Buying an iPhone from Apple and the Carrier deals

17001005 wrote:

I’m not asking about family sharing!

What I am trying to find out is if I wanted to upgrade my iPhone at an Apple Store while also attempting to get the carrier deals by trading in an phone at checkout, does the person in charge of the bill need to be for me to get the phone activated?

You cannot buy a phone to be billed to someone else (like a parent), without that person's approval, if that might be what you are asking about.

If the phone that you were using now is one that was financed through a carrier deal – which includes a contract where the price of the phone was buried in monthly payments – you would not have a right to break the contract just because you wanted a new phone.

It really sounds like you need to talk to the person who pays the bills for the current phone. Even if your plan is simply to hand it in and pay any early termination fees on it, after you purchase a new phone and a new cellular plan, out of your own pocket.

The short answer is "no".

You will need the person whose name the account is in to do that.

The longer answer is, if you are an adult on a family plan from a carrier such as AT&T, it should be possible for the account holder to have you listed as an authorized party to make changes on the account. If they do that, you won't need them with you to authorize the changes.

As long as you have an active line with one of the supported carriers, it should be possible to get a phone through the Apple Card Monthly Installments or iPhone Payment program with Apple. Regardless of whether or not the plan is part of a family service plan with a carrier.

For deals directly with a carrier such as AT&Ts installment plan or Boost's financing, you would need to contact the specific carrier for specifics on their plans.

Being in a family group does not bar you from upgrading your iPhone to the newer models.

Else...

Remove yourself from a family group

1. Open the Settings app, then tap Family. If you don't see Family, tap your name, then tap Family (or Family Sharing).
2. Tap your name, then tap Stop Using Family Sharing.

Leave Family Sharing - Apple Support (IN)