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Other UK iPhone upgrade programme

ariusbb said:
With the COVID-19 situation and everything shouldn’t they work towards providing that option now?
I don’t feel comfortable walking into the store being in a sensitive group. They don’t even allow somebody else to do the process for you as it requires your ID, signature etc as you are effectively getting a loan.
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If I remember correctly I had to do it twice in person before they finally switched to letting us do it all online. In-person was a really unpleasant process. I had to stand in a huge line of people for over two hours even though I had an "appointment". Pretty unthinkable at the moment. I hope they change it for you.
 
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Hello.

Thought I'd comment on this thread also!

I had my iPhone X for 3 years which I bought outright, as I did with all the previous models I've had before.

The IUP / financing has got my attention now too.

I am currently without a phone to trade in, not enrolled in the IUP, and ready to pull the trigger on an iPhone 12 upon release.

What's the best option here in the UK d'you reckon?
I'm not in a contract either, sim only plan...

Thanks for the advice in advance!
 
Buying and selling works out well, but there are also downsides to this method. Drop your phone and your plan is screwed, the repairs costs aren’t cheap. Too many eBay scammers as well.

I went with the upgrade program for the insurance and I like to use my phone without a case. Also I charge my phone without a thought of how my battery life is doing. The next user will deal with it (reduced battery life) and I will have a fresh battery, phone and insurance in a years time.
 
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Major774 said:
I went with the upgrade program for the insurance and I like to use my phone without a case. Also I charge my phone without a thought of how my battery life is doing. The next user will deal with it (reduced battery life) and I will have a fresh battery, phone and insurance in a years time.
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My reasons were almost similar. I just didn’t have the time or the energy to deal with private selling.
 
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akash.nu said:
My reasons were almost similar. I just didn’t have the time or the energy to deal with private selling.
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Agree. Some people make the argument that you can make more selling on your own. I do not want to deal with that at all. I pop out the SIM, erase the phone, put it in a box, and I'm done. Love the convenience.
 
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It will be interesting to see how Apple UK handles the upgrades as it can only be done in store, whereas, the US can upgrade via post.
 
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I’d be interested in the UP but I don’t think they’d give me. My credit is awful because I have no credit 🤷‍♀️ .

I’ve always bought my phones outright. Even before smartphones when everyone had a contract I’d buy phones outright. So I have very little credit history.

So I have the money to buy outright but I like the idea of swapping phones every year and just trading in etc.
 
Just checked, I need to make an appointment at a UK Apple store if I want to upgrade... So no posting for the UK people.
 
Do you guys know if at time of preorder you can pick a date for iUP? Or do you get the option to pick one time slot just for release day? I have the necessity of going Saturday, Friday for me will be impossible 😞
 
When I've done it previously, you get to pick from different date/time slots - last year I couldn't make launch day but was able to pick one 3 or 4 days later, even as the pre-orders went live, which was nice since then I could guarantee the phone availability.

I'm questioning whether I should say on the IUP though - the price being spread over 20 months instead of 24 and the iPhones being late this year means I don't feel the programme is that good a value. I still owe £531.60 from my iPhone 11 Pro to Barclays, but the Apple Store app says they'd give me £550 trade in value for the phone - which I'm tempted to do, as I don't really value Apple Care (I've never had to actually claim on it). You also seem to be able to do the trade in without going to an Apple Store, whereas IUP requires a store visit in the UK.

I can use the trade in discount to effectively pay back Barclays, and then could own a new phone outright for less than the cost of another 11 months of IUP payments.

The disadvantage, of course, is that next year Apple might not be so generous with trade in pricing, whereas with IUP they're guaranteed to wipe your loan after 11 months as long as you upgrade.

Has anyone else traded in a phone under IUP before?
 
There is a risk by going down that route. Damage your phone and your plan is screwed, unless you have 3rd party insurance to cover your new phone.
 
Currently on the programme with a reservation to upgrade on release day. However when I saw my balance I decided I want to keep my 11 pro as well. If I went to upgrade and told them I had a change of heart but still wanted to get the reserved unit on the programme would there be any issues with it? Could I pay the rest of the balance at the apple store?
I’m in the UK and there’s no way for me to start a new loan online, I have to go to the store anyway.
 
