You could possible find a friend that you have multiple trust with and work out a family plan. Although, based on some Judge Judy cases this doesn't always work out so well.

How about just realize that the iPhone is an extravagance and you do not need it. Save your money and get a cheaper phone.

Wait and see on the GoPhone options. And remember, the reason divorce is so expensive is it's worth every penny.

so they ran a credit check on you and again when you do buy the phone it will be another hit, thats 2 unnessecary hits to your credit.

Or lets wait till about a week after July 11th, I am sure by then a lot of rules would become more clear, and people wouldve figured out how to go about getting iphones and skirting pesky contracts.

Advice? Yes. Put the wallet back in your purse and go home. The clearly don't need your business.

Ok, you reeeeeeally want it? Show them why your crappy credit score is not an accurate measure of you. Bring proof that you've paid all your bills on time for the last two years (assuming you have) and pay stubs to prove that you have an income (assuming you do). Ask to speak to the manager and nicely ask him to look at you and not some stupid number on the screen. See if he will waive the fee.

Otherwise - wallet back in purse, go home. You don't need them.

I agree with Daemon_of_Waffle. Yeah, it sucks that your credit took a hit because of your divorce. But there isn't much you can do about it now. Getting an iPhone seems like something you don't realy need. If you need a cell phone, get a throw-away phone for much less and not be bound to a contract.

Looks like the first thing you should do is work on brining your credit back up. You don't need an iPhone. Let alone for the $750 deposit. I would just suck it up til the end of the year and hope that you can clear some of the credit up and consider it a christmas (hanukkah?) gift to yourself?

Sheesh, just get a Nokia E70 and be done with it.

iPhones are much like designer handbags: if I see you with one, I know you're no one I need to waste my time with.

Think different, after all.

Time to blame the consumer I think. If you find out your credit is so awful that you're being forced to fork over $750 to the phone company before they will give you the phone, it's time to forget about your fancy iPhone that you "wanted" and had been planning to get "the second they were announced", and it's time to start worrying about how you will build your credit back up - which will go a lot easier if you're not throwing money down Apple/ATTs toilet.

Stick with your current communication device and if possible downgrade it as well.

wait a bit for the unlocked ones to appear on ebay and get one for verizon :)

@onesong: You officially don't understand the difference between CDMA and GSM.

@induscreed: An inquiry from the same type of creditor within 30 days only shows up as one inquiry. I doubt at this point if something like an inquiry is going to further ding her credit anyway.

When I used to sell cell phones back in the day, we could sometimes get $25-50 deposits waived over the phone. Cell phone companies wouldn't give up a sale over a small deposit like that. A $750 one? Forget it. You don't NEED an iPhone. Come back in 12-18 months when your credit is better and then maybe you'll qualify without a deposit.

Listen here, there are better options than the iPhone. Ask yourself: "What is the real reason I want an iPhone?" And then, ask yourself: "Are there any alternatives to the features I want to use?" The LG is a surprisingly good phone and they don't break as often as an iPhone. But, I would work on your credit first before splurging on such a gadget like the iPhone. Girl, listen, run the numbers and see if you really want to pay that much to get out of Verizon, then pay for a new phone, and then be locked into a contract with AT&T and pay the charges each month. Soon, you will realize that it totally isn't worth it. Do the smart thing and put that money that you would otherwise spend into an account that will make a lot of money.

I've had credit problems in the past. My credit is now improving, but even though I could probably qualify for a credit card I don't have one.

Because I don't have a card, that means that I have to actually manage my money. If you don't have an emergency fund, and money in savings that you can "play" with, without damaging your ability to pay your bills, then how can you possibly justify your "need" to have a phone that will cost you so much?

Save your money, fix your credit, and realize that you won't die if you aren't able to buy this tomorrow.

So she already has a phone service but she wants to switch because she wants a pretty IPhone? Her credit may also be bad because of poor decisions like this. If 750 is the deposit, then that means she would fork over around $1000 to get a phone that she doesn't need. She could use that money to pay a bill and start at fixing her credit.

