Contract for a minor (maybe co-sign?)

[seabass2781]

Hi everyone - got a question (I'll start with some background):

My sister-in-law is coming to the U.S. to attend college. She's a U.S. citizen but has been living overseas for the last 6 years or so. We plan on signing her up for T-Mobile service... only problem is, she's 17, has no credit cards (or driver's license), and currently has no permanent U.S. address. So the credit check would be a long shot to say the least.

So... is there such a thing as a co-signer on a cell phone contract? I have no problem with doing that for her. And, to complicate things, we've kind of got our eye on an online third-party vendor that sells unlocked phones as an authorized T-Mobile dealer (so they offer subsidized pricing). I've spoken with a rep for that company who seems confused by my offer to essentially co-sign on the contract... just wondering if something like this is commonly done for minors.

Thanks!

[Bill Clinton]

You might be better off trying T-Mobile's pre-paid offerings. AT&T pre-paid might be better for coverage though.

Another option is get an unlocked quadband GSM phone and try both a pre-paid AT&T SIM and a pre-paid T-Mobile SIM. If you get a quadband phone off eBay or something she should have no problems using it overseas when she goes home.

[seabass2781]

Thanks.... Bill Clinton (?)

She's going to be using this as her primary phone out there, so we'd much rather have her on a monthly plan. Prepaid is not really an option.

Also, we're looking to get her an unlocked GSM phone... but it's that subsidized pricing we're looking for with that 2-year contract (which this particular vendor offers). But we're not really concerned about the phone working back home for her... she's coming from South Korea, so no dice on the GSM. Not a problem though, she's going to be a permanent resident in the U.S. from here on out anyway.

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by seabass2781

Thanks.... Bill Clinton (?)

She's going to be using this as her primary phone out there, so we'd much rather have her on a monthly plan. Prepaid is not really an option.

Also, we're looking to get her an unlocked GSM phone... but it's that subsidized pricing we're looking for with that 2-year contract (which this particular vendor offers). But we're not really concerned about the phone working back home for her... she's coming from South Korea, so no dice on the GSM. Not a problem though, she's going to be a permanent resident in the U.S. from here on out anyway.

Why not consider "Flexpay?" With Flexpay you can get any current plans offered. You pay monthly charges in advance. You can get both contract and non-contract plans.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by seabass2781

Thanks.... Bill Clinton (?)

She's going to be using this as her primary phone out there, so we'd much rather have her on a monthly plan. Prepaid is not really an option.

Also, we're looking to get her an unlocked GSM phone... but it's that subsidized pricing we're looking for with that 2-year contract (which this particular vendor offers). But we're not really concerned about the phone working back home for her... she's coming from South Korea, so no dice on the GSM. Not a problem though, she's going to be a permanent resident in the U.S. from here on out anyway.

Have you looked at AT&T's GO Phone Pick Your Plan? You get a plan and better pricing, but without a contract. You can pay for it with prepaid cards, or have an automatic charge to a credit or debit card.

-Jay

[TNDan21]

T-Mobile prepaid may not be bad as you think for her. They have a new $1 a day option on prepaid that offers Unlimited MTM calling and Unlimited calling from 7 pm to 7 am. If most of her calls will be at night and to other T-Mobile customers the $1 a day prepaid option may work fine for her.

[YourDream84]

You could also consider just getting the phone in your name, or adding a line to a contract you already have that's existing, and just letting her pay the bill.

My grandmother couldn't get a phone in her name because she is from the older generation where the men took care of everything, so she's never had to establish any credit. I just added her to my plan and she pays me every month, works fine for her, and myself.

~*Ash*~

[tmobileman]

There currently is not a process in place to co-sign for a minor or anybody for that matter. The only way she could get it in her name is if she is an emancipated minor, but then she has to go through tmobile directly to start service in her name as third party vendors do not allow this. I like the user's suggestion to try prepaid except the att part of his suggestion. My personal suggestion would be if you are sure you want her to have a contract to get the subsidized pricing on a handset, is to put the acct in your name and list her as an authorized user that way she can manage the acct for herself by either calling in or through her mytmobile site. then when she turns 18, you may be able to do a Change of Responsibilty releasing you from the acct with no etf and then she assumes the rest of the contract providing she qualifies for an annual contract credit class, most people 18 that haven't done anything to damage their credit will qualify.

[seabass2781]

Hey everyone, thanks for the responses.

It's too bad the co-signing idea won't work. tmobileman, your suggestion about adding her as an authorized user to my account is an interesting one - but I'm already a T-Mobile customer so that would probably preclude her from getting any subsidized pricing. And I'd rather not touch my own account anyway... I've been going month-to-month since my contract expired 4 or 5 years ago. I haven't renewed because I don't want to lose my grandfathered $2.99 add-on (300 text, 30 mms, unlimited data). But her parents may be able to do what you're suggesting.

The whole "Flexpay" thing is a new concept to me, I'll have to look that up. If it really is the same monthly plans/pricing, without a contract... that could be something. I don't think the traditional prepaid is a consideration, even with T-Mobile's new pricing scheme. I'm sure she'll be calling more than just T-Mobile customers during the day.

