Does AT&T require a security deposit?

I just turned 18 and want to moved from my family's plan to my own. I want to get the iPhone 5. I have the iPhone 3GS currently. I do not own a credit card, therefore I have NO credit. Will I have to pay a deposit, even though my family has been valued customers for years?

AT&T is the biggest fraud in telephone industry. Don't expect any considerations from them. Just my experience.

AT&T Wireless has the strictest credit guidelines in the industry. More than likely, you'll have to pay a deposit. The only way around that, is to activate a line under whoever in your family currently has AT&T service. Since they have been a good customer for years, they most likely wouldn't charge them a deposit. Another option you might want to try is going to Verizon. They only require a deposit if you have bad credit or have had a delinquent account with them in the past.

Your entire family are not "valued customers", the primary account holder on your plan is a valued customer with multiple lines on the plan- the responsibility for paying the bill comes down to the single person who owns the account- that's why they have to approve any additions to the family plan.

You are getting your own line, so you are standing on your own credit history (or lack thereof). With no history, you'll have to pay a deposit, because AT&T (and other businesses) don't know whether you pay your bills; you've never been the sole/primary person responsible for a debt.

So, you'll definitely have a security deposit, no matter which provider you go with, if you're trying to get a phone on contract. You can get a phone under the family plan and pay then for any services you want, or buy a phone and use prepaid service (more expensive than contract prices, because you're not paying back part of phone cost per month, but less expensive than security deposit).

If you're going to college, apply for a student credit card to build credit, try for a local store credit card, or have your parents make you an authorized user on a new or existing account of theirs. Make responsible payments and you'll develop a credit history, and then you won't have to worry about security deposits in the future.