Do I Need Credit To Get an iPhone?

You can go to AT&T and they can have your credit checked before you buy the iPhone, you can purchase one of the subsidized phones(pick one of the free ones) since you would be signing up for a 2 year contract anyway, this way you will have a back-up phone that you will not pay for. If you do not pass the credit you can pay the deposit or just not get a phone anymore
If you pass the credit check, get the free phone, go buy an iPhone connect to iTunes and select to transfer the phone number you already got to the iPhone

You'll need to go to ATT and talk to them about this. They may make you put down a hefty deposit or take a more expensive pay as you go plan.

If you don't have any credit yet, you can get a secured credit card and start building a credit history.

if you have no credit history they might not even offer you a deposit, they might just outright deny you and the only way to get an account is through your parents or someone with credit.
18 years old, debit card... Sounds like you have little to none credit history. So make some back up plans in case they deny you. Worst case scenario they ask for a hefty refundable deposit ($500 or so)

Well, it actually makes sense if you think about it. AT&T wants to make sure that you've got the ability to pay the bill. The best way they have of knowing is to check your credit history. Should you have low credit, usually a sign of not paying your bills like you should, then of course they're going to ask for a deposit. They're covering themselves should you default on paying at any time. Evidentially they've been burned enough times to feel this is necessary. As the old saying goes one bad apple runs the whole bunch.

None the less, building a good credit history is always a good thing. My advice would be, to get a small credit card from a good company. Use it wisely and pay the bill on time. In about 6 months you'll probably have a good rating to work from. Also if you get, or have a bank account try and get the debit/credit card. That also will help build credit.

I know this isn't the answer your looking for, but if you credit isn't that good, or you don't have any. The iPhone is also available on the Pay as you Go. If your go that route, I do believe it too will help your credit rating should you pay for it on time.

December,

NO you do NOT have to do a 2 year contract if you do NOT want to do one! You also do NOT have to have AT&T run a Credit Check, again, if you do NOT want them to! Regarding cost, I pay $76.00 per month and get 400 anytime minutes, 3000 night & weekend minutes, FREE AT&T mobile to mobile, roll over balance, Text message package of 200 and the iPhone Data Plan (Which gives you access to ALL of the iPhone features)! To me, that is not much more than the folks with a 2 year contract pay, maybe 10-15 dollars more, which is nothing!

AT&T has a pay by the month program called, "GoPhone"! This is the link:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/go-phones/?WT.svl=calltoaction;so urce=IC9301112Ra0n1X5&WT.mc_id=IC9301112Ra0n1X5;ContentId=900268

This is what I use since I did NOT want to sign up for a 2 year contract. You can go through the activation process, through iTunes when you buy your NEW iPhone and if your credit is NOT approved it will offer you to place a deposit OR use the GoPhone program! The plan is very competitive with those who have a contract! So, don't sweat the credit, go get your iPhone and have a BLAST! Merry Christmas!

Gunny

Message was edited by: Smeagol7

Message was edited by: Smeagol7

Message was edited by: Smeagol7

Kevin8998 wrote:
I agree that this absolutely stupid as ****!

I have the same problem and it's really ******* me off!

No other phone company does this.... why does AT&T?

Lots of companies do this. It's standard practice if a company is unsure of your ability to pay what you owe.

Kevin8998 wrote:
No other phone company does this.... why does AT&T?

This is incorrect. Every phone company does a credit check and require deposits if it doesn't pass their screening.

Honestly get a credit card with a fixed rate and build your credit up. If you must have the iPhone then pay the deposit. Either way I would recommend getting a credit card and using it for one item such as gas each month and then pay more than the minimum each month. Doing this it should build up pretty well over the next 6 months.

I myself am fairly young and got the iPhone in my name on AT&T. My parents have Sprint.

If not then you can also do pay as you go but its more expensive.

Yeah forgot to note that I had a credit card for about 6 months before I activated.

Best bet:

Go by AT&T and speak with them. They will probably require some sort of deposit.

Waiting would be better if you don't have credit rather than going for more expensive instant gratification. Is it really so bad to build a credit history for 4 or 5 months and then get the phone?

I had a yound credit history also, im 20 and they made me do a $100 deposit to get it activated

Wait a second. I got a debit card for like a week and im gonna buy my iphone on tuesday. So, your saying that i can't put it on my name? i got 18 years old.

This is ridiculous!