Mobile Phones & Broadband

[thisgirln]

Hi guys,

I have a few questions. Sometime this week I'll be going into a BB to pick up a new phone with AT&T. Initially I was going to go with the IPhone and I did the credit eligibility via att.com that told me how much I would have to pay for deposit and what to print out and take with me. On the coupon though it says to take it to an AT&T store. I've now decided to just go ahead and go with the Samsung Impression and out of convience I've decided to purchase it via BestBuy. My questions ...

1) With this "coupon" that states how much of a deposit At&T will charge me for an iPhone, will a credit check still have to be re-done? (I ask because this is the second time I've done the credit eligibility thing seeing as I accidently closed the tab before saving the information, if it's run again that'll be a third hit on my credit. I'll bring my ID and everything as to match what's on record with the account number they provided, of course. Here's a small screenshot of what I am talking about. http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/7369/attcoupon3.jpg)

2) Can the deposit be paid via cash when paying for any accessories or other items (phone is currently free due to the awesome instant rebate) or does it have to be via debit/credit card?

Thanks for your time and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Kyle-BBYM]

First, the deposit will be the same if you get a Impression or iPhone. The credit check will be re-run, and it will cancel out the one you did online. When you do a credit check for phones like this, it is only one hit, and it stays open for 30 days, so you can inquire as many times in that period.

Once set up, you will have to pay your deposit via credit/debit card. We are unable to take cash at this time, so if you need to, you can get a pre-paid visa card, and put your deposit amount on there. Make sure to put a little more, for example, if my deposit was $100, I would put $105 on the card, as the systems can sometimes get messed up, and say that there is not enough money on the card.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions, please let us know! Also, check out our new Best Buy Mobile website. You can chat on the forums there as well!

[Nokia]

Actually Kyle, while the existing credit check does stay in ATT's system, and subsequent checks do hit your credit again. The only way to avoid this would be to use the same reference number, which ATT doesn't give out when a customer runs their credit online.

[thisgirln]

Thanks for your (and Nokia's) timely response. I appreciate it.

Really quick since I am here, I was wondering... do the mobile phones that are carried at each Best Buy location vary depending on location or does each store carry the exact same phones all throughout.

For example in my case, will any Best Buy I go to carry the Samsung Impression, or is it only an on-line purchase phone. I'd purchase it online but what confuses me is how the deposit will work if paying online. Will it prompt me to pay it at the end of the transaction? I assume if it's at the store then I can just pay it then and there.

Thanks again Kyle!

[Nokia]

I would advise not to buy it online.

Some stores may vary in inventory, but not that much. Most or all stores should have the Impression, but always call first to make sure.

[Kyle-BBYM]

When the system pulls up that you have two apps, and a manual review is requested, it will clear the other app, and take that off. All the carriers do this, it has no impact to your credit, just once.