Steinblogger

Over 25 hours since I got my iPhone (update: 38 hours), and it still hasn’t been activated. Not sure it can help anyone, but here are all the numbers I collected. I hope you have better luck. I was told I just have to wait.

This shouldn’t be a surprise, I suppose. No cell operator is celebrated for customer service, and in my case I’m having to deal with two – AT&T and Sprint. Sprint, of course, has no incentive to make this process easy. Toyota regularly sends engineers to help their partners streamline operations, which gets them their car parts cheaper and faster. Maybe Apple needs to send in some customer support people.

Notice in my list there are six AT&T numbers, but only one Apple number.The list, in the order I dialed…

AT&T Customer Service
1-877-419-4500 – the number I called first, got right through gave me the port request number (the 866 down the list a bit)

AT&T Activation Status number (need activation order number)
877-800-3701 – the iPhone Activation Helpline. I waited 20 minutes, but they couldn’t help me since I haven’t been assigned an account yet. They gave me a number and told me to call myself instead of forwarding me…

Cellular Customer Service
800-331-0500 – AT&T Customer Care. Frigging only open Monday-Friday.

Port Request
866-895-1097 – Phone number to call about the status of the port request — tried this out, they couldn’t find my number, so I got sent to an operator. That operator said they couldn’t look me up.

Another AT&T number
877-777-4189 Another AT&T number even though it was called an “Apple support number.” My call was answered right away. The operator gave me another “port and activation” number, but also tried it herself and said it was “in process,” but that I could talk to an operator there if I want.

Port and activations line
888-898-7685 – I asked if there was something holding it up that I could help with. They also had trouble finding me and my account. Said there should be a pre-approval number on the receipt. No luck — maybe you get one when you buy at AT&T rather than an Apple Store. Third time I had to give my social security number! Ugh. She couldn’t help, so she’s sending me to an Apple support group.

Apple support group
800-694-7466 – Told me there was nothing to do but wait. At least this guy sounded confident.

Yes, I my wife and I took the iPhone plunge yesterday afternoon. We’re moving from a Sprint family plan, so we’re among those that are waiting to have their iPhones activated. They look sweet, but it’s annoying there is a delay this long (I registered at 6pm last night!). In the meantime, you can’t use the iPhone’s non-phone functionality (wifi, email, etc.); you have to wait for activation. For shame.