William Gallagher
Under Apple's UK financial agreements, new and returning members of the iPhone Upgrade Program must go to an Apple Store — and all ones in England are now closed because of the new coronavirus lockdown.
Despite previous reports that UK Apple Stores might remain open in a limited capacity during the country's new coronavirus lockdown, all of the stores in England closed today as the new lockdown began.
Stores in Scotland, and Wales, remain open with the same coronavirus precautions as before. Apple Stores in England are now announcing that they will reopen for click-and-collect, "including returns," from November 6.
However, it is confirmed that the version of the iPhone Upgrade Program in England is temporarily unavailable and will remain so until Stores in the region reopen.
This is because while the UK's iPhone Upgrade Program operates in the same way as the US one, it has different financial conditions. Users must physically go to a store to have a credit check done, whether as they join the program, or at each point when they are eligible to upgrade, and choose to do so.
Consequently while US customers have already been able to apply for pre-approval on the program in advance of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-orders on November 6, UK customers have not. For the time being, therefore, no UK can get the iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max on the iPhone Upgrade Program.
An Apple customer email seen by AppleInsider says that the program is now delayed. "In the UK, the iPhone Upgrade Programme is only available from an Apple Store," it says. "Unfortunately, due to the new government restrictions, we cannot currently operate a full service in England and are therefore unable to invite you to the store at this time to upgrade your iPhone."
The email is presumed to have been sent to customers already on the program and based in England. It continues with a suggestion that, "if you would like to know more about your options for upgrading, please contact 0800 048 0408 where our teams will gladly assist you."
However, while that implies that alternative arrangements may be possible, they are not. That UK toll-free telephone number reaches an automated system that explains going to a store, with Government-issued ID, is mandatory.
"And of course, if you would rather wait until the restrictions are lifted," concludes the email, "we would be delighted to help you with the upgrade in our stores then."
The same situation will have applied during the country's original lockdown period, which began in March 2020. However, it's likely that the majority of people on the program are on it in order to upgrade as each new iPhone is released.
Consequently, a November lockdown following the iPhone 12 launch is much more significant.
England's new lockdown began today, November 5, and is expected to continue until December 2. In Wales, a separate lockdown is due to conclude on November 9.
Scotland does not have a lockdown, though one may be introduced shortly. Currently, Apple Stores in Scotland are showing as being open for online order pickup, and users can book appointments with sales staff or Genius Bar.
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Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
12 Comments
I wondered about this... Looks like I’ll be waiting to join the program until December. Hopefully, iPhone 12 Pro Max stock will be stable in stores by then and I won’t have to wait much longer after to get the capacity and colour I want.
It would have been nice to see some more background on why people have to go to the store for this. In the year 2020 it seems ridiculous to have to do this in person.
So I don't get why UK customers were able to request online pre-approval of a 24 months loan with Barclays in advance before the launch of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Mini.
Last time I returned an iPhone in the US, I simply mailed it back.
I'm sure this isn't an insurmountable problem.
So basically Apple is from what I can gather choosing the dangerous method. Waiting for lockdown to end, which will increase the queues for the upgrade program plus all of the other reasons for people to go to apple. They expect all customers to line up while people are walking about in their masses Christmas shopping. Altogether the infection rate will shoot up because we are forced into turning up to the shop in person instead being credit checked online and sent a swap box arriving at delivery address from what I've heard happens in the US. Or though lockdown period allow people to visit the stores and make it appointment only so this will control the influx of customers or stagger the arrivals instead of having too many people out at the same time when ALL shops open. Then again who's to say stores wont open until January (worst case) which must in some way break the contract of the Upgrade Program and the point of the program where we expect to get a new phone when a new one is released even if we have to wait a couple of days to a week and so we can get a new one when hopefully the next iPhone model will release in September next year.