Many people had trouble activating their iPhones, but for the most part those issues were resolved fairly quickly (including my own). However, I received an email yesterday from someone who has a problem, and I’m not entirely sure where the fault lies or how it can be resolved. I’m reposting parts of the email with the writer’s permission:

Having a trip planned to the states within the week, I called AT&T multiple times, from multiple numbers, using multiple accents, and asked whether or not I’d be able to use an iPhone in Puerto Rico. The FOUR different AT&T people I spoke to assured me that it would work just fine.

I went to NYC, and purchased my 8GIG, from the Glass Bastion of Evil known as the Apple Store on 5th Ave. Then, I went to an AT&T Corporate store and purchased a brand new account, in the states, suited for the iPhone. The sales rep, convinced my mom to purchase a cheap backup phone, in case I visit a location where an expensive iPhone would not be ideal (this is something I do often). So we did, and he told me to wait three days before activating the iPhone. He knew we were the day after the purchase.

So, I waited three days (Saturday -> Today) and went to activate my iPhone and I recieved this message “We’re sorry, AT&T has determined that your current account cannot be used with the iPhone.”
W
T
F
I specifically purchased the iPhone plan, how could it not be used with the iPhone? I called them up, and the smarmy AT&T man informed me that the iPhone will not work in Puerto Rico.

THATS RIGHT! I was lied to, to my face, by four different AT&T reps and two people in the Apple Store. So, now I’m left with a really expensive paper weight, and a burning anger that’s telling me to do something.

My mind flashes through many possibilities, from account relocation (using an address of one of my family members in the states), to a lawsuit (though I don’t know anything about the law besides what I watch on Law and Order). I suppose I could keep my crappy phone and just upgrade it with some money that I’ll find from who knows where. But now I get to the crux of the email, what should I do?

A quick Google search for iPhone in Puerto Rico brings back some results showing that the iPhone doesn’t work there, which I expected anyway. So then why was he told by so many people that it would work? Were they misinformed? Was there a miscommunication? On top of that, I find it vaguely suspicious that the AT&T employee had him purchase a cheaper phone as well, as though he had a feeling it wouldn’t work.

Maybe a better question would be: How can he hack it to make it work?

UPDATE: The author emailed me this morning from his iPhone! He had it activated by using his uncle’s address in the States. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!

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