Apple upgrade program (UK)

[vine-boating]

Has anybody had any experience with these?

I currently out of contract with Vodafone and was looking to get an iPhone 7s plus
I know the new iPhone 8 is due in a month or so but by the time I can get my hands on one of those...your looking about after Christmas since the pre-ordered, sells will be mad and my current iPhone 6s is on its last legs.....

How hard is it to be accepted because I heard you have to have a perfect credit score...or do you recommend me buying the phone outright instead of using the apple upgrade program.

 

[mctrials23]

Whats the matter with your 6s? Is it physical damage or is it feeling slow?

 

[BMox81]

Has anybody had any experience with these?

I currently out of contract with Vodafone and was looking to get an iPhone 7s plus
I know the new iPhone 8 is due in a month or so but by the time I can get my hands on one of those...your looking about after Christmas since the pre-ordered, sells will be mad and my current iPhone 6s is on its last legs.....

How hard is it to be accepted because I heard you have to have a perfect credit score...or do you recommend me buying the phone outright instead of using the apple upgrade program.

I personally got accepted without an issue and I don't think I have a "perfect" credit score but it's in a good state.

I guess most will recommend buying it outright and while they wouldn't technically be wrong, everyone's circumstances are different.

For me-i was due an upgrade last September but didn't want to commit to another two year contract due to all the 10th anniversary rumours so jumped on the program. And I'm glad I did as I'll be picking up the 8 as soon as I'm allowed to.

 

[vine-boating]

Whats the matter with your 6s? Is it physical damage or is it feeling slow?

Both
cracked screen and very slow....no point in paying for a repair.

Basically I don't mind having the 7S plus for a year...I am not one to always want the flashy new thing.
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I personally got accepted without an issue and I don't think I have a "perfect" credit score but it's in a good state.

I guess most will recommend buying it outright and while they wouldn't technically be wrong, everyone's circumstances are different.

For me-i was due an upgrade last September but didn't want to commit to another two year contract due to all the 10th anniversary rumours so jumped on the program. And I'm glad I did as I'll be picking up the 8 as soon as I'm allowed to.

Yes I could buy the 7plus from Argos (I can get 10% discount as I know somebody who works there) so the 7plus would cost me iike £720....but it seems stupid when there is just a new phone to be released round the corner!
The Samsung S8 is an option but I have too many things on iTunes so can't be bothered with the swap.....

The upgrade option does work out expensive though....
£45 a month for the 128gb 7plus and then paying around £20 a month for a sim only means everything will cost £65 a month....

 

[craigio85]

The agreement is with Barclays Partner Finance, so it's no different to any other sort of credit agreement in terms of passing the scoring.

Generally, It would only reject outright if you had recent or unresolved missed or late payments on credit agreements.

 

[vine-boating]

The agreement is with Barclays Partner Finance, so it's no different to any other sort of credit agreement in terms of passing the scoring.

Generally, It would only reject outright if you had recent or unresolved missed or late payments on credit agreements.

Fair enough...my credit is quiet good I think

Just debating wether I should get the iPhone upgrade program in the first place

 

[craigio85]

Fair enough...my credit is quiet good I think

Just debating wether I should get the iPhone upgrade program in the first place

It comes down to whether you mind paying for the AppleCare at £119 (I think that's the price). If you're confident you don't want another phone any time soon, you can save yourself that cost and just do iPhone Payments plan instead. That's interest free and just spreads the cost of the phone without the extra AppleCare, but doesn't allow you to change the phone and start again after the 11th payment.

 

[vine-boating]

It comes down to whether you mind paying for the AppleCare at £119 (I think that's the price). If you're confident you don't want another phone any time soon, you can save yourself that cost and just do iPhone Payments plan instead. That's interest free and just spreads the cost of the phone without the extra AppleCare, but doesn't allow you to change the phone and start again after the 11th payment.

I read that you don't have to buy Apple care with the upgrade programme. It's a bit less if you choose not to do so.....

So basically after month 11 you can upgrade to what will be the iPhone 8 I am guessing?
Not sure if I should just buy the 7plus outright because the apple plan plus a sim only probably works out £65 a month....
However paying £720 for a phone is alottttt

 

[craigio85]

I read that you don't have to buy Apple care with the upgrade programme. It's a bit less if you choose not to do so.....

