Mobile Phones & Broadband

[antigravityazn]

I was curious what the exact step-by-step procedure is to purchase a phone from Best Buy. Here is my situation:

- Phone eligible for upgrade, looking at the newly price-slashed LG Vu ($29.99)

- Contract expired with AT&T, I am under a family plan

- My number is the primary account number, but mine and another (2 of 3) family plan line is under my mom's name (long story, but I'm 21 and I don't really know the stipulations of letting me upgrade since I'm an adult)

Basically, I have never upgraded my phone through any other company other than AT&T's Online Store. I was wondering what the procedure was at Best Buy, what information I will need (mine or my mom's SS number, AT&T account number, etc.), and what the total cost of the phone upgrade will be ($30 for phone, $35 for activation, anything else?).

[BBBob]

Hi and welcome to the forum. If you wish to remain on mom's plan have her call 611 from her cell phone and talk to customer care and put you on as an authorized user. That will give you the right to do things like upgrade your phone and sign the new 2 year contract that will be required to get the savings on the phone of your choice. If you wish to open up your own account then you can apply for one on your own. It will require that you have a valid form of ID, like a drivers license, and they will run a credit check. Depending on the results from that a deposit may or may not be required. Deposits are paid for with a credit card only. They will be refinded to you after 12 months of payments being made on time. It will come in the form of a check from the carrier. You can also elect to have the deposit as a bill credit. Hope that has helped you out.

Bob 

[antigravityazn]

Thanks, Bob

I plan on staying on the family plan mainly because it's much cheaper than individual plans. I'll have her make me an authorized user...after that, is that all I need? Or will I still need account numbers, ID, etc?

[BBBob]

Once you are an authorized user you will need your ID to access the account. If she has a password on the account then you will need that also. That is it. To easy, huh?

Bob

[antigravityazn]

It does sound pretty easy, lol.

Ugh, one more question...apologies for the noobishness

Will the only charges I will need to worry about is the $30 for the phone and then $35 for the activation fee? Or will other random charges apply with lots of asterisks and such?

[BBBob]

The only thing you will pay for in the store will be the phone and any accessories you need to go with it. Like a memory card, emergency charger, case, screen protector,etc... The upgrade fee will be put on the next bill and should be 18.00. Are you getting the internet package on that VU? It can do so much and would require the internet package to do it all. It will work as a phone without that, but why get all the features if you are not going to use them?

Bob

[antigravityazn]

Oh, excellent! I thought the activation fee was much more.

Yep, I've done my homework I already have an unlimited media plan on my Sony Ericsson 580i (which is being held together by a wire and duct tape as we speak) and I also have a SD card with that, so I won't need to worry about that...I think, lol. But yeah, I will definitely be keeping the unlimited media plan for the Vu.

I was waiting for the Sony Ericsson Xperia to come to AT&T, but I read that they were going to be exclusively an unlocked phone. So I was looking for alternatives and turned to the Vu, which looks amazing, albeit the fingerprints that will undoubtedly cover it in 5 minutes. Plus, it's on sale for $30 @ BB! How can you beat that?

[BBBob]

You should know that the Sony micro sd card will not work in the VU. It is a different size that fits Sony only. Once you have one for any phone other than a Sony it will work in all the other phones. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I know we almost always have a Micro SD card on sale so check in the store whwn you buy the phone. I have to go to work so have a great day and enjoy the new phone.

Bob