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User profile for user: kenziekat94330
kenziekat94330 Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

Questions about the iPhone monthly payment plans? (+opinions)

I want to upgrade my phone, and get the new iPhone 11. I always buy them unlocked, paid in full, but I want to try doing the monthly payment plan this time, financed with Citizens One Bank.


My current phone is unlocked, with a SIM from TMobile on my dad’s account, so he pays for the cellular service. I was about halfway to checking out, when I went through the whole terms and conditions and I noticed a couple things I still have questions on.


1) Will my phone be unlocked? If I decide to take out my SIM card and say, put my partner’sSIM card in (we tend to do this on road trips when I lose service) will the phone still work? Their website/app says that only one carrier is truly locked (I wanna say Sprint?), but then it says I’m going to be connected to Tmobile if I use my same line/number. [Is there a way to get a truly unlocked phone through monthly payments?]


2) The prompt said my phone will still work until I set up my new device. Does that mean I’d get a new SIM card, or would I keep my current one? Also, does that mean my current iPhone would no longer work? Or will it just not work with the SIM card that’s in?


3) The prompt says there is 0% interest, and I will only have to pay the ~$30 monthly through COB, but it doesn’t include payments thru TMobile. Would this mean the payments at TMobile will be altered and/or increased? My dad doesn’t care if I get a new phone if I’m the one paying for it, but I don’t want his bill to be increased.


4) Am I able to pay off the loan early? Say I get through 4 months and find enough extra cash to just finish paying it off. Am I able to do that? Apple said I just have to pay the minimum but I can pay more each month if I please. Does this include paying off the loan so I’m not stuck for 24 months?


5) If I trade in my current iPhone, and decide I don’t like the 11, what happens if I go return the 11? Do I just get a giftcard/credit for how much my phone was worth?


6) Is there a minimum I have to be making in order to take out a loan w/ COB? I know my credit score is good, but I’m young and working a part-time job and goingto school so I don’t make a living income. I make a personal income. I know w/ the Apple Card I’m ineligible because I don’t make enough (<$24,000/year), and I’m not sure if the iPhone payment plan is the same way.


I’ve tried asking Apple support these questions, but they’re not good at answering, so I was hoping the community might have some answers to at least a couple of these.


(edit): forgot the opinion part!

What are your opinions on the iPhone 11 (and/or XR) screen? I know that the 11 has a lower PPI, but for many people this isn’t a big deal. I have an 8 plus after upgrading from a 6, and honestly don’t notice much of a difference. I have pretty bad eyesight as it is, and aren’t super concerned with high end resolution, just as long as the screen and colors look nice. I have color filters turned on anyways, so colors are deeper and more vibrant.


I’m also wondering if the iPhone 11 is a suitable upgrade from the 8 plus. I want a slightly smaller device, but not iPhone 8 size, and I like the style of the newer models. I tried the XSMax for a while and really liked it, but it was just too big for me. Felt way bigger than my 8 plus for some oddball reason.


Thanks a bundle

iPhone 11

Posted on Nov 28, 2019 10:36 AM

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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level 10
230,678 points

Posted on Nov 28, 2019 10:52 AM

You may want to look back over this for some of your answers. iPhone Upgrade Program - Apple


  1. Yes, the iPhone is unlocked, but if you are currently using a carrier, it will stay with that carrier but not be locked.
  2. You can activate the new SIM if you wish, or you can use the old one. Depends on what you want to do with the old phone.
  3. Correct, 0% interest. The payments are made to Citizen One, but that is for the phone only. You would need to continue to make payments for your cellular service to whatever carrier you use.
  4. The purpose of the upgrade program is to benefit you getting a new phone every year. Your loan is for 24 months, but at the end of 12 months, you can turn that phone in and get a new one with the program and just make monthly payments. Paying off early does not really save you anything, since the loan is at 0% interest. You don't have to trade the phone at 12 months, you can keep it and pay the entire 24. Either way, you are paying the same for the phone if you purchased it all at once, or make the 24 month payments.
  5. Depends. If you trade-in your old phone, you get a credit. If you decide you don't like the new phone, you can get a full refund at 14 days. After that, they will not accept returns.
  6. I don't know what Citizen One Bank credit terms are, but it is not a hard pull on your credit so it doesn't hurt to try.


Opinion. Up to you about the device. You purchase what you can afford. Go here to make comparisons, and make up your mind from there, iPhone - Compare Models - Apple


Next time, remember this is a user to user support forum, generally for technical support questions. Not everyone will take the time I did for a question like this. Guess I'm not doing too much today because of the holiday and willing to take the time to read that short book you wrote of questions.

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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level 10
230,678 points

Nov 28, 2019 10:52 AM in response to kenziekat94330

You may want to look back over this for some of your answers. iPhone Upgrade Program - Apple


  1. Yes, the iPhone is unlocked, but if you are currently using a carrier, it will stay with that carrier but not be locked.
  2. You can activate the new SIM if you wish, or you can use the old one. Depends on what you want to do with the old phone.
  3. Correct, 0% interest. The payments are made to Citizen One, but that is for the phone only. You would need to continue to make payments for your cellular service to whatever carrier you use.
  4. The purpose of the upgrade program is to benefit you getting a new phone every year. Your loan is for 24 months, but at the end of 12 months, you can turn that phone in and get a new one with the program and just make monthly payments. Paying off early does not really save you anything, since the loan is at 0% interest. You don't have to trade the phone at 12 months, you can keep it and pay the entire 24. Either way, you are paying the same for the phone if you purchased it all at once, or make the 24 month payments.
  5. Depends. If you trade-in your old phone, you get a credit. If you decide you don't like the new phone, you can get a full refund at 14 days. After that, they will not accept returns.
  6. I don't know what Citizen One Bank credit terms are, but it is not a hard pull on your credit so it doesn't hurt to try.


Opinion. Up to you about the device. You purchase what you can afford. Go here to make comparisons, and make up your mind from there, iPhone - Compare Models - Apple


Next time, remember this is a user to user support forum, generally for technical support questions. Not everyone will take the time I did for a question like this. Guess I'm not doing too much today because of the holiday and willing to take the time to read that short book you wrote of questions.

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Questions about the iPhone monthly payment plans? (+opinions)

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