used phone, new Cingular service?

I want to buy a used phone to avoid a huge deposit on Cingular's
service plan. Is this possible? I have not had their service before,
but due to my credit (or lack thereof) they want to charge me a big
"wireless equipment deposit." Am I correct in thinking that if I buy a
used phone that has been with Cingular, that they can activate it for
my new account? And if they can, will they? Has anyone tried this
particular work-around, and what was the result?

I don't mind paying some sort of activation fee (which would be waived
if "buying" a new phone) but I just want to avoid the big hurt of a
several-hundred-dollar deposit.

<mikeniles@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1120522073.920330.105490@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> I want to buy a used phone to avoid a huge deposit on Cingular's
> service plan. Is this possible? I have not had their service before,
> but due to my credit (or lack thereof) they want to charge me a big
> "wireless equipment deposit." Am I correct in thinking that if I buy a
> used phone that has been with Cingular, that they can activate it for
> my new account? And if they can, will they? Has anyone tried this
> particular work-around, and what was the result?
>
> I don't mind paying some sort of activation fee (which would be waived
> if "buying" a new phone) but I just want to avoid the big hurt of a
> several-hundred-dollar deposit.
>
No, the deposit is to cover any bill you do not pay not just the phone
subsidy. Cingular and dealers often have misleading descriptions for
charges, my favorite is "REGULATORY COST RECOVERY FEE ".

Bummer, well, thanks for the info anyway. :-/