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JohnnyQuest

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 25, 2006
1,529
393
So I'm finally ready to buy an iPhone but I just turned 17. I remember hearing that you had to be 18 (but that might have just been on iDay). Is this true? Do I need to take a parent with me or something? Or can I just go to the local ATT store and pick one up by myself? Thanks!
 

TEG

macrumors 604
Jan 21, 2002
6,625
173
Langley, Washington
In the US, to sign a contract, you MUST be 18, this included cell phone contracts. You might be able to get one for pay-as-you-go as there is no contract, but they may still not sell to you because you are not 18.

TEG
 

JohnnyQuest

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 25, 2006
1,529
393
I realize that you must be 18 to sign the contract. But isn't all that done online through iTunes? I'm talking about actually going to the store to buy the phone.
 

brian doherty

macrumors member
Oct 30, 2007
63
0
I would imagine you could. Perhaps tell them it is a gift for a parent?
If not, try just ordering online.
 

Sir Tony

macrumors member
Nov 10, 2007
39
0
They are probably going to ask you to use a credit card. Also, it is illegal, tisk tisk.
 

aross99

macrumors 68000
Dec 17, 2006
1,541
1
East Lansing, MI
Do you have an existing AT&T contract? If not, I suspect AT&T will want you to get signed up in the store. if you went to an Apple store, I don't think you would have any issues.

Might want to take a parent just in case, or just call them first...
 

TEG

macrumors 604
Jan 21, 2002
6,625
173
Langley, Washington
Do you have an existing AT&T contract? If not, I suspect AT&T will want you to get signed up in the store. if you went to an Apple store, I don't think you would have any issues.

Might want to take a parent just in case, or just call them first...

You never sign a contract in the store when you buy an iPhone, ever. It is always done through iTunes.

TEG
 

aross99

macrumors 68000
Dec 17, 2006
1,541
1
East Lansing, MI
You never sign a contract in the store when you buy an iPhone, ever. It is always done through iTunes.

TEG
I got my iPhone from an Apple store (back in July), and I went to AT&T to ask some questions, and they signed me up there. I didn't activate my phone there, but they signed me up and did all of the paperwork...
 

TEG

macrumors 604
Jan 21, 2002
6,625
173
Langley, Washington
I got my iPhone from an Apple store (back in July), and I went to AT&T to ask some questions, and they signed me up there. I didn't activate my phone there, but they signed me up and did all of the paperwork...

They are not supposed to, and it was invalidated by you activating through iTunes. iTunes covers all the paperwork, so you just wasted precious moments of your life to do something redundant.

TEG
 

marykay9507

macrumors 6502a
Jan 18, 2008
576
0
So I'm finally ready to buy an iPhone but I just turned 17. I remember hearing that you had to be 18 (but that might have just been on iDay). Is this true? Do I need to take a parent with me or something? Or can I just go to the local ATT store and pick one up by myself? Thanks!

buy one at the apple store, but you need to use a credit card...i don't remember if they ask you for your birthday when you activate through itunes- anyone?
 

philgilder

macrumors 68000
Sep 30, 2007
1,756
3
UK
im 17 and bought my iphone in the uk
just walked in, asked for iphone, gave a debit (cash) card and that was it
didnt ask for age or anything...
good luck :)
(and yes, in the uk you need to be 18 to sign a contract and you activate at home through itunes)
 

aross99

macrumors 68000
Dec 17, 2006
1,541
1
East Lansing, MI
They are not supposed to, and it was invalidated by you activating through iTunes. iTunes covers all the paperwork, so you just wasted precious moments of your life to do something redundant.

TEG

Not to disagree, but my iTunes activation was only to activate the phone - the account was setup at AT&T. I selected my minutes, game them my credit card info, my name and address - everything.

When I got home to setup my iPhone, iTunes already had my account information from the setup at AT&T.

It was like adding a phone on an existing contract at that point...

Maybe it was just 1st day confusion on AT&T's part, but that's how it worked for me.
 

avaloncourt

macrumors 65816
Oct 18, 2007
1,315
0
Some stores do seem to do it. When I got mine they wouldn't even consider doing it there. She sold me the phone, put it in the bag and told me to go home and activate it through iTunes. She actually told me they weren't allowed to do it in the store.
 

mrobison

macrumors member
Sep 18, 2007
43
0
AR
When I bought mine a couple weeks ago I just wrote a check and then showed my driver's license I think.

I just turned 18 and signed on an existing contract though...
 
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