Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Coffee50

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 23, 2015
888
496
Just wanted to hear from those who received an Apple Card at launch (or even shortly thereafter) on what their current thoughts or reviews are. We often hear when someone has a specific issue, but curious about who’ve had the card since launch.

After months of being a cardholder & after the novelty has worn off, what are you thoughts or how often do you use it? Any (general) thoughts? Thanks
 
  • Like
Reactions: tranceking26
Goldman Sachs customer service sucks.

I had to deal with them one month in to pay my card balance manually over the phone. This required me to recite my checking account institution's routing number and account number verbally after completing about 20 minutes of hold time plus 20 minutes getting bounced around from one customer service group to another and another 10+ minutes of questioning.

I've had credit cards (and charge cards) from a variety of issuers for nearly three decades and I have NEVER had to contact a card issuer to pay. This was a complete insult.

I have not used my Apple Card since this snafu (early September) nor do I expect using it the foreseeable future.

Apple took a gamble by choosing a partner who had basically zero experience in consumer finance. Big mistake.

Trust is earned. Two transactions -- both below $10 -- and Goldman Sachs lost my confidence in less than three weeks. They fumbled the ball and right now they COULDN'T PAY ME to use their infernal card (which doesn't really have great benefits compared to the other ones I have).

I have six figures in combined consumer credit from other card issuers, I don't need Apple Card. Today, it is a dormant line item on my credit report.

So Goldman Sachs and I are at a stalemate. New customer acquisition costs for Apple Card purportedly range around $250. My 1+ hr. navigating their telephone support probably cost them over a hundred bucks. The way it currently stands, GS will take a loss having me as a cardholder, even as a dormant user.

If Goldman Sachs cancels my Apple Card, they would be on the hook for mailing me a check for twenty cents of cash back rewards (I never tried to link up accounts), an administrative action that would probably cost them twenty dollars.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing your experience. I was curious back when the card launched, and never applied, just started considering the card again!
 
I haven’t had any problems so far. The points/cash back program is far from the best but I do use mine for most daily purchases and I try to use Apple Pay more to get the extra points. For me the biggest benefit is the “immediate” cash back instead of points.
 
  • Like
Reactions: prss14 and Coffee50
Goldman Sachs customer service sucks.

[...]

Have you let someone at Apple know about your issues?

I have mixed feelings about the Apple Card. I, personally, have had no issues, but stories like yours (and there are many) give me pause.

If Apple sees there are enough issues with Goldman-Sachs, it's conceivable they could change the card handling to a diferent bank. My LL Bean Visa card, for example, was moved by LL Bean from BofA to Barclay to Citi over the years.
 
Have you let someone at Apple know about your issues?

I have mixed feelings about the Apple Card. I, personally, have had no issues, but stories like yours (and there are many) give me pause.

If Apple sees there are enough issues with Goldman-Sachs, it's conceivable they could change the card handling to a diferent bank. My LL Bean Visa card, for example, was moved by LL Bean from BofA to Barclay to Citi over the years.

My understanding is that Apple went with Goldman Sachs because they were the only company willing to go with Apple’s demands. Just as GS was willing to accommodate Apple because they were new to the credit card market and saw the partnership with Apple as a quick way of getting a foothold in what was already a hypercompetitive market.

So Apple might not have had much choice in that matter either.
 
Goldman Sachs customer service sucks.

I had to deal with them one month in to pay my card balance manually over the phone. This required me to recite my checking account institution's routing number and account number verbally after completing about 20 minutes of hold time plus 20 minutes getting bounced around from one customer service group to another and another 10+ minutes of questioning.

I've had credit cards (and charge cards) from a variety of issuers for nearly three decades and I have NEVER had to contact a card issuer to pay. This was a complete insult.

I have not used my Apple Card since this snafu (early September) nor do I expect using it the foreseeable future.

Apple took a gamble by choosing a partner who had basically zero experience in consumer finance. Big mistake.

Trust is earned. Two transactions -- both below $10 -- and Goldman Sachs lost my confidence in less than three weeks. They fumbled the ball and right now they COULDN'T PAY ME to use their infernal card (which doesn't really have great benefits compared to the other ones I have).

I have six figures in combined consumer credit from other card issuers, I don't need Apple Card. Today, it is a dormant line item on my credit report.

So Goldman Sachs and I are at a stalemate. New customer acquisition costs for Apple Card purportedly range around $250. My 1+ hr. navigating their telephone support probably cost them over a hundred bucks. The way it currently stands, GS will take a loss having me as a cardholder, even as a dormant user.

If Goldman Sachs cancels my Apple Card, they would be on the hook for mailing me a check for twenty cents of cash back rewards (I never tried to link up accounts), an administrative action that would probably cost them twenty dollars.
If it weren't such a hassle to pay or you don't mind the wait time, keep using it and paying in full, and call about anything and everything to keep making them pay without any cost to you other than time.
 
I found a flaw that would allow you (within reason) to never actually pay your bill. (with no finance charges).
 
My biggest gripe is that the account cannot be shared within a family. My wife and I share a credit card for all household expenses. In this way, we can keep track how much we spend and on what. The Apple Card can only be mated to one iPhone/Apple Pay account. In order for my wife to be able to use Apple Pay, she either has to use a different card or has to get her own Apple card.

Stupid.
 
  • Like
Reactions: compwiz1202
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.