So basically after month 11 you can upgrade to what will be the iPhone 8 I am guessing?
Not sure if I should just buy the 7plus outright because the apple plan plus a sim only probably works out £65 a month....
However paying £720 for a phone is alottttt

If you buy without AppleCare you can't upgrade after 11 months, it's the standard 0% finance agreement.

 

[hobsgrg]

I got rejected despite having a good credit score and having no problem getting credit elsewhere. I'm not sure why but Barclays always turn me down when I try to buy Apple stuff with 0% finance

 

[vine-boating]

I got rejected despite having a good credit score and having no problem getting credit elsewhere. I'm not sure why but Barclays always turn me down when I try to buy Apple stuff with 0% finance

Oh wow
Is their a special score you must have?

 

[hobsgrg]

Oh wow
Is their a special score you must have?

That's the thing I don't think it is based on achieving a particular score but they have some weird criteria so people will good score can get turned down and people with lower score pass. I know other people with good scores got turned as it was reported in forum here.

I know Sainsbury's automatically reject people on loan/credit card applications if they aren't a home owner, so I get turned down for them as I just rent to give an example.

 

[vine-boating]

That's the thing I don't think it is based on achieving a particular score but they have some weird criteria so people will good score can get turned down and people with lower score pass. I know other people with good scores got turned as it was reported in forum here.

I know Sainsbury's automatically reject people on loan/credit card applications if they aren't a home owner, so I get turned down for them as I just rent to give an example.

Do you have a link to the thread?
I'm debating whether to go through with it now because I don't want a rejection showing up on my credit score........:

Isn't it even more expensive anyway? Because if you get the 128 plus model you have to £45 and then £20
Or so for a sim only which makes it £65 a month basically

 

[craigio85]

Do you have a link to the thread?
I'm debating whether to go through with it now because I don't want a rejection showing up on my credit score........:

Isn't it even more expensive anyway? Because if you get the 128 plus model you have to £45 and then £20
Or so for a sim only which makes it £65 a month basically

It's cheaper than taking a contract direct with a network and more expensive than buying outright and taking a SIM - by the £119 it costs for the AppleCare.

Take no notice of your own personal "credit score". It means nothing whatsoever. If you want to know if you're creditworthy, do a statutory check with one of the credit reference agencies - costs about £2 - and actually look at your file. Any missed or late payments? Any use of advance against income facilities (payday loans)?

if that all looks OK, if you're refused credit it will simply be a case of you not meeting the scorecard requirements of the lender in question. E.g. Homeowner = no = decline.

NOTE - it is generally untrue that any particular mainstream financial services provider will automatically decline you for not being a homeowner. Some, however, may score applicants who do own their home higher - so non-homeowners have a higher likelihood of being declined if they are scored down for any other reason (e.g. Heavy use of overdraft facilities)

 

[vine-boating]

It's cheaper than taking a contract direct with a network and more expensive than buying outright and taking a SIM - by the £119 it costs for the AppleCare.

Take no notice of your own personal "credit score". It means nothing whatsoever. If you want to know if you're creditworthy, do a statutory check with one of the credit reference agencies - costs about £2 - and actually look at your file. Any missed or late payments? Any use of advance against income facilities (payday loans)?

if that all looks OK, if you're refused credit it will simply be a case of you not meeting the scorecard requirements of the lender in question. E.g. Homeowner = no = decline.

NOTE - it is generally untrue that any particular mainstream financial services provider will automatically decline you for not being a homeowner. Some, however, may score applicants who do own their home higher - so non-homeowners have a higher likelihood of being declined if they are scored down for any other reason (e.g. Heavy use of overdraft facilities)

Yeah I've checked with Equilfax and Experian and my record looks good. Nothing showing up bad tbh.
The best thing is to actually go to the Apple Store and see if I will get accepted if I decide to go ahead with it...

