Hi Apple community. I just bought my first iPhone and I opted to join the iPhone Upgrade Program.
I was surprised to see an activation fee and I'd like to understand if that fee is only charged to iPhone Upgrade Program members or if it's charged to all buyers of a new iPhone directly from Apple.
Thanks!
Jared
iPhone 11 Pro
No mention of an activation fee here:
https://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program
Are you sure this wasn't an authorization hold to check if your credit card was real? Similar to:
iTunes Store & Mac App Store: About payment card authorization holds - https://support.apple.com/HT201292 ~$1 to verify card, later removed. Also for Apple Music trial - https://discussions.apple.com/message/29203952#29203952
This must have something to do with the upgrade program. I just bought two new iPhones, paying cash for them and other than sales tax, there were no additional fees.
Perhaps you opted to have the phone arrive activated to your cellular provider? Your cellular provider may charge a fee to activate the phone, which may explain this.
Thanks, Limnos!
I too looked at that page and I didn't see any mention of an activation fee, prior to purchase. However, after I was charged the fee, I read the fine print on that page which states, "Sales tax and any applicable fees due at time of purchase".
My question is, are the "applicable fees due at time of purchase" unique to the upgrade program or if I walked in and bought the device outright, would I have been charged the same fee?
Thanks!
Jared
That I can't answer. You were better at noticing that bit in the fine print than I was. I wouldn't have guessed any fees apply, just taxes. It may be the financing agency that's charging the fee, not Apple, so it would apply in any instance.
Thanks, Rbrylawski!
I did leave with the phone activated. Perhaps that’s it. I’ll check with T-Mobile. Thanks!
You're welcome. That would most likely account for the activation fee you saw.
Activation fee