My brother works for AT&T and I begin working with them in August and I'm pretty sure there is no way to get around it. I tried to call him but he's probably busy doling out cellphones and $750 deposits.

Stick with Verizon. If you want to treat your self to a pretty phone do so with them. But I still think it would be best to focus spending your money on paying down debt.

God you anti-apple zealots are ridiculous. You accuse others of being sheep, but you're trying to get other people to fall in line behind you in your anti-Iphone craze, so how are you any better? If someone wants an Iphone, thats their business. If they're asking for help on how to get one, well, you're being unhelpful.

And no, I dont have an Iphone.

What a moron. If you'd been "planning" to get the iPhone in terms of saving money, budgeting, etc. that is one thing. If you'd been "planning" in the sense that you really really really wanted one and as soon as you could scrounge up the money and fork it over for something that isn't a necessity while leaving $0 in your savings account that is another.

So which is it?

@anatak: People in store and the activation/contract department are separate. You can bring in all the paperwork you like and talk to the manager all you like, but in the end, its the system that checks your credit score, and there is no way around it.

Now if you really want the phone, bite the bullet and pay the $750. But in my opinion, you have other things to worry about then this if your credit is that bad.

@ErinYay: Good, I have an iPhone and I don't think I'd ever want to know you. That's got to be the single shallowest thing I've ever read on this site.

Just because her credit's crappy doesn't mean she can't afford an iPhone. It means that she got a divorce and the divorce got a little messy; there's a lot of assuming she can't afford the phone in here, which isn't necessarily true.

I worked for Cingular for a number of years. $750 is the maximum required deposit they request for customers with poor credit. The average deposit I saw was $100 - $250; quite the range, but nothing to really be freaked out by. As I left the company, they began to offer a "Z" credit class for young adults that had no way to establish credit to begin with, and they would be approved, conditionally, with a zero deposit.

But no, $750 indicates a very poor credit score.

Verizon and Sprint have flexible sign-ups. I admittedly had poor credit when I signed on for Verizon, but they waived the deposit for me. After a tiff with Verizon, I tried to get service with Sprint [as a leverage tool] and I was approved with a $150 deposit. I would have switched if Verizon didn't help me with my problem.

Fortunately, they did.

It's not so much advice, but statement of fact:

AT&T ain't gonna budge on that $750. When I sold phones for them it was rare you ever got someone with worse credit (resulting in a $1000 deposit). The store manager doesn't care what kind of payment history you have with your other carrier, that you're going through a divorce, or that you really really really want an iPhone. He doesn't want his DM beating him to death with a phonebook if he somehow manages to find a way to "waive" that full 750.

Moreover, the iPhone won't make you feel any better.

Priorities, people.... In the end it's just a phone! Get a cheaper (WAY CHEAPER) phone and start working on paying off your debt.

Hop on the eBays and buy an older generation iPhone. Enter 999-99-9999 as your social, fail the credit check, use the go-phone option that is provided. It won't be 3G, but is ATT 3G available where you live as it is? and you can pay 9.99 for the iPhone 2.0 OS update.

That's pretty much your only option without forking over $750 and locking into a contract.

Your credit would have to be actively bad for that kind of deposit. I had almost non-existant credit when I picked up an iPhone last summer and didn't need to put down a deposit at all.

@ErinYay: Judging people based on the things they buy themselves is awesome. You're probably a fun person to hang out with.

I hate to play blame the consumer again (and I'm not blaming you per se) but what I am saying is that honestly, a cell phone is a luxury and when you have bad credit then you really REALLY can't justify spending money on a telephone.

Seriously, just get a basic telephone that actually makes calls. The LG Chocolate is a decent phone for what it's worth and I'd really recommend staying with Verizon on this one. Stick with the old phone unless it's dying or has serious issues.

Status symbols are for the weak.

@ErinYay: "Think different, after all. "

Haha, so true. It's like those people in Starbucks writing their novel on their Macbook Air. It's just to be seen with one.

What's sad is I always liked retro stuff and now that's becoming the trendy thing to be seen with.

