Using parents card to buy phone ????

[Sinfire]

Sounds like you were probably talking to a bot that just threw answers out there based on key words that you used in your questions. lol

I just chatted with an Apple rep on the Apple Store site about this issue, and here is how the conversation went:


You are chatting with Carla G, an Apple Expert...

Hi, my name is Carla G. Welcome to Apple!
Good evening.

Me: Hello, I have a question regarding the purchase of an iPhone from an Apple Retail Store

Apple: How may I assist you today?

Me: I went to AT&T's website, I am listed under my phone as a "Primary User" and I am also a Retail Authorized User, but I do not pay the bill, I am not the primary account holder for my phone. My father is the primary account holder, the account is under his name. I am 28 years old, and I plan on paying for the phone with my own credit card.

Me: my question is, will my father need to be present at the store in order for me to buy an iPhone from a retail store?

Apple: Usually the primary would need to be present.

Me: well I am listed as the "Primary User" for my phone and I am also a "Retail Authorized User" The account is under my father's name, he pays the phone bills for the family.

Apple: As long as you bring in the proper ID then you will be able to purchase the iPhone.

Me: Wait, I am not understanding this correctly. I am buying with my own credit card and I have my driver's license under my name and I have my father's social security number.

Apple: Is the account under his social security number?

Me: Yes.

Apple: I would recommend contacting the Apple retail store to verify the information that is needed when picking up the iPhone.

Me: I was hoping you could answer my question for me, I have been on several user forums trying to get help and so far I haven't gotten one definitive answer. I am listed as "Primary User" for my phone number. The Account Owner is my father.

Apple: The Apple retail store will have the information needed to pick up your iPhone.

Me: Well I don't want to go there at 5am in the morning on Thursday and wait in line and not be able to get an iPhone because of this. That's why I am trying to get some clarification.

Apple: To be sure, the Apple retail store will need to be contacted directly.

Me: OK, thank you for your time

Apple: The Apple retail store can be contacted by phone.

Apple: You're welcome

 

[scottpuplava]

I'm in the exact situation as you, i was told by multiple apple reps that you can pay with a gift card.

 

[Sinfire]

Best way to get an answer is to go to the store where you plan on buying it and ask them in person and see what they say. Talk to the manager if you have to and make sure you get their name so if a different sales person gives you a different answer when you go to buy it, you can refer to the manager that you talked to.

can I use my parents credit card to get it i am an authorized user on the account and am 18 and have an ID

 

[125037]

Just bring their I.D. Also it's going to be so busy they will probably not even check... Having the words *CHECK ID* on the back doesn't even work half they time, lol. Furthermore, even if they DID confront you about it, I HIGHLY doubt they would turn you away after waiting... It would be a "just this once" scenario, IMO.

 

[jhuang]

Both the Apple Stores I called in my city said that authorized users would be able to purchase the iPhone on launch day, so long as they call in to verify with AT&T that you are in fact an authorized user. This might vary from store to store so call into the one that you're looking to go to. And as for using your own credit card, I don't see a problem with that at all.

 

[jap1198]

Apple will not let you if you are not the card holder with ID, also if you are not the account holder apple will also not let you, I've called and talked to multiple people there and at multiple stores to verify this. I'm in the same boat.
They did however all say that I could wait in line get the phone and sit and wait with it till the account holder to make it to the store. Gotta sit there for an extra hour ugh..

This is a relief, at least they won't turn you down.
I'll be going Wednesday with my father to the Apple Store to get full details.

 

[WardC]

I think I am going to drop by my Apple Store tomorrow to talk with them in person (I live a mile away, so it's not a problem). I'm just frustrated that I was on the phone and chat with 3 different people for over 3 hours tonight and I couldn't get a firm, definite answer from ANYONE on the situation.

All I know is that in my AT&T Wireless account, under "Account Owner" my father's name is listed. His office address is the billing address. Under "Users" and "Primary" it lists MY NAME. I've also listed myself as Retail Authorized User. I login to the online wireless account with my password, and when I login, it says "Welcome WARD CURRY" (my name!!). It shows me as "Primary"...is that just a primary "user"?...because I am not the "Account Owner".

I also saw that you can do a transfer of ownership (I would put the account under my name and start receiving and paying for the bills)...but would that take away my eligibility for the $199/$299 iPhone 4? Also I am under FamilyTalk plan with rollover, it says if I do a transfer of account ownership that I lose the FamilyTalk plan and have to sign up for a new rate plan. That is whack. I'm just not ready to do that, and I don't want to pay $699 for an iPhone 4 if I lose my eligibility altogether by transferring the account to my name.

Can anybody shed some light on this?

 

[jmar910]

I think I am going to drop by my Apple Store tomorrow to talk with them in person (I live a mile away, so it's not a problem). I'm just frustrated that I was on the phone and chat with 3 different people for over 3 hours tonight and I couldn't get a firm, definite answer from ANYONE on the situation.

All I know is that in my AT&T Wireless account, under "Account Owner" my father's name is listed. His office address is the billing address. Under "Users" and "Primary" it lists MY NAME. I've also listed myself as Retail Authorized User. I login to the online wireless account with my password, and when I login, it says "Welcome WARD CURRY" (my name!!). It shows me as "Primary"...is that just a primary "user"?...because I am not the "Account Owner".

I also saw that you can do a transfer of ownership (I would put the account under my name and start receiving and paying for the bills)...but would that take away my eligibility for the $199/$299 iPhone 4? Also I am under FamilyTalk plan with rollover, it says if I do a transfer of account ownership that I lose the FamilyTalk plan and have to sign up for a new rate plan. That is whack. I'm just not ready to do that, and I don't want to pay $699 for an iPhone 4 if I lose my eligibility altogether by transferring the account to my name.

Can anybody shed some light on this?

Best bet is to talk top the reps from your store. It's what I did. I talked to them on 4 separate occasions, twice on the phone and twice in person, just to make sure I could buy my phone (I'm an authorized user on the account, confirmed this with AT&T). They all said that as long as i'm just upgrading my line (not changing my plan) and I am indeed an authorized user, then its no problem. The lady I talked to said the same thing. AT&T said the same thing.

From what I've been reading on these forums, people haven't been getting straight answers. Well, the best thing to do is to just go to the apple store and talk to the reps there about what they'll be doing because it seems different stores have different policies.

 

[Jizzles]

Here's an option that should work...

Have the credit card holder call the cc company and add use as an authorized user. This will permit you to use the credit card but gives you no liability to the debt.

Once you purchase the phone you can have them remove use as an authorized user.

I've had to use my parents' cc before and have not been question yet (different first name, same middle name but different spelling). Now I'm planning on buying two phones with the hopes of two more and I'm sure with a charge that large they will want to check the info between on the cc....