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Apple Upgrade preapproval question
- Thread starter CoriG
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I did not realize the iPhone 8 allowed a pre-authorization process for the IUP in advance for preorders opening today (why didn't Apple tell me that over the phone when I called about the X earlier?). This is excellent news! I hope Apple does the same for iPhone X. When was the pre-authorization period for iPhone 8? (I haven't been on this forum in a long time). Is it two weeks and then closed for one week before today (or something)?
If pre-authorization for iPhone X IUP happens before October 10th, those of us that had our identities breached by the Equifax hack will be able to FREEZE our Equifax credit reports for FREE at https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp
It's normally $10, but for the next 30 days they are waiving that fee. The iPhone Upgrade Program uses Citizens One (Bank) and they do the credit check from your Equifax credit report so do not lock it before you are authorized. It's $10 to unlock it.
EDIT: Ok I saw the pre-auth for IUP was only a few days prior to today for the 8... that won't work for the free freeze at Equifax for the X. If you intend to do a new IUP I would recommend we all go to https://www.apple.com/feedback/ and ask them to open pre-auth before October 10th so we can quickly get approval out of the way and then freeze our credit report without incurring the fee.
Last edited:
rumz
macrumors 65816
Great to hear-- sounds like the complete opposite of the cluster it was last year trying to upgrade, having to call Apple and wait in queue for a couple hours, etc...
So, question-- what carrier are you on? And did they verify your carrier account info or anything like that when you went through pre-approval?
I'm on T-Mobile but my iPhone 7 Plus is a Verizon model (I guess it was unlocked-- are all phones on iUP unlocked, I wonder?). I'm just trying to decide if I should set up another Verizon account in order to increase my odds of not waiting an extended period for an iPhone X (Apple always has more Verizon and AT&T stock than T-Mobile, easily).
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Are you already enrolled in iUP? You should have gotten an e-mail from Apple... I did, at least.
Nope. I'm a newbie. Can't enroll until the iPhone X is open to pre-order (right now.. the submit button is greyed out to go further though the process)
My current phone is in iUP and I want to get an X. Right now my credit checks are frozen. Since I already have an account with Citizens do I need to unfreeze Equifax for a new phone?
It's my understanding if there's already an existing account with a company, that company can still access the credit reports even when frozen.
I guess when it's available I'll try the pre-approval for a X and see if it works with a frozen account.
It's my understanding if there's already an existing account with a company, that company can still access the credit reports even when frozen.
I guess when it's available I'll try the pre-approval for a X and see if it works with a frozen account.
That's a good question. When I called Citizens One I only asked about new enrollments and early authorization. Here is their direct number 888-201-6306 if you want to ask if you need to un-freeze prior to pre-order\purchase with IUP on the new phone. Please let us know if you find out. I'm sure other 'credit freezers' want to know also.
MuGeN PoWeR
macrumors 68040
Good idea. I called Citizens and they said to call Apple. So I called Apple. The rep said no, since I'm already in the program, and have an existing account, I wouldn't have to unfreeze my Equifax credit report. Only people new to the program would have to unfreeze their report account.
Fantastic! Thanks for getting the answer. Hopefully they open pre-auth early for us new IUP people so we can get that out of the way and freeze\refreeze our Equifax credit report if we want maximum control of our identities.
Why would them opening the pre auth before iPhone upgrade not be enough the day before. If you have good credit won't you get approved right away
Does anyone know if the shipping address for IUP will have to match carrier's billing address? I bought my 7+ under the IUP program in-store last year so not sure if the addresses have to match...I would think a more relevant address would be my citizen loan billing address
BigMcGuire
macrumors G4
Awesome, thanks! and did you enter shipping information during the pre-approval process? Or was it a new IUP order?
BigMcGuire
macrumors G4
I upgraded early on an existing IUP. I got my 6s+ in May 2016. It asked me to enter my SSN twice, Verizon account password, asked for billing address and shipping address. 5 mins later I was done. 15 mins later I got an email from Citizens One saying my application for a loan was approved with the new payment information.
My current Citizens One loan is now on hold and will be cancelled when I send my 6s+ back.
So doing preapproval lets you just select "I am a member" when you click iPhone upgrade when ordering right?
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
For the record. I did not receive a hard credit pull this year. Same as last year. Only did my first year when signing up.
Because it delays the process of locking in a preorder on the 27th. Instead of simply clicking "submit" while Apple servers are inundated with droves of people at 3am EST all these people trying to reserve at once for earliest delivery... I will have to FIGHT to complete the application process which will probably be very difficult to complete with the web traffic. Apple just sent out an email for people already enrolled in IUP to go ahead and prequalify but for someone that has never used IUP and wants to we are doomed to reserve ours later because we can't do the process early. 🙁
Multiple users have told me your shipping date is locked in as long as you are approved. If not its given to someone else. So what is the truth? Locked in or not before approval.
It won't let you apply as a new IUP customer though (continue button greyed out). My wife called Citizens One to pay off her IUP on her 7 and asked about new customers and the rep told her the system is being upgraded right now so she couldn't tell her anything.
MuGeN PoWeR
macrumors 68040
No. I skipped getting iphone 7 and just have my iPhone 6Plus so this would be the first time buying an iPhone with IUP.
MuGeN PoWeR
macrumors 68040
there was no IUP when the iPhone 6 Plus was launched. you are signing up for IUP for the first time so you cant continue with this! Pre-Approval is only for existing IUP customers!