Im on the upgrade program and this will be my first time upgrading when the pro max is out.
How does it work instore exactly? Will I need to give my current phone back there and then (and thus, should make sure its fully backed up before I head out) or is there a time period so I can swap it over at home then return the old?
 
kevkev said:
Im on the upgrade program and this will be my first time upgrading when the pro max is out.
How does it work instore exactly? Will I need to give my current phone back there and then (and thus, should make sure its fully backed up before I head out) or is there a time period so I can swap it over at home then return the old?
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If you're in UK, hand over is at your Apple Store appointment - back it up before taking it in, but do not wipe it prior to your appointment, the apple rep will need some details from it first, also wise not to wipe it till your credit check completes, if for some reason you fail it and need to keep existing phone it'll save you a restore!

Just ensure you start the wipe before leaving - the rep's are very good at making sure you do this though.
 
kevkev said:
Im on the upgrade program and this will be my first time upgrading when the pro max is out.
How does it work instore exactly? Will I need to give my current phone back there and then (and thus, should make sure its fully backed up before I head out) or is there a time period so I can swap it over at home then return the old?
Click to expand...

You need to hand over your phone at the time of your upgrade in store. Be sure and have it backed up.
 
I’ve paid another payment today on my existing iPhone 11 Pro IUP handset leaving a balance of only £412.65 due. I’m now having second thoughts about upgrading tomorrow as I don’t think it’s a great deal for me to simply hand over my 11 Pro and all Apple do is clear my balance due to Barclays. If I was trading the phone Apple say it’s worth £500, I’d think this should also be what’s paid to Barclay’s from Apple but I suspect that’s not how it’ll work. Had I been able to do this at the 11 month qualification point then great but not now that I’ve actually paid 13 instalments.
 
sneeks said:
I’ve paid another payment today on my existing iPhone 11 Pro IUP handset leaving a balance of only £412.65 due. I’m now having second thoughts about upgrading tomorrow as I don’t think it’s a great deal for me to simply hand over my 11 Pro and all Apple do is clear my balance due to Barclays. If I was trading the phone Apple say it’s worth £500, I’d think this should also be what’s paid to Barclay’s from Apple but I suspect that’s not how it’ll work. Had I been able to do this at the 11 month qualification point then great but not now that I’ve actually paid 13 instalments.
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If you’re thinking about that then also consider selling the phone outside. You’ll make a few hundred pounds more. I’m really considering to keep my phone and sell outside seeing the value of my phone is higher out in the market compared to what I’m gaining by giving it to Apple.

Had it been on the 11th month I’d have just done the exchange to avoid dealing with private buyers since I genuinely don’t have the time or the willingness to haggle with people. But this year the price difference is getting a bit too much to not deal with the hassle.
 
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I thought the same about too many payments. What I did a day before preorders :

- I called Barclays and settled my 11 for £360
- called Apple and cancelled AppleCare - they refunded me £90
- total net cost to settle £250 (ish)
- preordered iPhone 12 with £400 trade in for my 11 (app knows what my current phone is so tells me right there what they offer as trade in)
- ordered on finance 0% 24 months. with trade in my monthly amount is £16pm

this Enabled me to get the phone delivered while still on finance. No idea why iUP doesn’t offer that. If I want I can add AppleCare monthly for £8.99 for a total of £25pm

next year I’ll probably do the same. Basically roll your own iUP. Some risk maybe of trade in price fluctuation vs absolute nature of swapping out but it seems a better route tbh especially if you want delivery and with iUP being limited to 20 payments rather than 24
 
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I’ve been giving the upgrade more thought and it’s annoying that launch day buyers last year are at a disadvantage this year over people who purchased on the IUP a couple of days after the launch day last year. I’ve had to pay a additional instalment of £58.95 yesterday before I upgrade today whereas had I bought 2 days after launch last year I’d not be due another payment until tomorrow so would get a better deal if upgrading today. Spoke with Apple today and they do not offset this when they clear my existing finance agreement despite them saying my iPhone is worth £500 if I was trading it.
 
Always remember that you’ll have a credit file entry on your credit file for a period of 6 years for each upgrade you do.
 
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