Credit Check for Existing AT&T Customers

[macWilson420]

I am confused about this credit check. I know it is required for new accounts and always have been like this but I keep getting different answers from AT&T reps about the credit check for existing customers. When I opened up my account over 3 years ago I went through this and paid the $750 deposit becasue I had limited credit. After 1 year paying my bill on time I did get it back; however some reps are telling me that another one is required for the iphone even if I already have an account and is in good standing with them. Then there are some that say since I already have an account it wont be needed and I will be just fine to make the switch. Does anyone know what the real answer is?

As much as I want the iPhone, if I have to put another deposit down becasue of my credit when I already did that years ago that would be enough for me to say the hell with it and drop AT&T for good. There will be ways to unlock the phone and use it with another service provider. I hope that wont be the case though.

 

[Fenir]

Hey mac, I "believe" that since you are an existing customer and hence under contract, you can get the Pre-Approved Credit Check code from an AT&T rep.

 

[marksman]

As far as I know there is no credit check required for existing customers.

Looking through the AT&T training guide, that seems to be the case. It never talks at all about doing a credit check for existing customers in the store or via iTunes.

 

[abgould]

I am confused about this credit check. I know it is required for new accounts and always have been like this but I keep getting different answers from AT&T reps about the credit check for existing customers. When I opened up my account over 3 years ago I went through this and paid the $750 deposit becasue I had limited credit. After 1 year paying my bill on time I did get it back; however some reps are telling me that another one is required for the iphone even if I already have an account and is in good standing with them. Then there are some that say since I already have an account it wont be needed and I will be just fine to make the switch. Does anyone know what the real answer is?

As much as I want the iPhone, if I have to put another deposit down becasue of my credit when I already did that years ago that would be enough for me to say the hell with it and drop AT&T for good. There will be ways to unlock the phone and use it with another service provider. I hope that wont be the case though.

There is no additional credit check for exisiting AT&T customers. Anytime you add a new line to an exisiting plan or purchse a new phone for an exisiting number under the same provider, no check is ever done, unless you are not in good standing (behind in payments.) Boy Genius has a document from an AT&T handbook saying that the salesperson has to offer to do a pre-credit check for new line of service. This means that it is for new customers to AT&T and not existing ones.

 

[jshbckr]

There will be ways to unlock the phone and use it with another service provider.

I wouldn't put your money on it. If it happens, not only will you be crippling features that are dependent on the service, but also have to worry about whether or not Apple updates will render your iPhone useless (if they've got re-locking updates in the firmware)