Cannot get cellular data account to complete

[geo]

I have tried since yesterday when my iPads arrived to register with AT&T using the sign up screen provided. I always get the same message asking me to validate my address. I have contacted AT&T and Apple Tech and was finally told by the Apple Tech to take it to the nearest AT&T store and maybe they could get it to complete. I took the 30 mile trip to the nearest store and the guy there went through the signup process only to get the same message. He called me a while ago and said he spoke to Apple and that I should call them back again. Thank goodness I have wi-fi in my home or I would have been totally unable to use my iPad.

Anyone else with this problem?

 

[cherhall]

Mine worked first try , though I did have to choose an address that is slightly different than my true address, but it was just a popup window asking about the difference. I'm used to this, as I think 911 records have my address listed wrong so it happens a lot. After that though it signed me right up. Good thing! I have no broadband where I live so I'd have no Internet on my iPad without it!

 

[nzahr]

no problems here either....it went through quickly the first try.....sorry you are having issues

 

[Sincere11105]

Sorry for he issues. I feel for u. Try going to apple and exchanging it. Others haven't had problems.. I have a wifi only verision and im going to try and get the 4g miff from sprint. Once 4g is available in ny

 

[figmo10]

More than a couple of users have reported that the 3G signup just wasn't working and there's no fix a technician can apply. Seems that it has to do with the credit card authentication process...one stumbling block occurs if the address input isn't recongnized by AT&T, or is different from the info on file with the card issuer. AT&T will have to apply a fix to thier servers, it seems.

That would SO bum me. Hope you get it resolved.

 

[figmo10]

Here's something that I found on the Apple discussion forum pages:


History:

I received my iPad 3G on Friday, 4/30/2010.
Worked great, love it!! Then I tried to activate
The AT&T 3G account. Wouldn’t accept my credit
Card apparently because of the mailing address.
I live in a small town with no mail delivery. So
Apparently my street address is not in the USPS database.

Apple suggested a work-around
Getting a pre-paid Visa card and using that to
Activate the AT&T account. Since it’s pre-paid,
AT&T doesn’t care about the address matching. Then
In the AT&T activation process I can enter any valid
Street address that’s in an AT&T coverage area.

I did this, using my son’s address, and it worked!!
From there I just selected my data
Plan and off it went, activating my account.

Next, using the iPad, I accessed my AT&T account and
Changed my billing info (credit card and address) to
The one I’d been trying to use all along. It took it!!
All is well.

 

[iVan]

Having waited an extra month for 3G and it's not working? That stinks!

 

[geo]

I might try the prepaid Visa or MC. I also have read that AT&T will not authorize if you are not in 3G area.

As for the iPad...I love it. Using the WiFi here at home it is just an amazing little machine. I would like to be able to take it with me....so AT&T and I will go at it again tomorrow.

 

[Madjojo]

I received my 3G Friday and immediately setup AT&T for the unlimited; since then I have not been able to access 3G service. I called AT&T today and they informed me that they have no service in my area. I asked how I got setup and saw the AT&T service and they said I must have been getting connected through another carrier that 'piggybacked' to them. Anyway they now say I have no coverage but they have my $29.99. I asked how to cancel, they told me to go into my account, which won't let me access because I have no coverage; so then they told me I must call Apple. I called Apple and they told me that I had to get any issues with AT&T worked out with AT&T. Bottom line I paid extra, waited the extra time, and signed up for service to be told later that they don't have service in this area. I love the IPad but the 3G stinks!

 

[geo]

Update. Thanks to the article that figmo10 made available I finally got my AT&T service started. Granted it is not very fast out here in the woods but it is there and now I feel like my iPad is finally complete. I did just what the article suggested...went to Walmart and got a Visa Debit Gift card...got it registered...and then used my Mom's address (where there is full-time 3G) and it went through.

Thank you figmo10 for your help with this. Just made my day.

 

[cherhall]

I don't have 3G coverage where I live, heck I don't even have broadband at all where I live, and AT&T activation went right through first try. Have used 600+ Meg on Edge already!

 

[SWdp]

Perhaps at&t should make their 3g network larger...

Even Sprints is bigger now!

 

[chiffchaff]

Update. Thanks to the article that figmo10 made available I finally got my AT&T service started. Granted it is not very fast out here in the woods but it is there and now I feel like my iPad is finally complete. I did just what the article suggested...went to Walmart and got a Visa Debit Gift card...got it registered...and then used my Mom's address (where there is full-time 3G) and it went through.

Thank you figmo10 for your help with this. Just made my day.

I was having the same issue - the iPad account set-up would not accept my address because (as AT&T explained to me) the area I'm in is not served by AT&T. Funny thing is I DO have an iphone that's charged to the same VISA account, I just had to get an out of town number for it. Local AT&T service is provided through a partner agreement with local cell companies and works fine.

The work-around that was suggested by AT&T was to enter a street address from someplace where AT&T does provide direct service but that didn't work since the address had to match my credit card billing address. Getting a pre-paid card didn't occur to me until I saw figmo10's post. I am sooo happy now!

Off to get a pre-paid VISA and try this out.... thanks figmo10!

UPDATE: when I went in to sign up with my new prepaid card, I saw that they now have an option to enter a service address that's different than the billing address. So those of us with this issue can enter our normal credit card info and just use a different address (like a family member who lives in a city with actual 3G AT&T coverage) for the service address. Works great!

 

[figmo10]

Glad that I could pass along that info, geo and chiffchaff. Hope you both enjoy your iPad.