[tmobileman]

Originally Posted by seabass2781

Hey everyone, thanks for the responses.

It's too bad the co-signing idea won't work. tmobileman, your suggestion about adding her as an authorized user to my account is an interesting one - but I'm already a T-Mobile customer so that would probably preclude her from getting any subsidized pricing. And I'd rather not touch my own account anyway... I've been going month-to-month since my contract expired 4 or 5 years ago. I haven't renewed because I don't want to lose my grandfathered $2.99 add-on (300 text, 30 mms, unlimited data). But her parents may be able to do what you're suggesting.

The whole "Flexpay" thing is a new concept to me, I'll have to look that up. If it really is the same monthly plans/pricing, without a contract... that could be something. I don't think the traditional prepaid is a consideration, even with T-Mobile's new pricing scheme. I'm sure she'll be calling more than just T-Mobile customers during the day.

FYI you won't lose your stuff unless you change your plan, you can renew for phones if you want at anytime.
I wasn't saying adding her to your existing acct, if you're on a family plan you would want to start a new acct for her in your name and add her as an authorized user, (i.e. seperate acct from yours) have her own plan that way much easier for billing purposes, also that way if she happens to pay late and gets suspended, doesn't affect your grandfathered plans that you have. Also even if you added her to your acct, she would qualifiy for any new customer deal on the market, whether you add through tmobile direct or third party. I know third party gives better deal on high end phones, but remember you're signing two contracts one with them and one with tmobile.
Call Tmobile ask them if you qualify to add a line, if you do then you can start a seperate acct for her if you have a family plan, if you have a couple individual plans she will have to be added to your existing acct, but with her own plan.
Flex Pay is great there are two options one with contract one without, with the contract you get subsidy on phone, without you pay full cost for the phone both you have same plans as regular postpaid customers, and yes you do pay in advance, if you're going to do flex pay with a contract, might as well do the post paid contract and save your self some up front start up costs.

[seabass2781]

Thanks again tmobileman...

Didn't know I could just add a line to my account (without affecting my already existing plans). So I've gone ahead and done that; we ordered the Samsung Blast for her. Decided that would be a better choice than a high-end unlocked phone anyway, since we're not sure she'll take good care of it at this point.

As far as keeping my grandfathered "unlimited t-zones" add-on for renewing my contract - I actually would have to change my plan by default if I renew my contract (at least, this is what I've been told by more than a few T-Mobile reps); the reason being that I'm on a family plan that no longer exists. So I'd have to switch to a current family plan when I renew and then would lose the $2.99 t-zones. Not a big deal though, I'm fine with staying month-to-month and using unlocked phones (especially since the wife likes using phones that are unique to the U.S.).

Appreciate the help; if I could figure out how to "thank" you through the forum I would do it...

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by seabass2781

Thanks again tmobileman...

Didn't know I could just add a line to my account (without affecting my already existing plans). So I've gone ahead and done that; we ordered the Samsung Blast for her. Decided that would be a better choice than a high-end unlocked phone anyway, since we're not sure she'll take good care of it at this point.

As far as keeping my grandfathered "unlimited t-zones" add-on for renewing my contract - I actually would have to change my plan by default if I renew my contract (at least, this is what I've been told by more than a few T-Mobile reps); the reason being that I'm on a family plan that no longer exists. So I'd have to switch to a current family plan when I renew and then would lose the $2.99 t-zones. Not a big deal though, I'm fine with staying month-to-month and using unlocked phones (especially since the wife likes using phones that are unique to the U.S.).

Appreciate the help; if I could figure out how to "thank" you through the forum I would do it...

Just click on the Thanks button at the bottom right of the post you wish to thank him for.

-Jay

[seabass2781]

Really? The only buttons I see down there are Quote, Multi-Quote, and Quick Reply... I must be missing something here...

[treotosh]

Way to Go T-mobile Man!!!

[Barciurek]

T-Mobile prepaid is much better than you think.. if you get a pay per use and add $100 you get 10 cents a minute.. what's wrong with that?
and you get all of the coverage plus roaming.. better than ATT prepaid that doesnt offer as much roaming.

[tmobileman]

Your welcome, I am still confused though on the grandfathered features question, example, you could log into your mytmobile acct and upgrade your phone and do a two year contract, your not changing your plan or features so those stay the same, I renew people everyday that have plans we don't offer anymore, if you change those specifically you can't get them back. But if you're cool being month to month all the better. If more than one rep told you this I hate to say it but more than one rep was wrong. But again you're welcome, remember when she turns 18 she can then take the line over in her own name. process is called a change of responsibilty

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Barciurek

T-Mobile prepaid is much better than you think.. if you get a pay per use and add $100 you get 10 cents a minute.. what's wrong with that?
and you get all of the coverage plus roaming.. better than ATT prepaid that doesnt offer as much roaming.

AT&T does not offer as much roaming, because their network is so much larger than TMO that it isn't needed as much. Things may be different in other areas of the country but here on the east coast I have never run into an instance where AT&T had no service, but TMO did.

[Barciurek]

If you compare T-Mobile prepaid map and ATT prepaid map then you can see a huge difference.
That's true it's not as noticable on east coast...
but ATT does not allow prepaid to roam like it does post paid.