PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in

Apple users across the globe have been reporting that they’re receiving refunds for AppleCare+ on iPhones they purchased and traded in years ago. Seemingly, there isn’t anything specific triggering the refund, but there are a number of varying cases.

AppleCare+ refund email

Apple is refunding AppleCare+ on a wide variety of recently traded-in iPhone models, ranging from the iPhone 11 Pro to the iPhone 14 Pro. The email to affected customers states the following:

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

Varying refund amounts

Interestingly, some people are seemingly getting refunds in excess of what their unused portion of AppleCare+ would’ve been worth. AppleCare+ costs $199 for two years of coverage on iPhone Pro models, and $269 for theft and loss coverage. A refund of $201.47 seems a bit high, presuming that this customer used their iPhone for a reasonable amount of time.

On top of that, Dylan McDonald on X reported that he received a refund of $181.36 for AppleCare+ on his iPhone 12 Pro Max, despite only subscribing to the monthly plan. He does note that he forgot to cancel his subscription for a few months after trading in, but even then – the refund should’ve been closer to $40, not $200.

It hasn’t been so positive for everyone though, and multiple customers are receiving refunds as small as a couple dollars.

Wrap up

If Apple isn’t able to automatically refund you, you’re advised to contact Apple Support, who can provide a form for issuing your “Repair Extension Program Refund.”

It still isn’t quite clear what’s going on, but customers in both the US and UK are receiving such refunds. Users are also showing that they’ve already received refunds in their bank accounts, so the emails don’t seem to be an error.

It is worth noting that customers were always able to call in and ask for partial refunds on 2 year AppleCare+ plans, though Apple is seemingly creating an automated process for it now.

We’ll update this story if we learn any clarifying details.

Have you personally received such an email? Let us know in the comments.

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