AT&T Internal Apple iPhone document leaked. Prepaid iPhones, unboxing, credit checks, and more!
For anyone that thought we’d actually stop running iPhone coverage, you’re crazy! Now, on to the good stuff. Thanks to an exclusively obtained leaked document, we’re prepared to take you on a journey to iLand. Wondering how the lines will be handled for the Apple iPhone launch tomorrow? What accessories will we be able to buy? Perhaps the most important information is how these usually unorganized, release-date-slippin’, and sometimes downright obnoxious AT&T employees will handle all of this in a four hour time frame. Well here we go! When you arrive at your local iSpot, you will be formally organized by a member of AT&T management. Once you pass the first obstacle and actually get to the cash drawer, the sales rep will then attempt to perform a credit check on you before they sell you the phone and send you packin’. Want to know about the accessories, deposit, prepaid options and more? Check ‘em out after the jump!
According to the document, all AT&T reps have to at least offer to do a credit check to try and get you pre-approved for service, before they sell you the device. This is actually a kind-hearted gesture to make sure that when you get home to try and activate your iPhone, you won’t have to pony up $250 as a security deposit. And it helps AT&T track the devices to receive sales compensation. Sneaky sneaky! The problem is you can’t make that security deposit through iTunes, so you’ll have to come back to the store to give them that $250. Worse is the 10% restocking fee if the box is opened and you decide you don’t want it. If you do a credit check to get pre-approved and pass, or fail and give AT&T the security deposit, you will receive a authorization code you can enter into iTunes to speed up the activation process. AT&T employees are not allowed to so much as stare at that shiny seal on your iPhone box — you don’t have to worry about some freak unboxing your baby! In fact, they literally put the iPhone into an Apple bag (classy right?), scan it, seal the Apple bag with the phone inside, and then give it to you.
Assuming you actually make it into the store, be prepared to get offered every iPhone accessory in stock. But what accessories will be available? We gotcha’ covered. Apple’s Bluetooth headset will be in stock tomorrow (14 day return policy as opposed to the normal 30 days for accessories) as well as extra docks, travel chargers, headphones, USB cables, and a host of 3rd party solutions which you can find below in the document. So let’s say you make it home, unbox your brand new iPhone, but wait…it’s defective and DOA. Oh no! You cannot bring defective iPhones back to the AT&T store. You will have to send it to Apple directly. Regular returns can be returned to the point of purchase.
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What happens if your credit isn’t up to snuff? Well, after and only after you fail the iTunes credit check (or the one in the store for that matter), an option will show up on screen to activate the iPhone as a Go Phone. Huh, Go Phone? Prepaid? You’re damn right, we called it! No contract required whatsoever. Mind you this is not a PAYG deal, rather it’s the Go Phone Pick Your Plan option. But still, you don’t have a contract! The last thing we’ll touch on, is the fact AT&T stores will start selling $25 and $50 iTunes gift cards. Ain’t that genius! We got a lot more info out of this 60-some page document below for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy everyone!
UPDATE: The entire 65-page Apple iPhone Launch Guide is now posted below!
Apple/AT&T iPhone Participant Training Guide Key Points [PDF link]
Apple/AT&T iPhone Participant Training Guide Full 65-page docment [PDF link]
You can transpose the SSN number on the itunes activation, don’t check credit in store.
200 minutes plus 20 buck iphone data 49.99 no contract no activation fee no M2M
Didn’t you read the 65 page document? They tell us to offer to run the credit in the store as a convenience for the customer because if they run it in iTunes and it comes back with a deposit or “Analyst Review,” then the customer will have to come back into an AT&T store (whether you bought your phone Apple retail, online or AT&T store).
If you do not put in a valid SSN when you do the credit application, it will come back as “Analyst Review,” and the only way to clear that up is for the AT&T store rep to get on the phone and correct the SSN. Only then will it tell us if you are approved or if there’s a deposit.
I’m assuming AT&T only performs credit checks on new subscribers, correct? Not existing customers who upgrading?
My contract is up for renewal so I qualify for subsidized pricing. I’d hate to think along with waiting in line for a bloody iPhone I have the equal pleasure of running through a lengthy contract procedure. I just want to get in and get out with my iPhone as quickly as possible.
Doesn’t matter. I probably won’t make it to my car without being beaten and robbed.
Wesson, I understand what you’re getting at and it’s a good strategy to avoid having to pay for a more expensive voice plan, but it will not work, believe me. AT&T reps will have to convert to consumer plans (we currently are allowed two free lines) and sign a two year contract in order to get the iPhone. I hate giving up my free line, but I have to. I will end up choosing the 39.99 + 19.99 plan since I don’t talk on the phone alot. And unless I do something stupid to mess up my credit between now and tomorrow, I know for sure it will come back as a $0.00 deposit for me, which will mean no Prepaid option.
Unless you’re poor and have messed up credit (but somehow can afford an iPhone), you will not be given the option of activating on the “Pick Your Plan.”
