Apple Offers Disaster Relief Program for Apple Card Holders

[AbSoluTc]

sorry, but this feels slimy and just a tad predatory.

So they are offer no interest for 2 months and no payment for one month for some relief so you can use your funds elsewhere. How the hell is that predatory? Correct me if I’m wrong but they/you/we signed up for these cards. Nobody FORCED you. I’ve not heard of any other credit card company doing this (correct me if I’m wrong please). If you’re going to be an idiot and stack up debt, that’s on YOU. Not a body else.

Calm your tits man. It’s a nice, positive thing.

 

[iGeneo]

The difference that I can think of and it is a big one is this... When you are in a disaster area and you lose your home you are quite possibly never going to pay the mortgage again anyway. Apple offering this deal pays for a motel, or whatever you need in case you aren't moving back home

I lost my home two years ago in So.Cal... I am still paying a mortgage

 

[Gutwrench]

The difference that I can think of and it is a big one is this... When you are in a disaster area and you lose your home you are quite possibly never going to pay the mortgage again anyway. Apple offering this deal pays for a motel, or whatever you need in case you aren't moving back home

The borrower is still responsible for the mortgage. Again, good on Apple for joining what many other lenders do.
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I lost my home two years ago in So.Cal... I am still paying a mortgage

exactly. I’m sorry to hear that. Best wishes.

 

[ghanwani]

If you stand to benefit from two months of free interest in a time of disaster, you are in bad shape financially. This offer is just a way to make sure you get screwed by Apple/GS instead of some other bank.

 

[bbednarz]

Apple trying to get free advertising for the fact that it meets the minimum industry standards

Why is this being done by email, isn't the app supposed to be a secure and convenient way to manage your account? Didn't they rethink everything about credit cards after all?

I'm 100% convinced you're just trolling at this point. You are awfully dedicated to the craft I must say.

 

[jonblatho]

Then the article shouldn’t use language like “appears” or “according to the email”.

I get plenty of emails purporting to be from Apple explaining that there has been suspicious activity on my iCloud account and asking me to sign in and confirm my identity, none of which are real. I get that MR isn’t a newspaper, but they could still reach out to the company for confirmation and comment...

When I last emailed a tip (unrelated to Apple Card) they asked to see the headers so that they could verify the email was legitimate (it was).

 

[AppleHaterLover]

It's like you have gangrene on your foot and the doctor says, "We can give you some opioids and wait 2 weeks then amputate your leg."

Do you expect them to give you free money?

 

[I7guy]

Apple trying to get free advertising for the fact that it meets the minimum industry standards

Why is this being done by email, isn't the app supposed to be a secure and convenient way to manage your account? Didn't they rethink everything about credit cards after all?

Nothing wrong with free advertising. However, it's grand to see a nice gesture, spun into some snark.

 

[tennisproha]

This is such a debt trap. The last thing someone facing financial issues needs is free money for 2 months. Majority of these people will not be in a position to repay the loan in two months. And that’s when Apple will hit them with all the fees. What a joke lol.

Edit: no fees but interest and credit reporting of late payments presumably.

 

[mecloud]

This is such a debt trap. The last thing someone facing financial issues needs is free money for 2 months. Majority of these people will not be in a position to repay the loan in two months. And that’s when Apple will hit them with all the fees. What a joke lol.

It's obviously intended to serve as a BRIDGE until insurance and/or disaster assistance kicks in. Sometimes those things take awhile.

And exactly what "all the fees" are you speaking of?

 

[Velin]

Nice program. I continue to be impressed with Apple Card. Ease of use, reasonably good terms, privacy.

 

[Mutepointer]

The offer is also thanks to the card issuing bank, Goldman Sachs.

 

[Matt Leaf]

That title read so weirdly to me, like, relief from the disaster that is Apple Card

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Isn’t this almost like preying on those in a bad situation?

“Hey, load up our credit card with purchases because your life was just ruined. We won’t charge interest for the first two months!”

As someone else pointed out, this is not limited to Apple, but an industry standard. Just seems weird.

What would be the alternative solution? Offer nothing? This seems like a good stopgap measure for people with limited cash before the insurance money comes in. Similar to borrowing from friends and family for two months in that there would be no interest.

