhelming sense of entitlement to the latest and greatest all the time. It really gets on my nerves, even though I remember being that way myself 15-20 years ago.
Don't Bother
Apple has been very strict on this (and should be), they wouldn't let my wife use my card, or let me use hers....ever.
Apple has been very strict on this (and should be), they wouldn't let my wife use my card, or let me use hers....ever.
Looks like the OP is never coming back to the thread however here's a link from Apple's website on what to bring to get the iPhone 3G. Credit card, Photo I.D and Social Security number. You cannot buy the phone without activating at the store. Also I'm with others about this, I would be pissed if Apple sold anything to anyone using a credit card without asking for I.D. Too much CC fraud out there right now.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/buy/
http://www.apple.com/iphone/buy/
I am seriously the only one who hasn't been asked for an ID at the apple store?
I was just there this past Saturday buying a Mighty Mouse. Handed my CC to the sales guy, gave him my e-mail adress for the receipt and walked out.
Not saying this is good or bad, I'm just stunned to be the only one.
Correct.
Things were far more trusting and dare I say naive back then…
Now post 9/11 everything gets checked and double checked. Of course that is how it is in the UK and rest of Europe…*things may be more lax in the USA.
In the UK there is no chance of me walking into any store (Apple or not) and using someone else's credit card.
When they start on the invoice the first thing they ask you is your postcode… and then it unravels from there.
There may be a price cut off involved. Buying a Mighty Mouse is not the same as splashing out a few hundred £s or $s on a new iPhone or Mac…
Tell him to call the visa company and add you as an authorized user, that should do ya. ATT will call the card company and ask them if you are a user. BAM.
Dick Cheney?
Truly the terrorists have won if one fortunate/rich teenager cannot get an iPhone on day 1.
I don't get the ire, here. Numerous merchants do not check IDs with credit cards because they figure there's low fraud risk. If apple has made a different conclusion, so be it. Just seems to me that the likelihood of actual fraud when someone has a letter and their dad's credit card (or purports to) is not much higher than someone whose id matches the name on the credit card.
i've never had a problem using someone else's card, and no one has ever had a problem using my card.
i guess it varies from person to person and location to location. i've used my credit card many times at the apple store and have never been asked to show my id, and the card wasn't even signed on the back.
i guess it varies from person to person and location to location. i've used my credit card many times at the apple store and have never been asked to show my id, and the card wasn't even signed on the back.
Lots of retailers have price thresholds for unverified CC purchases.
But more specifically, to the kid posting the question: Apple's web site makes it very clear what the Specialists are required to check/collect to make the iP3G sale: your credit card, your government ID, your SSN. Think about it for half a minute: If you are an unemancipated minor, you are legally incapable of making a contract with AT&T, and will (unless there's a mistake) fail the credit check that is part of the sale transaction. Sorry, but you're not old enough. By law. A "letter" isn't going to change that. If Apple won't let an adult buy an iPhone for another adult (on the absent person's credit card, or with their SSN) why would they let a minor do it?
Just ask daddy to order a card with your name on it. If he does it today, they should be able to overnight one for you.
Alternatively, just order yourself a gift card and overnight it to your house.
Alternatively, just order yourself a gift card and overnight it to your house.
