Carrier Switching from AT&T Next Every Year to Apples upgrade program

[Fozziebear71]

I have decided to upgrade to the iPhone X for my wife and I. We are currently on the AT&T Next Every Year plan and have made 15 payments so far. I am contemplating switching to the Apple upgrade program. Has any body done that and what is the process.

Also, what's peoples opinions on the differences between the two programs? Advantages? Disadvantages?

Thanks for any input.

 

[orev]

You will have to pay off the phone in full with AT&T, then you can just get a new one with Apple. You would not be able to "transfer" the phone to Apple somehow.

The Apple program includes Apple Care+, which is an extra chunk of money to spend over the course of the agreement, so you should really only do this if you need Apple Care+.

 

[Atomic Walrus]

You will have to pay off the phone in full with AT&T, then you can just get a new one with Apple. You would not be able to "transfer" the phone to Apple somehow.

The Apple program includes Apple Care+, which is an extra chunk of money to spend over the course of the agreement, so you should really only do this if you need Apple Care+.

Do you need to pay off the NEXT device? The IUP requires that you activate with a carrier, but the financing is through Apple's program and I can't see how that would have any connection to the existing carrier financing.

I'm not certain, but it seems like you'd be able to keep paying the NEXT device until you finish the 24 payments (to AT&T) AND activate/make payments (to Apple) on the new phone from the IUP simultaneously

 

[nburwell]

On IUP, AC+ comes with the phone and it is built into the monthly payments that you make. Additionally, when you originally sign up for IUP, they will do a pull on your credit (which I believe is a hard pull). With NEXT, you don't have to worry about a credit check when you purchase the device.

 

[orev]

Do you need to pay off the NEXT device? The IUP requires that you activate with a carrier, but the financing is through Apple's program and I can't see how that would have any connection to the existing carrier financing.

Technically no, but I was assuming you wanted to trade-in your current phone or something. You can just sign up for the IUP and get a new phone, but that in no way frees you from your obligation to pay off your current phone with AT&T. And if you want to keep your current AT&T plan/number on the new phone, it will definitely require working with AT&T as well so they can allow the upgrade to go through.

You probably should really talk to an Apple rep about this, as it's really about the contracts and agreements you have with the two companies.
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On IUP, AC+ comes with the phone and it is built into the monthly payments that you make. Additionally, when you originally sign up for IUP, they will do a pull on your credit (which I believe is a hard pull). With NEXT, you don't have to worry about a credit check when you purchase the device.

It's still money out of your pocket, whether they take it all at once or drain it slowly.

 

[cyclingplatypus]

I just did this, you are not required to pay off the phone although if you want to list it on swappa it needs to be off the NEXT program. You do get a warning while ordering through apple - it tells you that you have an outstanding balance and you can pay it off through att or apple. It didn't hinder me in any way, I ordered and picked up the X through IUP before I paid the NEXT phone off.

ATT gets their money one way or another - I went to list it on swappa the same day I bought the X and they told me that it was listed as financed and couldn't be listed until paid off.

No difficulties with att after paying the remainder off - it is just no longer listed as a NEXT device and is eligible to be unlocked.

 

[Charadis]

Do you need to pay off the NEXT device? The IUP requires that you activate with a carrier, but the financing is through Apple's program and I can't see how that would have any connection to the existing carrier financing.

I'm not certain, but it seems like you'd be able to keep paying the NEXT device until you finish the 24 payments (to AT&T) AND activate/make payments (to Apple) on the new phone from the IUP simultaneously

AT&T Next and the Apple iPhone upgrade program are two separate services. The Next phone does not have to be paid off in order to sign up with IUP. A friend signed up for IUP this year while still paying for his phone from last year on AT&T Next, so there should not be a problem maintaining both if qualifying for IUP.
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You will have to pay off the phone in full with AT&T, then you can just get a new one with Apple. You would not be able to "transfer" the phone to Apple somehow.

The Apple program includes Apple Care+, which is an extra chunk of money to spend over the course of the agreement, so you should really only do this if you need Apple Care+.