Buying a cellphone online

January 4, 2006 8:04 AM

I'm a first-time cellphone buyer and I currently live in a state other than the one where I have a driver's license. Will this affect the area code of my cellphone number? (Keep in mind that I know little or nothing about cellphones.)

So I've decided to finally enter the 21st century and purchase a cellphone. I'm buying (or attempting to buy) one through Amazon.com, and before the checkout Amazon displays the following message:

Wireless service providers will perform a routine credit check which requires your social security number and driver's license before approving service.

I don't care about the credit check--however, I live in New Jersey, but have a Florida driver's license. When I did some in-store research last night, the salesman I spoke to implied that if I bought a phone in the store, then the area code for the cellphone would be tied to the address of my driver's license (area code 813), unless I gave him a utility bill with my New Jersey address on it (area code 609). I'd like my cellphone to have a New Jersey area code, so that people with land lines in my immediate neighborhood can call me without incurring long distance charges (since I'll be ditching my land line altogether).

So, if ordering a phone with a plan online (which is a lot cheaper), does this abovementioned rule also apply? Or is there some sort of later phase in the cellphone purchasing process during which its phone number is determined? Bonus: is this some kind of homeland security issue that I don't get?

posted by Prospero to Technology (15 answers total)

I was able to get a cell phone with a Virginia area code when I was living in Virginia but still had a Massachusetts driver's license. So it's definitely possible.

It's not a homeland security issue. It's just the company trying to make sure it knows where you live so you don't skip out on the bill, basically. If you can prove you live in New Jersey, which is as easy as showing a bill (as the salesman suggested) or a pay stub or somesuch with your address, I can't imagine why the company would care where your driver's license is from.
posted by cerebus19 at 8:23 AM on January 4, 2006

You can generally request a phone number from any available area code.
posted by blue mustard at 8:25 AM on January 4, 2006

Have you tried printing out the information and taking it to a store. A lot of cell phone stores (particularly independent ones) have a good deal of flexibility in pricing, and will match a better deal offered elsewhere.
posted by Kellydamnit at 8:26 AM on January 4, 2006

Incidentally, most states require you to change your driver's license and car registration to them within a certain period of time after moving there. You may be violating the law (though I'd guess it's rarely prosecuted) by maintaining your license in a state other than the one you're actually living in.
posted by cerebus19 at 8:27 AM on January 4, 2006

I don't see any reason why your billing address, let alone your driver's licence, would need to be in the same city as the area code you want. As long as they know how to get your money, they should be happy.
posted by Robot Johnny at 8:28 AM on January 4, 2006

I have a Texas driver's license and got a New York City area code for my cell. It was not a problem at all.
posted by unknowncommand at 8:38 AM on January 4, 2006

The cell company doesn care as long as they can collect the check. My uncle has two cells, one 250 (BC) and one 204 (MB) so that his business can pick up the cost of long distance for inbound calls.
posted by Mitheral at 8:50 AM on January 4, 2006

I was able to get a cellphone in the US from Verizon with a Canadian drivers license. I was able to pick whatever area code I wanted. They just need some sort of proof of residence and valid picture ID.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:57 AM on January 4, 2006

I lived in NC and had a Georgia Driver's License. Sprint gave me an NC telephone number with no problem. Just explain why the discrepancy if they ask -- at the time I was a student and wanted a number local to my college, maybe you're in the same boat, or maybe you've just not gotten your driver's license/ID changed yet.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:36 AM on January 4, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers.

The thing that I'm deducing from them (remember, I don't know much about cellphones, and people point at me and make fun of my Luddite ways) is that the cellphone's number isn't irreversibly determined immediately after I place the order for the phone with its plan, or after the credit check. There is a moment after I receive the phone in hand when I'll have to get the phone set up, at which point I can choose what area code it'll be in.
posted by Prospero at 9:44 AM on January 4, 2006

Prospero: that sounds about right. I also know that some carriers are very liberal with letting you change your number to a different area code anyway. T-Mobile said I could do this anytime I wanted for free by contacting their customer service.
posted by reverendX at 1:30 PM on January 4, 2006

Why buy a cell phone on Amazon? (I've never heard of this route.)

I'm thrilled with Verizon.

I have never had the state of my driver's license be an issue in getting phone number from the state where I buy the cell phone.
posted by Amizu at 2:02 PM on January 4, 2006

Amizu: Amazon usually gives very good deals because they rebate a large chunk of their commission back to the buyer in many cases.
posted by reverendX at 2:24 PM on January 4, 2006

Response by poster: @Amizu--I'm spending $100 on a cellphone with a list price of $350, and Amazon is giving me a $150 rebate for signing up for a one-year plan with Verizon. So I'll be $50 in the black (though I won't get the rebate check for 180 days).

@reverendX--thanks for clarifying.
posted by Prospero at 4:04 PM on January 4, 2006

Response by poster: Update: Verizon game me a 609 area code without me even bothering to ask.
posted by Prospero at 6:34 AM on January 6, 2006