Apple please create a 50Gb iCloud storage annual plan

Question

Level 1

10 points

Apple please create a 50Gb iCloud storage annual plan

I'm currently on the annual 25Gb iCloud storage plan at $11.99 per year. I'd like to take advantage of the new 50Gb minimum storage effective September 16. 2015. In fact, this is being offered at a lower rate of $0.99 per month (annualized to $11.88 per year)! Apple isn’t automatically upgrading annual plan holders to the 50Gb storage capacity, and won’t allow us to pay for 50Gb once per year. I’d like to get the attention of the execs at Apple to work out a solution that doesn’t involve raising our monthly recurring costs. Anyone else looking for the 50Gb plan and to pay on an annual basis? C’mon Apple, don’t treat annual payers like second class netizens!

iPhone 6, iOS 9

Posted on Sep 17, 2015 6:58 PM

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Answer 1

Shid3vil

Level 1

20 points

Oct 5, 2015 8:44 PM in response to Shid3vil

Seems like apple won't be upgrading the legacy plan size.

I believe many users whom previously were using legacy plan have converted to monthly plans.

iCloud storage pricing - Apple Support

"If you purchased a monthly plan before September 16, 2015, your account was upgraded automatically. If you're currently on an annual plan, you'll continue to renew annually at that rate. If you select a new monthly plan, your annual plan won't be available to you."

As in the link. "you'll continue to renew annually at that rate(25gb/50gb)"

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Answer 2

dtsang91

Level 1

4 points

Nov 13, 2015 3:37 PM in response to RobKNYC

Did anyone else receive this email just now?

Dear ,

We recently introduced new, monthly iCloud storage plans that offer even better value. Now you can double your storage by moving from your current annual plan, 25 GB at $11.99 per year to our new 50 GB monthly iCloud storage plan at $0.99 per month ($11.87 per year). Upgrading to a new monthly plan is easy—you can do so from your iOS device, Mac, or PC.

Upgrade to 50 GB for $0.99 a month >

After you upgrade, your storage will increase immediately and you will receive a prorated refund for any remaining balance of your annual plan.

The iCloud Team

Note: You may cancel or change your plan from your device at any time. Learn more >

iCloud is a service provided by Apple. Apple ID| Support| Terms and Conditions| Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2015 Apple Inc. 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, United States. All rights reserved.

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Answer 3

RobKNYC Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 6, 2015 2:49 AM in response to Lese1030

I have sent an email to Eddy Cue (who runs iCloud) at Apple to request he consider our request. You can support this request by emailing him as well at ******. Please do email him. I'm concerned that one person is treated as an anomaly, but two or more can become a chorus of like-minded individuals. Thanks for your consideration.

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Answer 4

bidddy

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2015 2:00 PM in response to RobKNYC

Thank you for calling Apple today.

Please find case number: --------- as a reference to your call.

My name is Matthew, and I was the advisor who was chatting with Cherell about your issue with your iCloud account. I heard you were having some confusion with it and I thought I would send you on some information that might clarify the situation. In regards to the iCloud storage upgrade, if you decide to continue with your storage plan, you will still be charged the same £7.99 you paid last year, but the storage will be increased from 20gb to 50gb at no cost (the support article attached to this email clarifys this.) In regards to the cancellation of your subscription, from what I can see it has not been cancelled yet, but if you do want to cancel it, you can either cancel it yourself by following the “iCloud storage upgrades and downgrades” article linked, or you can call us on the AppleCare Technical support line and we will be happy to assist you with it.

If you have any other questions or issues at all, please do not hesitate to contact us at AppleCare technical support, as we handle all of the iCloud issues. We can be reached at ----------- or you can click the Contact Apple Support link in this email. Make sure to have your case number handy as it will have all my notes in it.

I do hope this has cleared some of the confusion up, and I do apologize for your poor support experience so far.

Kind Regards,

Matthew

AppleCare Technical Support

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Answer 5

RobKNYC Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 26, 2015 3:20 PM in response to bidddy

Thank you very much for posting this! I'm thrilled to see Apple responding to our concerns in such a timely fashion. Perhaps they were considering our request, and were waiting to respond until the change was in place. October 1 can't come fast enough!

Best,

Rob

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Answer 6

sunnyore

Level 1

0 points

Sep 28, 2015 6:24 PM in response to bidddy

Okay so this is annoying.. I just got off the phone with my apple support representative and she informed me she finally got information from the engineering department and the only way I can get 50GB at this time is to cancel my annual plan and go to monthly payments. I told her this contradicts what some of the other apple support team have been telling people and she said her information is accurate as of today (Sept 28). I told her if I canceled my annual plan and the plan did upgrade to 50gb I'm going to be furious. My annual plan renews in 2 days.. anyone else have any confirmation about the 50GB upgrade? I need to make a decision soon and all these contradictions is so frustrating!

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Answer 7

bidddy

Level 1

4 points

Sep 28, 2015 11:29 PM in response to Lese1030

Wait till the 1st, you can cancel still if it does not go to 50gb.

Was initially told the same, need to get hold of someone in apple care they look after iCloud, so I was told.