Everyone complaining on how she has bad credit and she needs to do something about it??
Did you read the OP story??
Nowhere does it say she was responsible for the bad credit, only through her divorce does she have bad credit.
I see that all the time, and it is not always the fault of both people, many times one party is to blame for it all.
Hence the divorce. Now though her credit is dinged and will take some time to return.

I personally would not get an iPhone, but hey, it is your money... I would go the friend / family route.

"I've been a Verizon customer since last fall. When I bought my Chocolate (ugh) I paid a $150 deposit on it."

So you paid $150 deposit last fall and too much for a phone that you (now) do not like. You will also be paying the ETF to get out of you verizon contract so that you can now overspend for another trendy phone with a hefty price.

News flash: Divorce does not necessarily ruin your credit, but bad money decisions will. Sounds like getting into an iphone is going to cost you another fortune that you do not have.

I've never had a "trendy" phone, but I have never paid money out-of-pocket for a phone either. I find a good deal and stay away from ETF's, unnecessary charges, and throwing away money on stuff that doesn't matter. It insures that I have money in the bank and a credit score over 700. Think about it.

Go with a different phone service. Helio only charged me $150 for a security deposit and that's the highest bracket of deposits for them. I'm incredibly happy with their phones and phone service.

Dudes, there are SO many alternatives to a zillion dollar phone with a zillion dollar data plan. So if you're wasting your cash on an iPhone when there are cheaper and (imo) more effective alternatives, you're either not so high on the critical thinking honor roll, or you care way too much about your outward appearance.

Knock yourself out and buy whatever you please, but don't be shocked that not everyone's ready to jerk you off for being so trailblazing and clever.

@Black Bellamy: Maybe her credit is already built up and is just fine where it is. All it takes is for an ex-spouse with vengeance on the mind to royally screw you over for the next 7 years.

A year after my divorce was final my ex decided to fraudulently use my details to get herself a shiny new car. Two weeks after she had it, she took off with it to the other coast and never made a single payment.

I got slammed with a $35,000 ding on MY report. And none of the reporting agencies removed it from my report. Was I going to pay it? FRAK NO!

I got stuck with a $35K ding, and it was the only negative I have ever had. The only thing I was able to do was wait 7 years for it to fall off the report.

For those of you telling Dana that she shouldn't be wasting her money on an iPhone when she has bad credit, have you considered the fact that she may have actually have paid her debts? Paying debts off doesn't magically erase previously bad credit. She may very well be able to afford the phone now, but is being punished for the financial hardship of her divorce. Stop automatically blaming the consumer.

Net10. $200 will get you a year of service, no contract, and it works.

Cheapest way to get a phone, and it won't ping your credit one red cent.

Bring the last few months of bills from Verizon to the AT&T store and ask the manager or sales rep to submit a request for a deposit waiver. With a deposit that high they may not waive it, however with a good payment history with your current provider there is a good chance that it will be lowered.

Good luck!

@blkhwk86: "The LG is a surprisingly good phone and they don't break as often as an iPhone. "

Um, what? I call bullshit/made-up fact.

@ReverendDrGladhands: @krispykrink:

people are not autmatically assuming she is responsible for her bad credit, people are basically being judgmental about the fact that she wants an iphone so bad that she is willing to keep a 750 deposit for something as transient as a flashy phone SO she MUST be bad with financial prioritization and HENCE must be responsible for her dinged credit so on and so forth.

Maybe thats true, maybe not, we cant be sure w/o knowing more, not that I care to, but lets be honest, I think none of us really cares about her credit score or her finances,

shes an adult, we're not her mother, why cant we just focus on the "Does anyone have any idea on how I could get the iPhone without tripling the price?"

See of they'll wave (or reduce) the deposit if you can get a letter of credit from Verizon, or any utility provider you have used for more than a few months. I managed to use this to avoid a deposit from my gas company, but not my water company, so its probably fairly hit or miss.

@nataku83 waive, rather...

