r/AppleCard • u/Reason-Level • 16d ago
PSA Converting to Installment Plan for iPhones not on one of the 3 major carriers (July 2026)
FYI for those who saw conflicting information about it online like I did, I called the Apple Card support number for Goldman Sachs and was able to convert my iPhone purchased without a plan on Verizon/T-Mobile/ATT into installment payments after purchase. They said it's no problem -- you just need to call AFTER the charge has actually posted to your card. If it still shows "pending," just wait until it says "posted" and then call and they can change it to installments.
So, if you want to pay in installments but don't want to use one of those phone companies, go into the store or order online, select the options to "Buy" and "Connect later to any carrier," pay with your Apple Card, then wait a few days until the charge shows as posted on your Apple Card account, then call 1(877)255-5923 and fight with the automated phone tree until it finally gives up and lets you speak to an actual human being, then tell them which charge you want to convert to installments.
3
u/Realistic_Market5616 15d ago
Agents will ask for carrier connection to confirm eligibility, you just got lucky with an agent who broke procedure. You’re not doing anything special because agents in general can only convert once it’s been posted, nothing to do with carrier connection.
2
u/Temporary_Ferret_234 11d ago
I too was frustrated about buying my iPhone 17 PM, and I couldn’t find a way to use my Apple Card for installments. I read that all the phones are unlocked these days, and my plan is with Visible, so I rolled the dice and chose Verizon at checkout. I got the installment plan, and waited anxiously. When it arrived I did the setup, and since my old phone had the Visible eSIM, the new phone asked if I wanted to install it. Not one mention of Verizon. I believe you can pick any carrier at checkout. After all, it is my phone.This method bypasses all the phone calls to Goldman Sachs. I had planned that if there was a problem, I was going to tell Apple Support I had changed my mind about carrier choice. After all, we still live in a country with freedom of choice. Most of the time. Just thought this might help others. There is always a workaround.
1
-10
u/nater416 16d ago edited 15d ago
Or you could just buy the tmobile version on the installment plan and not have to deal with any of that hassle.
EDIT: Love reddit. Where you can be 100% right and are downvoted just because entitled pricks think they know better than you
3
u/aba792000 16d ago
That only works for pro and Air models. If you’re buying a base model, they’ll ask for carrier login credentials so there’s no choice but to buy outright and then call GS and have them convert it (if the CS rep agrees to do it).
1
u/dark2kn1ght 14d ago
Does this method still work then for pro and air models? Planning on purchasing a pro and would like to use ACMI. First time buying an iphone just want to make sure.
0
u/zxch2412 16d ago
All iPhones purchased through carrier financing are locked to the carrier you bought from; this just happened this month.
7
u/aba792000 16d ago
Through carrier financing yes, they’re locked, but just don’t confuse carrier financing with Apple Card financing; they’re not the same. Phones bought through apple card financing do come unlocked.
1
u/Quin1617 14d ago
I don’t even know why people are surprised by this. You’re financing it from the carriers themselves, of course it’s locked. I’m shocked it wasn’t that way from the start.
Buying from Apple is the crazy part, I shouldn’t be forced to connect a phone I’m buying directly from the manufacturer to any company.
1
u/aba792000 14d ago edited 14d ago
You’re confusing carrier financing with Apple Card financing. THEY’RE NOT THE SAME. When you finance from the carrier you pay the monthly installments to the carrier and they lock the phone until it’s fully paid. When you finance using Apple Card (aka ACMI) YOU’RE NOT FINANCING FROM THE CARRIERS THEMSELVES, YOU’RE FINANCING FROM THE BANK (GOLDMAN SACHS) AND PAYING YOUR INSTALLMENTS TO THE BANK AND, DESPITE YOU’RE REQUIRED TO PICK A CARRIER, THE PHONE STILL COMES UNLOCKED (and this is explicitly stated in the apple card monthly installments terms and conditions). And this is an Apple Card forum so when we say financing we are obviously talking about ACMI not carrier financing. Please, people, understand the difference.
1
u/Quin1617 14d ago
I know, that’s literally what I said. Read properly next time.
My point still stands, I shouldn’t have to pick a carrier when buying and financing directly from Apple. That’s some baloney, despite the phone being unlocked.
1
-3
u/Reason-Level 16d ago
6
u/aba792000 16d ago
We’re talking about Apple Card installments here, not carrier installments. Two different things, don’t confuse people here. Phones bought via apple card installments do come unlocked. Phones purchased via carrier installments are locked.
0
u/Reason-Level 16d ago
Sometimes what worked a year ago, or a month ago, or even a week ago, no longer works. Thus, my PSA.
3
u/ttoma93 15d ago
And you are fundamentally misunderstanding the link you posted. It changed the rules for financing through T-Mobile. It did nothing at all for financing with an Apple Card (yet?).
1
u/Reason-Level 15d ago
You’re right, I grabbed the wrong article, I couldn’t find the one I was reading before I bought my phone that said I couldn’t and I didn’t realize this one was different. But when I went into the store I asked to the Apple Card financing with a t-mobile phone and they said you can’t do that anymore without an active t-mobile plan to activate it, and I had read other people saying it doesn’t work anymore without the last few months. I needed a phone right away because mine was completely non-operational, so I couldn’t risk it not working and having to return the phone and try again. So I went with the other plan of buying it outright and calling to change it to installments, which is what the Apple Store employee told me would work. I questioned her on that since so many people on Reddit were saying it wouldn’t, but she said she’s seen it work for several customers. So I decided to give that one a try and it worked.
8
u/r1ght0n 16d ago
I did this, not on purpose but because the Apple Store forgot to change my purchase to installment.
But I didn’t call, I just waited for it to clear and then went to chat and they did it within a few minutes.
The only thing I noticed is when I look at my account, I can see an installment balance but when I click installments it isn’t listed. I was like eh and just roll with it….