 

[hobsgrg]

Do you have a link to the thread?
I'm debating whether to go through with it now because I don't want a rejection showing up on my credit score........:

Isn't it even more expensive anyway? Because if you get the 128 plus model you have to £45 and then £20
Or so for a sim only which makes it £65 a month basically

It was discussed in the main iPhone 7 UK buyers thread if I remember correctly, it was the best part of a year ago now!
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NOTE - it is generally untrue that any particular mainstream financial services provider will automatically decline you for not being a homeowner. Some, however, may score applicants who do own their home higher - so non-homeowners have a higher likelihood of being declined if they are scored down for any other reason (e.g. Heavy use of overdraft facilities)

Yes Sainsbury's didn't decline me but offered me an alternative with a higher interest rate than the one advertised, in threads the consistent pattern was that you needed to be a homeowner to stand a chance of actually getting the ultra good deal actually advertised. They clearly had extremely strict criteria so wouldn't take much to not qualify, it may not be the case if you aren't a homeowner you were automatically rejected but it you weren't then it wouldn't take much else to then not qualify.

 

[craigio85]

It was discussed in the main iPhone 7 UK buyers thread if I remember correctly, it was the best part of a year ago now!
[doublepost=1502431655][/doublepost]

Yes Sainsbury's didn't decline me but offered me an alternative with a higher interest rate than the one advertised, in threads the consistent pattern was that you needed to be a homeowner to stand a chance of actually getting the ultra good deal actually advertised. They clearly had extremely strict criteria so wouldn't take much to not qualify, it may not be the case if you aren't a homeowner you were automatically rejected but it you weren't then it wouldn't take much else to then not qualify.

Sounds about right. That's the wonderful world of credit scoring for you. I've just had a quote for car insurance based on changing my address. They say this increases my premium by £85 - i'm moving from number 133 to number 113 of the same street, no change to postcode. They say it's because there's an increased risk of damage to the car while parked. It's going to be parked in exactly the same place!

 

[vine-boating]

I'm leaning to perhaps buying the phone outright......
The Apple upgrade system seems that you have to have a great a good credit score or something

 

[9646829]

You are giving this way too much thought dude. Me and my GF both got iPhone 7's on the upgrade plan back in June, instantly approved.

 

[vine-boating]

You are giving this way too much thought dude. Me and my GF both got iPhone 7's on the upgrade plan back in June, instantly approved.

Haha it's true
I'm guessing you went to the Apple Store to do this?
Your credit record is good I'm assuming?

 

[9646829]

Haha it's true
I'm guessing you went to the Apple Store to do this?
Your credit record is good I'm assuming?

Yes you have to go in store and I guess so, we own our own house, both 27 years old, so our credit must be good enough for Barclays.

 

[vine-boating]

Yes you have to go in store and I guess so, we own our own house, both 27 years old, so our credit must be good enough for Barclays.

Own your own home! Money must be rolling lol!!
Hmmm I'll decide
I can afford to buy it outright so I'll see....just didn't want to spend £800 in one go!

 

[tann]

The decision isn't purely based on score most of the time, they take account a lot of other factors such as straight income, fixed expenditure (e.g other credit agreements), late payments, amount of credit already had, number of credit cards etc.

Even though a lot of this is used to calculate the score, when they run a check they often will take these variables on their own and make a decision themselves off of it, rather than rely on the score that the credit bureau gives them.

Basically if you aren't maxing out your income on lots of other financed things with a good history of paying on time then you should be ok.

 

[9646829]

Own your own home! Money must be rolling lol!!
Hmmm I'll decide
I can afford to buy it outright so I'll see....just didn't want to spend £800 in one go!

I know what you mean about spending it all in one go, having the money doesn't mean you want to part ways with it.

Plus having credit and paying it off on time adds to your credit score.

 

[vine-boating]

I know what you mean about spending it all in one go, having the money doesn't mean you want to part ways with it.

Plus having credit and paying it off on time adds to your credit score.

Haha exactly. Parting with £800 just seems so hard.
Might just go to the Apple Store on Monday and see how it goes....
My credit is decent I think. Only used it for phone contract and gym membership
[doublepost=1502458011][/doublepost]

The decision isn't purely based on score most of the time, they take account a lot of other factors such as straight income, fixed expenditure (e.g other credit agreements), late payments, amount of credit already had, number of credit cards etc.

Even though a lot of this is used to calculate the score, when they run a check they often will take these variables on their own and make a decision themselves off of it, rather than rely on the score that the credit bureau gives them.

Basically if you aren't maxing out your income on lots of other financed things with a good history of paying on time then you should be ok.

Interesting
I'll go down and see if I get accepted
If not I'll just the Samsung S8 plus or the 7plus outright