I plan to go to Apple Store and get the whole scoop probably tomorrow or Sunday! I can update if anyone's interested?!
Please keep us posted on your adventure. I may be doing the same thing next week. Thanks so much.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Upgrade program question
- Thread starter oxinthebox
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Please keep us posted on your adventure. I may be doing the same thing next week. Thanks so much.
Why don't you take that gift card and put it towards paying off the balance of the new loan when the new phone comes out? Can't you just pay off the first year when the new phone comes out in order to upgrade?
The switch from Sprint to Verizon isn't without its pitfalls either trust me. I switched my IUP Sprint 7+ to Verizon last November and it took over a month to get everything straightened out. I couldn't switch online because my IMEI number was not compatible with Verizon's systems. I went to a corporate store where they shoved the SIM card of an iPhone 5 and forced the system to accept my phone and then gave me my own sim porting my number. Phone worked ok but as a NON-VZW device none of the advanced features including HD Voice worked. Took about a month with level 3 tech support and executive services to get everything up and running although I did lose the 2gb for life promo I originally had. I'll be upgrading again in Sept to a Verizon IUP so all my issues will go away.
So this whole switch thing isn't as easy as Apple has advertised it to be.
So this whole switch thing isn't as easy as Apple has advertised it to be.
I heard of many others having the same problems with unlocked AT&T and T-Mobile iPhones going to Verizon.
They went through hell because Verizon would not whitelist or add the device to their database to be able to get all features to work right. Glad you got them to do it, others gave up after many tries and Verizon wasn't much help to them.
Yeah it wasn't fun but Verizon really did try their best. My phones IMEI still isn't whitelisted and to this day if I go to their website, it still says my IMEI isn't compatible. According to their executive services rep the issue is the SKU numbers are locked by Apple so VZW can't say it's their device if it has a Sprint SKU.
Yeah it's always easier for Verizon to point the finger elsewhere to Apple instead
Their proces is hard and painful to enable all the unlocked iPhones features on the network. There's millions of unlocked iPhones out there that are not whitelisted on their system. It shouldn't be that hard to get everything to work right.
Last edited:
I saw where a person from another forum said he was able to swap his gsm iPhone 7+ for a fully unlocked cdma version today. I asked for him to provide his process. I will share when he responds. So maybe there is some light.
I could but in the meantime I'd have to pay for the whole rest of the loan on my current phone just to make the switch. I'd rather switch and be able to just continue where I left off....however that may work?!
The guy responded that he just went in the Apple Store and they swapped it for the fully unlocked cdma version but that is all he replied with.
I asked for more details of the process but he has not responded yet. Sorry.
Attempted doing this today at the Apple Store. So far it's proving to be a pain. Issue seems to be Verizon rather than apple
So basically what they're doing is something called the iPhone Upgrade Plan Appeasement Program. And it would work similarly to what was described by other members - Apple returns the old phone, and you contact citizens bank to get the money you put into the loan back. They then start a new loan for the Verizon phone.
Where I ran into trouble is getting Verizon to allow the activation. It's erroring out at the last step, and when we contacted Verizon they weren't helpful at all. They wanted to run another credit check despite already having an account and not buying the phone through Verizon.
So the Apple sales associate suggested ordering the phone online for in store pickup. Which we did and that went through. But now when we're trying to pick up the phone, apparently their store system for in store pickup went down. I'm somewhat suspicious that it's still the same issue we were running into earlier, but who knows.
Currently sitting at a table while our associate talks to a manager. Don't know what the end result will be yet.
So basically what they're doing is something called the iPhone Upgrade Plan Appeasement Program. And it would work similarly to what was described by other members - Apple returns the old phone, and you contact citizens bank to get the money you put into the loan back. They then start a new loan for the Verizon phone.
Where I ran into trouble is getting Verizon to allow the activation. It's erroring out at the last step, and when we contacted Verizon they weren't helpful at all. They wanted to run another credit check despite already having an account and not buying the phone through Verizon.
So the Apple sales associate suggested ordering the phone online for in store pickup. Which we did and that went through. But now when we're trying to pick up the phone, apparently their store system for in store pickup went down. I'm somewhat suspicious that it's still the same issue we were running into earlier, but who knows.
Currently sitting at a table while our associate talks to a manager. Don't know what the end result will be yet.
So much for easy swapping of carriers with the Apple upgrade program.
What a mess.
Very interested in hearing the end result! Aside from all other issues, definitely one will be what they do with the loan.....I can't afford more needless credit checks due to being in the middle of a refi on my house. Can't have my credit being messed with
[doublepost=1487460015][/doublepost]
Definitely not what they advertised. One major reason I went with the IUP was this very reason...not being tied to a carrier.
No! That's the problem is AT&T and Verizon phones are not compatible on each others network
I thought you can use a verizon phone on att but not the other way around
No luck tonight so far. Employee suggested coming back tomorrow - he says "the phone is ready and yours, but our system can't process it right now due to the server issue". We'll see what happens.
Why they can't do something akin to the Genius Bar replacements, I don't know.
Why they can't do something akin to the Genius Bar replacements, I don't know.
Well no matter what you're going to have to do the credit check with citizens bank since they're starting a new loan. So if you're refinancing I'd advise against going through this process. What struck me as odd was Verizon wanting to do their own credit check when they should not have any role in the transaction.Very interested in hearing the end result! Aside from all other issues, definitely one will be what they do with the loan.....I can't afford more needless credit checks due to being in the middle of a refi on my house. Can't have my credit being messed with
[doublepost=1487460015][/doublepost]
Definitely not what they advertised. One major reason I went with the IUP was this very reason...not being tied to a carrier.
If you are attempting to get service with Verizon, they do a credit check, regardless of whether or not you purchased the phone directly from them.
[doublepost=1487463343][/doublepost]
This is correct.
I already have service - I'm not starting a new line or new plan of any sort. Just trying to get the phone changed at Apple. There is zero reason for Verizon to be running a credit check. From their perspective, it should be no different than buying a phone outright for an existing line of service.
Man that sucks! Did you set up a Genius Bar appointment to start this process and just did a walk in visit?
Walk in visit - doesn't seem like it's something that would be handled by the Genius Bar.
Thanks! Are you still able to upgrade in September when the new iPhone comes out?
This is from the Verizon site: "I currently have iPhone with another carrier. Can I keep my current iPhone when I switch to Verizon?
Yes, if you have iPhone 6 or newer, you'll be able to use it on the Verizon Wireless network."
Yes, if you have iPhone 6 or newer, you'll be able to use it on the Verizon Wireless network."