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Apple / Citizens Trade-In Program

TechieTaco

TechieTaco

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 20, 2023
43
156
Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't see any threads with this particular question, please move if needed.

Last year I went through the trade in program for the first time. I traded in my iPhone 14 Pro Max for my current 16 Pro Max. During that upgrade I switched to the Apple Financing program so I could pay a monthly payment to Apple directly for the iPhone itself and a separate payment to T-Mobile just for the network.

They told me this was the program to be on so I could upgrade every year. Now that it's time to upgrade, I want to make sure I'm going through the right channels.

My assumption is I just pre-order on Apple's website like I did last year, and choose the Trade-In option and select Apple Financing, then when I get the new phone everything will switch over - both T-Mobile and Citizens plans?

What I'm worried about is that I would be signing up for a NEW Citizens plan while still having to pay the old one.

I've made 10 payments so far (got the phone on launch day last year) and the next payment is due on 09/20. So that payment should be for the next phone, correct?
 
Something doesn't sound right.

First, you cannot trade in an old phone when joining the iPhone Upgrade Program. So, if you traded in your 14PM, then you are not part of the iPhone Upgrade Program but maybe instead have Citizen financing.

Second, if you are part of the iUP, you can upgrade after 12 payments have been made. If you are at 10, then you are not eligible for an upgrade yet.

Third, if you are part of the iUP, when you go to pre-order you will select you are already enrolled and it will walk you through the process of upgrading. If you purchase for in-store pickup, you will trade in your current phone right then and there and the balance/loan will be forgiven and a new loan will be taken out. If you select delivery, you will receive a trade in box shortly after received your new device and you send in the old one. Once received, they close out the associated loan.

www.apple.com

iPhone Upgrade Program

Get a new iPhone every year, and the protection of AppleCare+ with the iPhone Upgrade Program. Buy now or visit an Apple Store today.
www.apple.com

I would go here and confirm eligibility. You should get the below prompt.

1757452913001.png
 
What are you talking about? Citizens Bank is the bank that does IUP.

OP, they will send an email about getting ready to pre-order. They run a soft credit check then you choose your product and put it in your cart. Then on Friday you log in and order.
 
jbachandouris said:
What are you talking about? Citizens Bank is the bank that does IUP.

OP, they will send an email about getting ready to pre-order. They run a soft credit check then you choose your product and put it in your cart. Then on Friday you log in and order.
Click to expand...
I think OP is confusing Apple Financing and iUP. Apple does offer financing through Citizen for 24 months if not upgrading yearly. Given that he traded something in last year to get the 16PM, that tells me he is not on the iUP but instead just had regular financing.

Assuming this is actually what happened, OP, I believe you will have to pay off the current phone before being able to trade it in for credit towards the new device. Apple financing does not have a trade in/upgrade component like the iUP. Its meant to be a 24-month pay to own plan.

1757453701768.png
 
FYI, it's having me fill out the entire IUP form again as if I am new. (I have been on the IUP program for 4+ years)

its giving me a bit of a pause in case they are having system issues at the moment lol

Also, when I go to the normal section (Account then click on iPhone upgrade program tab) it says "the Phone you saved have been deleted"
 
STOCK411 said:
FYI, it's having me fill out the entire IUP form again as if I am new. (I have been on the IUP program for 4+ years)

its giving me a bit of a pause in case they are having system issues at the moment lol

Also, when I go to the normal section (Account then click on iPhone upgrade program tab) it says "the Phone you saved have been deleted"
Click to expand...
I went through the "pre-approval" process like past years no problem. Got the email confirming I am ready to check out on 9.12.

1757455302909.png


Phone is saved in my Account info:

1757455381584.png
 
Mlrollin91 said:
I think OP is confusing Apple Financing and iUP. Apple does offer financing through Citizen for 24 months if not upgrading yearly. Given that he traded something in last year to get the 16PM, that tells me he is not on the iUP but instead just had regular financing.

Assuming this is actually what happened, OP, I believe you will have to pay off the current phone before being able to trade it in for credit towards the new device. Apple financing does not have a trade in/upgrade component like the iUP. Its meant to be a 24-month pay to own plan.

View attachment 2545422
Click to expand...
The IUP uses Citizens One and can be upgraded after making 12 payments - half of the agreement.
 
Mlrollin91 said:
I went through the "pre-approval" process like past years no problem. Got the email confirming I am ready to check out on 9.12.

View attachment 2545450

Phone is saved in my Account info:

View attachment 2545452
Click to expand...
Like the poster above, did you have to fill in everything as if it was a brand new loan? I am getting same thing and it seems odd that it’s requiring my name/address/email among other stuff.
 
mtulman1 said:
Like the poster above, did you have to fill in everything as if it was a brand new loan? I am getting same thing and it seems odd that it’s requiring my name/address/email among other stuff.
Click to expand...
I mean it technically is a new loan. This current loan will be closed out upon receiving your new device.

Required information:
Social; income; monthly housing payment; billing address and credit card. I've been on the iUP since the iPhone 6s (first year), the info needed has always been the same.
 
Reporting back after visiting the local Apple Store. Luckily I ran into a friend that works there now and he was able to walk me through everything.

@Mlrollin91 You're absolutely correct- I mistakenly signed up for the regular financing when I purchased my current 16PM.

My friend at the store said the best thing to do would be to sign up for the iUP now without a trade in, preorder the new phone, then on launch day explain that I'd like to do a trade in. This would essentially put me on the correct program, then give me a credit back of $700 that I would apply to my original loan.

Only one question remaining (and I believe I know the answer to this). I just checked my Citizens account and it says I have two amounts- current balance and full loan amount. I'm assuming the current balance amount is how much would be due if I wanted to be eligible for an upgrade for another two years, and the full loan amount is how much I'll need to pay off entirely because the new iUP program will be separate, correct?
 
TechieTaco said:
Reporting back after visiting the local Apple Store. Luckily I ran into a friend that works there now and he was able to walk me through everything.

@Mlrollin91 You're absolutely correct- I mistakenly signed up for the regular financing when I purchased my current 16PM.

My friend at the store said the best thing to do would be to sign up for the iUP now without a trade in, preorder the new phone, then on launch day explain that I'd like to do a trade in. This would essentially put me on the correct program, then give me a credit back of $700 that I would apply to my original loan.

Only one question remaining (and I believe I know the answer to this). I just checked my Citizens account and it says I have two amounts- current balance and full loan amount. I'm assuming the current balance amount is how much would be due if I wanted to be eligible for an upgrade for another two years, and the full loan amount is how much I'll need to pay off entirely because the new iUP program will be separate, correct?
Click to expand...
Yes. The iUP will be separate. You’ll open a new loan for the iUP. And each year going forward every time you trade in for a new upgrade, you’ll open a new loan for that new device. The balance of the old loan is forgiven once you return the old phone after upgrading.
 
Apple financing and iPhone upgrade are two different things.
If you used Citizens One, you are in the iPhone upgrade. Citizens one will make sure you pay 12 payments , then you start over for the new phone (ie. if you ordered the phone last year later, you may have a catch up payment).

But if you did it same time, you would probably be event.

You do NOT choose 'trade-in'. Either use the link you probably have in your email to upgrade, or from the Apple site, buy new phone, don't choose Trade-In from the apple site and then the next prompt or two will ask if you are in iPhone Upgrade and you'll go thru the Citizen's re-application from there.
 
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