How can I find out why I was rejected for iPhone?

If you have bad credit or a poor credit report, you wouldn't pay $500 more for the iPhone. AT&T would require a deposit that would remain on your account and be paid back in a year after paying your monthly bill in full and on time during the 12 months. If you have bad credit and a deposit was required, you would or should be told the reason.

Are you and your wife existing AT&T subscribers - you and your wife have a Family plan with AT&T or separate individual accounts which are billed separately by AT&T?

I find it hard to believe you were told you must pay an additional $500 for a deposit with AT&T without being told the reason. Just give us an additional $500 but we can't and won't tell you why. I have never heard of such a thing.

If your credit application was denied, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires creditors to specify why -- if you ask, it's the law. For example, the creditor must tell you whether you were denied because you have "no credit file" with a CRA or because the CRA says you have "delinquent obligations." The ECOA also requires creditors to consider additional information you might supply about your credit history. You may want to find out why the creditor denied your application before you contact the CRA.

Apple does not decide wether you qualify for a wireless plan or not. They have nothing to do with it.

You need to contact AT&T, as they are the ones who do this.

Walk into an AT&T location and try to set up an account.

Apple has nothing to do with AT&T's credit report. Apple is not involved with AT&T's credit report except for receiving the info from AT&T regarding if what will be a new AT&T subscriber passes AT&T's credit report or minimum requirements for credit being issued for a post-paid account.

Stop by an AT&T corporate store to get an answer. There are plenty of them.

Copied from my previous post:

If your credit application was denied, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires creditors to specify why -- if you ask, it's the law. For example, the creditor must tell you whether you were denied because you have "no credit file" with a CRA or because the CRA says you have "delinquent obligations."

AT&T is required by law to tell you why you were denied credit(Apple is not providing you with credit, AT&T is). It is not optional on AT&T's part, it's required by law. Most companies, as a matter of routine, will automatically send you a letter, in the mail, detailing why you were denied credit. You should receive this letter within 10 business days from the date of denial. I'm not surprised that a CSR in an AT&T store or on the phone will/did give you a run-around. They most likely have no access to these credit decisions. Talk to an AT&T store manager.

Have you had or do you have a credit card with revolving credit available? Do you have a mortgage? Do you currently have or have you had cell phone service with another carrier?

Having no delinquent obligations alone is not enough. If you don't have a credit history with a charge card or similar that includes revolving credit, you don't have a credit history per se. Paying a charge card that includes revolving credit with charges every month that is paid in full every month should provide a credit history. If you don't have a credit history with a charge card that includes revolving credit or with a charge card that requires being paid in full every month with any balance, no mortgage or a mortgage payment history, no cell phone service in the past set up as a post-paid account with a monthly bill that must be paid in full every month, AT&T has nothing to go by to approve you credit.

Credit, in general, is difficult to obtain in the present environment. The free-wheeling days are over, at least for the present. Be persistent, but don't become a jerk. Face-to-Face always works better in situations like this. An AT&T store manager is who you need/want to talk to. If you have your credit reports in hand, bring them with you. You indeed could have been denied credit because you don't have a "sufficient" credit history, even though what's on your report is not negative. I hope things work out for you, and do post back your results. Good luck.