As carriers move away from two-year contracts, and towards financing programs that break down the full price of an iPhone into equal monthly payments, it is worth a reminder that Apple offers partial refunds for unused AppleCare+ coverage, minus the value of any service already provided.
Since many carrier financing programs enable customers to upgrade to a new iPhone after a minimum of 12 months, whereas the AppleCare+ coverage period is 24 months, some customers will inevitably have at least half of their warranty period remaining, for which they are entitled a pro-rated refund.
Macworld recently noted that Apple has a longstanding support document on its website that outlines how to request a refund for an AppleCare plan. The process involves phoning Apple and providing them with your AppleCare agreement number and covered device serial number, and an original sales receipt is often required.
The refund policy may vary depending on the country, but in the U.S., Apple stipulates that customers who cancel their AppleCare+ plan more than 30 days after the date of purchase will receive a pro-rated refund of the original purchase price, minus a cancellation fee of $25 or 10% of the pro-rated amount, whichever is less.
Here is the exact verbiage from the AppleCare+ terms and conditions:
ii) If you cancel more than thirty (30) days after your receipt of this Plan, you will receive a pro rata refund of the original purchase price. The pro rata refund is based on the percentage of unexpired Plan Term from the Plan’s date of purchase, less (a) a cancellation fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars or ten percent (10%) of the pro-rata amount, whichever is less, and (b) the value of any service provided to you under the Plan.
AppleCare+ for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus costs $129. Assuming that you do not make any accidental damage claims, and upgrade your iPhone after 12 months, the plan would have $64.50 in value remaining. After a 10% cancellation charge of $6.45, the refund would be $58.05 — enough for one or two monthly payments on your next iPhone.
AppleCare+ for iPhone extends both the smartphone's limited one-year warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support to two years from the original date of purchase, and provides up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage for a $79 or $99 service charge each time. It also covers defective hardware and depleted batteries.
Top Rated Comments
When selling second hand it's a nice selling point but it doesn't really earn you any extra cash, in my experience.
Simply registering the device to you (which you and the seller can do, seller just signs into http://supportprofile.apple.com and removes the device from their ID - then you sign in and add it to yours) does not transfer the AppleCare Protection Plan. That can only be done by calling and speaking to "Agreements Administration".
I've only done AppleCare on my iPhone 3 times out of the various models I've owned but Twice I did do a device and a prorated refund once.
All you need to do for switching unused or remaining AppleCare coverage length from 1 device to another is call Apple's 800 number ( or presumably alternatively you could use their online chat/messaging or schedule a call options)
I called up Apple explained I no longer had my iPhone 4S ( and 5S later on ) and that I would like if possible to switch. The said sure and I just needed to provide a list of details and info to verify the following:
1: Proof Of Ownership ( Serial # , IMEI, Make, Model, Storage Capacity, Place of purchase , purchase date etc. )
2: Contact info
3> Apple ID and Apple Care registration info
4> the new IMEI and Serial Number of equipment to be covered
The rep did her thing and boom 2 to 4 months of coverage on the upgraded/new phone unless something has changed in that regard since the 5S
Side note got a 8 months prorated refund on my iPhone 4 AppleCare used that towards AC on the 4S before the switching idea had occurred to me
Sadly no that's a definite no no I've been told. AC/AC+ is non transferable from person to person
Only from device to device by the original policy holder/plan purchaser