Scam Alert - Apple Watch 3 Credit Check, $150 Deposit Demand

"So he just added a line yesterday and now you're adding another line today.

That's not a deposit for just a watch line, it's a second line added in two days."

We did not add a line the previous day - we simply switched account responsibility from me to him to be able to take advantage of his military discount.  So, I was trying to add 1 additional line only for the watch.  Plus, they had to run a credit check for the switch (just one day prior).

I do understand now that the employee in the store was incorrect when stating that there was a charge to run the credit check; and he did not say at any point in time that it would be returned.  This was explained when I called AT&T directly.

Whether the payment history is his or mine, every single phone number in the plan has been the same for 20+ years and they absolutely have the ability to see the payment history.  They also see that my husband has been on the same account for that same amount of time and that our last names are the same; thus no change in how the bill will be paid. 

I think that we all need to call this what it really is - an opportunity for AT&T to sit on and make interest on millions of dollars for one year.  How many Apple 3 watches have been sold in the last month??  I, personally, would be happier paying a $25 activation fee than feeling that I am being extorted. 

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@RobertaG wrote:

"So he just added a line yesterday and now you're adding another line today.

That's not a deposit for just a watch line, it's a second line added in two days."

 

We did not add a line the previous day - we simply switched account responsibility from me to him to be able to take advantage of his military discount.  So, I was trying to add 1 additional line only for the watch.  Plus, they had to run a credit check for the switch (just one day prior).

 

I do understand now that the employee in the store was incorrect when stating that there was a charge to run the credit check; and he did not say at any point in time that it would be returned.  This was explained when I called AT&T directly.

 

Whether the payment history is his or mine, every single phone number in the plan has been the same for 20+ years and they absolutely have the ability to see the payment history.  They also see that my husband has been on the same account for that same amount of time and that our last names are the same; thus no change in how the bill will be paid. 

 

I think that we all need to call this what it really is - an opportunity for AT&T to sit on and make interest on millions of dollars for one year.  How many Apple 3 watches have been sold in the last month??  I, personally, would be happier paying a $25 activation fee than feeling that I am being extorted. 

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Well holy left out information Batman! The account is now considered brand new, new Account owner. Your credit and payment history doesn’t go with the account. 

lizdance - this information was NOT left out, if you had taken the time to read from the very beginning.  What you read was a portion of my response to garylapointe.  I completely understand that this is a "new" account, but a credit check run by AT&T just one day prior allowed him to transfer an account that is billed $350+ monthly to him; and that was immediate.  Now they feel that he is a risk to pay $10/month for an additional line?  Sorry, but this does not add up.

> I think that we all need to call this what it really is - an opportunity for AT&T to sit on and make interest on millions of dollars for one year. 

It's pretty obvious this is what this is. 

@RobertaG

Adding a new line to a brand new new Account throws up a red flag in the automated system.  

Doesnt mean ATT isn’t ridiculous, but it might be why.

@RobertaG wrote:
We did not add a line the previous day - we simply switched account responsibility from me to him to be able to take advantage of his military discount.  So, I was trying to add 1 additional line only for the watch.  Plus, they had to run a credit check for the switch (just one day prior).

Yes, you added a line to his account. That's not your line any more, it's his NEW LINE. And it sounds like it's multiple lines.

For example, I was on someone else's plan and eventually did a ToBR to put it in my name. MY time with AT&T is now measured from when I got the new account, not when I started with AT&T.)

I completely understand that this is a "new" account, but a credit check run by AT&T just one day prior allowed him to transfer an account that is billed $350+ monthly to him; and that was immediate.  

$350!!!! That sounds like it's MULTIPLE lines (4 or 5?), I thought it was one line?? That's even more of a flag.

Now they feel that he is a risk to pay $10/month for an additional line?  Sorry, but this does not add up.

Do you think that "they" is a person looking this up? It's probably a computer. The computer sees a ToBR for a new account and another line is being added, then the computer likely does some calculations, adds up the total of the points that they use for such things (and maybe dings a few points for suspicious activity for adding a new line a day later) and you've crossed their threshold for a deposit.

THE POINT IS, you're acting like you only added one line and that's not the case.  You added $350 to his name and then another $10.

I feel like you're saying "I qualify for a $30,000 loan, why don't I qualify for a $30,033 loan, it's only $33 more?" That's because your limit is $30,025, it's very likely just some some number that the computer determined a limit, it's not that they're being mean about $33.  Now, to make the sale a salesperson is likely to get that overridden (or drop to price $8 to make the sale).

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@RobertaG wrote:

One more thing - when speaking with the AT&T rep yesterday (not the store), she informed me that after the credit check and if it was approved, there would still be a $150 deposit required.  Unless, she was incorrect, the credit report has nothing to do with whether or not a deposit is required. 

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I think there is some terminology issues here.  I can't say for you, but a credit check (whenever I've done it) is not PASS/FAIL. It's a score and information.  That's IF you're talking a credit check with the credit bureaus, you don't "fail" a credit check (unless you gave the wrong name or SS). 

Your score combined and details combined with the number of lines/devices on your plan might be used to determine if AT&T wants to require a deposit after a certain number of lines or devices.

I'm sure this is also based on the time of an account and showing you can make payments. FOR YOUR husband, only one day has gone by since you added $350 a MONTH to your husbands account and there is no recent payment history on that account for that amount.  (It doesn't matter that you've had those lines for 20 years, he has not)

> Adding a new line to a brand new new Account throws up a red flag in the automated system.  

It may actually be "Activating an Apple Watch to an existing account" throws up "Get $150 from them!" in the automated system.  

Which is yes ridiculous and very unfair.

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@AtWrlesFAN wrote:

 

 

Which is yes ridiculous and very unfair.

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No one said a company's policies have to be sane or fair.