Apple have not comunicated anything about the yearly plan internally or externally, not looking after their long standing customers very well at all...

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Answer 8

Oct 1, 2015 7:19 AM in response to RobKNYC

Very confusing. I had the annual plan at 25GBs a year for $11.99. Just received an email that my subscription was just renewed at $12 for the 25GB plan. I had thought the upgrade to 50GB was automatic. I then upgraded to the 50GB plan for $.99 a month. I have now been charged $.99 + $12 and will most likely be charged $.99 for the following months. I should of had a credit for the $11.99 because the 50GB is the same price as the 25GB plan. Instead, I will be paying a total of $24 for this coming year. How is this fair! I have just paid double! The iCloud email receipt says to contact Apple for a refund, but it doesn't say anywhere who to contact about obtaining a refund.

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Answer 9

bidddy

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2015 12:11 PM in response to JeffA_Irvine

Despite the letter sent to me from Apple and what I was assured on the phone my iCloud is still 25gb. Just off the phone, refunding the £7.99 yearly fee and going on the 0.79p monthly for 50gb was offered, but I have refused at this time and am waiting for a senior supervisors promise of explanation to this fiasco.

Will update when I know more, not happy...

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Answer 10

dtsang91

Level 1

4 points

Oct 2, 2015 10:07 AM in response to RobKNYC

I just called AppleCare technical support about this and the phone rep said that grandfathered iCloud annual plan holders should expect an email from Apple within 10 days about the upgrade to 50GB from 25GB. If you hear or read otherwise, let me know.

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Answer 11

RobKNYC Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 6, 2015 2:20 PM in response to bidddy

I sent another email to Eddy Cue last Thursday, and received a call back from Alan L******, an Executive Liaison at Apple, that afternoon. Alan was considerate, but said Apple was not planning to increase the allotment for annual plan holders due to "business reasons". Switching to a monthly plan was the only way I would receive the 50Gb allotment (which, as we know, sells for the same amount as my annual 25Gb plan). He emailed me some links to the Apple website (e.g. "iCloud storage upgrades and downgrades" and "Changes to iCloud storage for current customers").

These weren't definitive on the matter, and I pointed to the Apple webpage where it says annual plan holders would be paying the same "rate" but was silent on the allotment one would get for that rate. I also explained why a customer may find paying a one-time $11.99 annual feed not the same as paying $0.99 monthly. Furthermore, I explained that standing behind somewhat conflicting documentation written before my email (while explaining how seriously Apple takes feedback) seems to suggest that my feedback was not truly being heard or considered by those who are empowered to resolve this situation. And Alan L. would be in a position to help explain our feedback to those who may be able to help address this. Alan was very helpful and understood that I needed to hear his answer before I decided whether to switch away.

So Alan L. agreed to take my feedback to Eddy Cue's team, and will get back to me on this. So far, I haven't heard anything further, but I at least have confidence that the feedback is being carried to the top (or a delegate of the top) and hopefully, someone will hear our voice.

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Answer 12

Shid3vil

Level 1

20 points

Oct 8, 2015 8:37 AM in response to RobKNYC

I too sent an email to Eddy Cue. I got a call from Young Me*******, an Executive Liaison at apple.

She too also sent me some links regarding this.

My annual plan will be ending in December. Hope by then there would be a good answer as i do not wish to change to a monthly plan. It's quite dumb to be honest.

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Answer 13

Oct 30, 2015 12:16 AM in response to bidddy

Good for you! But no such luck in my case. I was on a 200GB plan, and found myself paying the 40% more for the *same* plan after the yearly renewal, with respect to the new monthly rates. Not a message telling me that I could have an alternative, or simply that it was better for me to change plan. I had many oral and written conversations with the different Apple support services (US) and finally everybody told me to change for the monthly plan. Not a great way to treat the oldest iCloud customers...

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Answer 14

dtsang91

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2015 9:52 AM in response to lucafrombrooklyn

In response to your last sentence, I completely agree and I expressed that concern with one of Eddy Cue's Executive Liaisons that gave me a call after I sent an email expressing the lack of communication and transparency about iCloud legacy plans vs. the new plans. If everyone sent an email to Eddy Cue in droves, I think there would be greater pressure to take action and/or at least get a response from his Department. My plan is supposed to renew on Sunday but I'm debating whether or not to switch to a monthly plan...

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Answer 15

RobKNYC Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 30, 2015 10:05 AM in response to dtsang91

I spoke with an Executive Liaison, and we agreed that he would go back to Eddy's people and try to get an actual decision on what would happen to us, since they'd been relying on admittedly vague / confusing communications on what our status would be. Then the gent went out of the office for a few weeks but I left a voicemail for him. (His name is Alan.) Another Executive Liaison called back and left a seemingly pat reply (e.g. had no indication that my request with Alan for a further review was performed, because none was indicated) that our accounts were grandfathered but not changing. So I'm still waiting for a real response, and I again call on Apple to service this user base. And I'm wondering what legal remedies (is anyone a lawyer who knows about class action lawsuits) may exist. But really I'd just like to get the same as others are getting since we are all paying the same price (well, technically, we are paying more for less.)

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