Caught in IPhone activation maze! 

So- I got my long awaited Iphone – Nice and shiny, futuristic, almost alien-like

Now all I have to do is activate it, easy ? Well here is the long story (It does not end well)

I want to activate my Iphone on the pay as you go plan, not a monthly subscription.  I take my iphone, plug it into my PC and volia – Itunes starts an activation process. 

 I think, “This is promising, so far so good” 

I had been  told by a “reliable” source that if you enter a bogus SSN (999-99-9999) you will be kicked into a pay as you go plan and then you enter your credit card and all is good to go. 

  I follow that path and after 5 minutes of thinking , Itunes gives me a message that I will receive an email with further instructions.

I check my email, and I have an email from Apple that says …. You guessed it… that I will receive an email with further instructions.

Ten minutes later I get a another email with a 800 number and a 14 digit code.  I call the number and give the guy the code and the fun really begins.

It seems my web account is somehow locked to postpay and he does not have authority to change it.  He is from the Iphone activation company and is the hero in the comedy that is about to insue.

He first assures me that AT&T customer care can make the necessary adjustments and makes a three-way call with a representative.  After explaining my dilemma, the rep asks for my phone number, which , of course I do not have.

  Before I know it , the activation rep and I are on the line with AT&T porting.

As you probably already guessed, Porting is for people transferring their number to AT&T, not for people who do not have an AT&T number and want one.  This flaw in our solution path is quickly realized by all parties .  We are then told that the Pre-Paid department is what we want.

My activation rep and I then call the AT&T pre-paid department.  Heather was very nice in explaining that they have nothing to do with Iphones and that we must call the special Iphone department.

 So- off we go on another call to the Iphone department.  My dilemma is explained to the rather stern representative at the Iphone department and when she learned that I had good credit and thus was post-pay eligible I was told that a pay as you go account was not an option for me.  I asked "Why?"

 I was told that you have to have bad credit to get a pay as you go account. 

 Uh? 

 I asked her if there was anyway they would be willing to accept my good credit money (which I think is worth the same or more than bad credit money) for Iphone usage?  I was told – no!  I asked – would you rather not have me as a customer?  Don’t you want the revenue?  And of course I was told – “Is there anything else I can help you with today, Sir?.....no……thank you for calling AT&T……click”

But- the story does not end there.    The activation rep who has been my guide in this adventure of hitchhiking through the Iphone customer service maze, decided that all of this just did not make sense.  He decided to contact his supervision and explain the situation.  Maybe that would enable me to give AT&T my money.

Another 10 minutes passes and the patient, but now defeated rep told me that the best advice he could get is to go to an  AT&T store and maybe they can help you. 

 I will try that tomorrow.   Do you think it will help?