Kent, only new customers have to do a credit check. You will end up just giving us your phone number and we will sell one out to you. Then just go home and click the “current AT&T subscriber” option in iTunes. Interestingly enough, your iPhone purchase will not alter your future upgrade eligibility date (see the 65 page PDF file).
Hicham, thanks for answering my Q. But let me clarify your second point – you mean even after I purchase my iPhone tomorrow (hopefully) I am still eligible for a phone upgrade?
this is my favorite:
Q: I can’t believe you expect me to pay a deposit in addition to the cost of the iPhone.
A:“I understand, however this is a small price to pay considering all that you will gain from
iPhone. As well, if you have a good payment
history with us for twelve consecutive months
you will receive your deposit back in full.”
Yes, that’s what the PDF file says. However, it also says that there currently are problems in the upgrade eligibility system regarding people with One year contracts or no contracts, but it will be fixed within 30 days. But for the purposes of purchasing the iPhone, you don’t need to worry. It seems that anyone can buy an iPhone, even if they are not upgrade eligible.
I read the entire document today at my internship since I couldn’t go to the training today (I only work part time). I figured they would make me read it before selling the phone tomorrow, so I just read it today.
Credit check before purchase? Looks like the wife will be lining up with me.
I will just wait till about Sunday afternoon when someone figures out how to bypass all the bullshit at&t fuckery and just use it as a nice fancy ipod
MArvin are you serious?? If you just want a nice shiny ipod then dont buy this one, for one the nice ipod videos have video out which is a big loss on the iphone.
I cannot imaging you would just ant it as an ipod…
So BG, guess you don’t know the definition of the word “pact”:
“So we make this pact with you, our dear reader. There will not be any iPhone coverage at all on this site until this Friday, the 29th”
wow after reading that pdf the ATT dealer (direct/indirect) and the consumer get screwd over. one thing a will not thos credit check programs deliberaly knock a point off your credit. man i thoght verized pulled serious shenanagans speaking, speaking of the Evil CDMA empire ther parent company VODAPHONE is intalks with apple to maret the ijunk in euroupe (info via reuters) apernly Apple wants GARUNTEED sales and wnats to control te price. wil vodaphone wnats to subsidize it. tsk tsk> appl the cell phone market dosn’t work tha same as the computer marked an sales are never garunted.
Thanks BG once again another exclusive.
To clarify some things you read. If you do not go through the pre approval credit check process the sales rep will NOT make their commission. at&t is really trying to get people out the door quickly and have the least amount of upset customers. The best way to do this was pre-approve credit so that if you do require a deposit they can find out right there, as opposed to people whining bout having to come BACK to the store to pay the deposit.
Another thing to think about. If you go home and activate the phone and it says you owe a $750 deposit or something and decide “I don’t have the money for that right now, I’ll just bring back the phone” you’re out a 10% restocking fee.
So, if you think you might be in this situation, save yourself the 50 or 60 bucks and go through the pre approval.
If you are already a current AT&T customer,will they still have to run a credit check on you?
Nope. Just pay for your iPhone, take it home, and activate through iTunes. Checking credit is to prevent people from going home, only to find out they are required to pay a $250 security deposit which they would have to go back to the store to give.
Why is everyone bashing reps? Honestly, if you don’t want to run your credit in the store, it’s better for me because I can sell you your phone faster, and move on to another, putting more money in my pocket.
I will take the time to explain everything if the person wants, but if not, then they can figure it out at home.
We get paid by selling the phone out under our name at the register.
One more thing everyone needs to know, if you do the credit check at home (you have to open the box to do the credit check at home), and you have a deposit and change your mind, there is a 10% restocking fee for any opened box. By us doing it in the store for you, you’re able to find out if you have a deposit without opening the box. Potentially saving you 10% of the purchase price.
After reading all this, I went for a pair of Jitterbug phones, and turned in my ATT/Cingular cells.
Okay, I now have working cellular telephones, a separate digital camera that provides excellent photos, a stereo system that is to die for, a classical CD collection, a set of Bose earphones and a CD player, and an iMac on my desktop.
All without a single hassle.
iPhone? Don’t think so.
One question: I am a non-resident in the U.S. and don’t have any Social Security Number, so I will fail the credit check, but I can still buy the phone, adding the next day $250? The $250 is not lost, right, only a deposit?
I know it’s late, but hopefully someone can answer this question for me: For the last two weeks, we’ve been bashed over the head with news from Engadget, TUAW and Ars Technica that iPhone users would NOT be able to use the iPhone’s iPod features UNLESS they signed up for a two-year contract. With B.G.’s announcement that pre-paid plans would still be offered as an option should users fail the credit check, does anyone know if this rule still applies?
Believe it still applies. You still have to go through the iTunes activation even when using a Pick Your Plan option…
One VERY annoying feature of Pick Your Plan is it’s balance-notification messages that are sent after every call and message.
I’ve considered this a big drawback. Apparently there is no way to have it removed. A Google search will find you customers with the same feelings.
I wonder if they’ve decided to do away with this feature now that they seem to have created this new method of sign-up and so forth with the iPhone.
When will T-Moblie get the iPhone?
I can feel myself rapidly aging as these iPhone tricks cease to work upon me.