AT&T credit card issue with address - iPad

I managed to sign up for the AT&T data service and I live in an area with no #G service and sometimes marginal non-3G service. Although oddly I am showing five bars at home now but am using Wi-Fi. It was a bit of a struggle, though.

Signed up at home via Wi-Fi. Tried my home address in multiple variations with no luck. So today I thought I'd look at the discussion boards thinking I'd be the first with a complaint. Guess I was wrong about that.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I used my UPS store P.O. Box address. Ironic isn't it? It came back with the "can't find address" window again but after selecting "Continue" it went through. Go figure. Had barely a signal outside the apartment but didn't expect much from my past experience with my AT&T phone.

Took a ride to Oconomowoc, WI to do my Sunday grocery run and midway stopped to check if the cellular worked. Tried loading a web page when parked off road and after a long wait I saw a little blue window that said "Service Activated", I hit "OK" and then started on to Oconomowoc again. When I turned the iPAD on ( it shut off during the drive do to inactivity) when I got parked at the
store low and behold 3G!

I checked my mail, clicked on a Netflix mail. Netflix opened a browser page so I tried watching a movie. The first 3 minutes I watched played without incident.

After shopping I called up a map and had it track my progress back home. Flawless.

I guess i didn't make a long story short did I? It appears that the AT&T address checker is the problem. 3G in home area not required. Incidentally, you'd think since the address I gave AT&T didn't match my credit card billing address it would have been rejected. I did change the address after I was activated though.

Like others here I've had similar problems, and after speaking with my credit card issuer what I've been told is that my particular problem is because of a messed up ATT credit card processing system. My cards all have my PO Box as my billing address -- and I find it interesting that while ATT won't accept that, they have no problem THEMSELVES using a PO Box for their mailing address. But I have an alternate billing address which has a street address. But ATT won't accept that one. I know that it is in their service area because that is the same billing address for my iPhone (I pay that account using the very same credit card that I couldn't register for my iPad). But my credit card issuer has confirmed that my alternate address is valid; it is accepted by ATT for their online payment for my iPhone; the problem is the ATT transaction system in place for the iPad.

How does that works when you want to use AT&T when you are coming from another country with you iPad.

This IS an AT&T problem. However they parse the addresses people are entering is incorrect. It IS NOT an Apple problem. I tried signing up with my home address with no luck so I wound up using my UPS store PO Box address which went through despite it doesn't match my credit card billing address.

You do not need to be in a 3G area to sign up. I have no 3G coverage but have activated my account. Many people have activated using their local post office address. Like me, they changed their billing info once they were activated.

This is absolutely an AT&T problem.

Thanks! This worked for me.

Someone came up with a solution last night. Get a pre paid visa, and use an address of a family member. Seems to work fine, and then after registering change card and address.

I live in a rural area with AT&T coverage, but not G3 coverage. With the change as of today 5/3 being able to add a Service Area address when signing up for service I was able to finally create an account by -- Adding my credit card info - including a P.O. Box - in the billing area. In the Service Area I put in an address that has 3G coverage (not an address associated with me, just an address that was within the 3G coverage area like a govt. building) - you can go to AT&T and see there coverage maps, make sure you click the Overlay 3G coverage display option. I was then able to create the account.

I needed to use it out of my area anyway and just needed to get the account set up.

I believe that when you try to create an account AT&T might do look up on the address. If it is not in a 3G coverage area perhaps it is not allowing the account to be created.

I posted another complaint before I found this conversation...
When I tried to sign up for a data plan on my new iPad 3g, AT&T would not accept the billing address that I have used with AT&T for years. When I called AT&T, they said "We're sorry, you should have known that and not bought a 3g iPad." Although you may use the data service all over the United States, if your home is not in the AT&T coverage area, no data plan for you! Apple has been no help so far either. The only solution I see in the short term is to get a credit card at a relative's address who is in a coverage area.

Thanks for the above suggestions... Will try them!
RWSIMMS