I think this credit check and deposit thing with cell phone companies is really ridiculous and out of hand. A cell phone is no long a luxury like it was in the early 90's it is now a necessity. I could understand that in the early 90's a cell phone was not common and a very luxuries item to have so a credit check was required but does days are done with. People can argue that you have the option of prepaid or "pay as you go" but those options can become very expensive. It's almost as cell phone companies are discriminating against the little people and taking advantage of them with prepaid plans since they don't have any other option. Maybe someone should write to congress about this. How do they turn around and ask people for ridiculous deposit on a necessity in our daily lives. My cell phone replaced my land line and if the cell phone companies were smart they would ditch this deposit thing so that everyone could have a cell phone plan and ditch their land lines. I bet you the first carrier to ditch deposits will become the number one carrier in the country.

OMG! I have no money! But I just have to have this new shiny gadget thing! I simply must have it! And it's got to be an apple iphone, because all the other touch-screen phones out there which off more functionality for a lot less money are just not cool enough!

Get real. You can't afford it!

BTW, never walk into a store and let them check your credit. Spring for the $5 and get your score online, then walk into the store with the numbers. That way you'll know if they're BS'ing you.

Just forget it. I would not pay a $750 deposit for any phone. It's not *THAT* great!

@Daemon_of_Waffle: Hey buddy, this is America, not every darn decisioin we make has to be based on need. If the lady wants and iPhone than that's her choice.

So you live a frugial life where every decision is based on necessity, good for you. No need to be fascist.

@GrandizerGo: i just got divorced, i'm working on my destroyed credit that i wasn't even close to wholly responsible for either. buying an iphone, as cool as i actually would think it is because i geek over apple, is not something i would even attempt to do. and it's not only through her divorce. getting a divorce does not cause a $750 deposit. getting a divorce after having your credit history connected with a spouse who was horrible with money and didn't give a crap how it affected you will cause a $750 deposit. it's not just the divorce and it will take time to fix.

it's pretty fair of people to say "don't get one it's a bad idea" because it is. she doesn't need one. the contract would help build her credit a bit, but a cheaper phone and plan and therefore smaller deposit would be the smartest route. a phone may not be a luxury in america in this day and age, but an iphone is.

To everyone who tells you that you don't need it, or your stupid...ignore them. They don't know if you've budgeted for this, or what your financial situation is, except that you've had something happen that iced your credit. Just because she's buying something that requires a credit check for service doesn't mean that she is going to pay on credit! Jesus.

To answer your actual question, AT&T announced this morning that they are going to sell the phones at a no commitment price, meaning that you can pay $599 for the phone, and not have to pass any credit check or sign any long term commitment. So, save the credit check money, and just buy the phone outright for less than what the deposit would be on a "subsidized" phone.

Does at&t just hold on to that money or do they actually apply it to her account at all? It wouldn't be so bad if this were more of a prepay rather than a security deposit. That 750 will cover them for about a year (figuring $60/month w/o taxes and fees).

@virgilstar: Have you ever used that method? No serious company is going to offer credit to anyone based on an easily forgeable FreeCreditReport.com printout.

I would advise you wait until your credit improves to switch carriers, but if you absolutely need one, my advice: check eBay NOW for a 2G iPhone which will probably be 1/2-1/3 the cost of the new one, and seriously isn't much different from the new one...it's slower (but still usable) and there's no GPS. ATT will probably still make you pay the $750 no matter what, but you can sign up on the current data plan which is significantly cheaper.

@macinjosh: Usually they hold onto it until the end of the contract, at which point you can ask them for a check or they apply it to your bill and you don't pay anything for a few months.

How about just not getting an iPhone? Whenever I want something I can't afford, my first instinct is to post about it on a website. Get an original iPhone and work on fixing your credit so you can upgrade in a year.

@induscreed: because telling someone they're mostly likely shit outta luck (which she most likely is) is a reasonable response to this query. there may be an end to this problem that results in her getting the iphone sans the bank account smackdown. an equally probable result is she doesn't get it because there's no way in hell she can get around paying that and her energies are best focused somewhere else.