 

[Coolestdude]

Past is spelled "paste" in the OP. It must be a phishing email. (at least the MR translation)

 

[ieatcake]

I work at a large US Bank. This is normal behavior. There’s also some loose regulations that say roughly work with people who were affected by natural disasters. Working with people usually doesn’t mean debt forgiveness, it usually means deferring payments until people can get back on their feet. Still a good thing though.

 

[Gasu E.]

Better to play it safe than have to resort to Plan B. Or you could abstain from their services altogether 😝

This is why they need to teach Credit Education in school.

 

[Extoll]

So they are offer no interest for 2 months and no payment for one month for some relief so you can use your funds elsewhere. How the hell is that predatory? Correct me if I’m wrong but they/you/we signed up for these cards. Nobody FORCED you. I’ve not heard of any other credit card company doing this (correct me if I’m wrong please). If you’re going to be an idiot and stack up debt, that’s on YOU. Not a body else.

Calm your tits man. It’s a nice, positive thing.

As someone that lives in a hurricane area (Southport Nc) any time we get hit. I get these types of offers from my Bank and CC's. Also most the time verizon will gives us free data and stuff to help out.

 

[Mojohanna32]

This isn't anything special, honestly. All credit card companies, and banks, have some variation on this program. Typically the criteria is FEMA-declared disaster zone.

Some of it is required or sponsored by the government, e.g. mortgage deferrals through HUD. So it isn't merely a generous gesture.

yes, but how many of them let you know proactively vs you needing to search for the help? Often companies intentionally make things difficult (i.e. mail in rebates) because they know people don't have the time or patience to deal with that stuff.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

I lost my home two years ago in So.Cal... I am still paying a mortgage

Sorry to hear that. I was thinking of a lot of people who are going to be disrupted to the degree it isn't possible for them to make the payments.

 

[dontwalkhand]

It allows responsible adults, the majority of credit card holders, to buy things to begin to recover their lives before the insurance check comes in. Otherwise, you're stuck for 2 months without clothes or other daily necessities. And some insurance, particularly replacement cost coverage, won't pay until after you buy the replacement. This is responsible use of credit.

Also people forget the 2%/1% cash back is still there too, just because there’s a natural disaster doesn’t mean you should stop reaping the rewards from your credit cards like you always have.

 

[bb9]

The Apple Card comes with a Disaster Relief Program, according to a MacRumors reader who lives in Houston and recently experienced some flooding from tropical storm Imelda.

Apple sent MacRumors reader Frequeniquity an email suggesting that he apply for the program after Apple detected that he "may have been affected by a natural disaster."

Emails sent out by Apple, which were also received by another MacRumors reader, offer the following benefits:

[*]No interest for two months, starting with the month you enroll. After two months, your standard purchase APR will apply.
[*]You can skip the payment due in the month you enroll.
[*]If your account is in good standing, you will remain current while enrolled.
[*]If your account is past due, your account will not go further delinquent while enrolled. However, your account will remain paste due until you make all of your past due payments and your ability to make new purchases may continue to be restricted.

According to the email sent out to Apple Card users, those interested in applying for the Disaster Relief Program should contact an Apple Card Specialist after receiving an email.

Apple appears to be sending out these emails to customers who have addresses registered in areas where a natural disaster has occurred, and presumably this will be a benefit offered to all Apple Card users who are experiencing issues like floods, fires, earthquakes, and other issues.

Article Link: Apple Offers Disaster Relief Program for Apple Card Holders

Something is better than nothing! But this is a very small “something”.
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Bombastic coverage. Really nice to see yet I see this as a United States offering only.

Why dont you go ahead and complain that samsung is not helping out. LOL

 

[kaneda]

Do you expect them to give you free money?

Usually company donated money... Yeah!

 

[tothemoonsands]

A small thing that can potentially make a big difference. I’ve never received an email like this with other credit cards, but it seems so simple & it’s the right thing to do!

 

[tennisproha]

And exactly what "all the fees" are you speaking of?

Corrected. No fees but interest and credit reporting of late payments presumably.