IPHONE owners are receiving surprise refunds of up to £150 ($200) for AppleCare+ on handsets they bought and traded in several years ago.
It’s unclear what has triggered the belated repayments.
Apple appears to be refunding AppleCare+ on a wide variety of recently traded-in iPhone models, according to 9to5Mac.
Owners of the iPhone 11, all the way up to the iPhone 14 Pro, are reportedly receiving the following email:
“Dear Customer,
“Our records indicate that you are eligible for a refund associated with your AppleCare+ agreement (number) for the iPhone 12 Pro Max you returned or traded in.
“We have issued a refund for $201.47 to the payment method associated with your Apple Account. Please allow 30 days for the refund to process.
“If you have questions or need help, contact Apple Support.
“Sincerely,
“Apple Support.”
However, some iPhone owners claim they have received more money than what their unused portion of AppleCare+ would have been worth.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), app developer Dylan McDonald reported that he received a refund of $181.36 (£144), despite only having bought a monthly subscription.
The refund suggested McDonald had purchased a two-year-long package for $269 (£239) which covers iPhone Pro models for damage, theft and loss for two years.
While he forgot to cancel his subscription for a few months after trading in, 9to5Mac reported that he should have been refunded a figure closer to $40 (£32).
If you have traded in an iPhone in the last few years, then it’s wise to keep an eye on your email inbox and bank account.
AppleCare+ is essentially Apple's own insurance, which can cover damage, battery replaces, theft and loss.
There are different packages to choose from, with different perks.
Although both packages provide repair or replacement for hardware, such as your iPhone handset, iPhone battery and even the charging cable.
The cost of each package then depends on the type of iPhone model you have.
Here’s how Apple lays it out:
AppleCare+
AppleCare+ for iPhone includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage protection
Each incident is subject to the excess fees listed below. In addition, you’ll get battery service, Express Replacement Service and 24/7 priority access to Apple experts.
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss
Get everything included in AppleCare+ and up to two incidents of theft or loss coverage every 12 months.
Each incident is subject to the excess fee listed below.
Theft and loss coverage requires you to have Find My enabled on your device at the time it is lost or stolen and throughout the claims process.
Find the cost breakdown of each package and iPhone model here.
