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teeshot44

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 8, 2015
1,125
892
US
Finally got tired of the limitations, card terms and especially the extremely poor customer service with GS. Not going to keep any credit card active that I never plan on using again. Credit Scores 790-820 on all bureaus. Very small hit on those by cancelling. I've got other cards with rates now between 7-8% if I have a need to carry a balance which I normally don't. GS wouldn't consider lowering. No direct interaction with my financial software. No access except from my phone. The current cash back pales in comparison to many other cards. Apple of course uses it to try to keep folks tied to the iPhone. That is certainly not why I would or would not stick with either product. As a side note, it took 42 minutes of a text session with GS to accomplish a cancellation. Most of that time was waiting for responses from the GS rep. Total of 12 text entries in the thread between the two of us in those 42 minutes.
 

teeshot44

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 8, 2015
1,125
892
US
There's no phone number to call for support and/or cancellation?

Was on hold for 20 minuets and gave up.

What limitations, I don't have it, nor am I tempted to get it, but I am curious to know what you say about the limitations

No interaction with financial software. No ability to transfer balances in or out. Poor customer service. Numerous other issues as mentioned in this forum.
 
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CharlesShaw

macrumors 68000
May 8, 2015
1,735
2,876
Sorry it didn’t work out for you. My credit score is in the same range. I never need to transfer balances because I pay off everything monthly. I noticed that the previous statement view now offers a pdf or transaction export, but I’m guessing what you’re missing is the ability to have transactions downloaded as they occur.

To each his/her/their own, but a few years ago I read the fine print from my bank regarding my liability when I provide my username and password to a third party. That same day I canceled my connected accounting services, changed my passwords, and began using a manual entry system.

I haven’t had many customer service needs with Apple Card but I was very happy with how easy it was regarding the two issues they resolved for me. Of course those were in the Beforetimes.

There are better deals out there but I’m using the Apple card as sort of my vote for how I appreciate the good aspects of it and want to support more.
 
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likegadgets

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2008
785
355
US
I agree with teeshot44. Very poor customer experience. I got it for a 3% credit on an Apple purchase. I used the trade in. When the trade in posted they carved out 3% treating the trade in as a return. (If you do the trade in separate from the purchase there is no 3% hit and you get the full value they advertise). Reaching them by text resulted on a "We are experiencing longer than expected wait times. An Apple Card Specialist will be with you in about 2 hours". When they eventually replied I got a canned response that did not address the issue. Texting was painfully slow and incredible bad responses not dealing with the issue. Calling them was a long hold time and an agent that wanted to be helpful but could not comprehend the issue having to put me on hold and check for every question. Issue is unresolved. The amount in dispute is minute and likely not worth the time, but it is irritation enough that I will open a complaint with my state regulator. Let Goldman Sachs be forced to respond in writing to my regulator. I used the card once and will not use it again. Since I don't have to see it or use it and has no maintenance cost associated I will likely not close it yet as I got a very ample line of credit on it. But Goldman/Apple will get no revenue from this particular card. This is how a product with a mediocre partner tarnishes a brand.
 

teeshot44

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 8, 2015
1,125
892
US
Closed mine because I don’t like having an active card sitting out there that I have no further intentions of using. Just a problem waiting to happen when you least expect it.
 
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mnsportsgeek

macrumors 601
Feb 24, 2009
4,438
6,934
I use mine strictly for Apple Pay and I’m happy with it. My only 2 issues are no authorized user support and no YNAB integration.

I just got me and my wife our own so authorized users is no longer an issue, and I’m optimistic with the recent launch of the Apple Card website that budgeting app integration will make its way here at some point.

I can see how it’s not something for everyone though.
 
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harurun

macrumors newbie
Jul 5, 2020
4
4
I cancelled mine because it is an awful card benefits wise. I'll stick with my CSR.
 

ZipZap

macrumors 603
Dec 14, 2007
6,112
1,467
A free card is a free card.

The more open credit the better for your usage calculations. No downside to just leaving it open. Have no sympathy for those complaining about a lack of benefits because that was known when you opened the card.

I enjoy the App and knowing how much exactly I need to pay-off each month to avoid finance charges. Makes it easy to maximize the point of a short term credit card loan.
[automerge]1594249266[/automerge]
Also I have never had issue with texting GS. If you want to dispute a charge dont waste time with the first level agents. Tell one to open your claim then send it up the line. If the resolution specialist then wants something they will ask for it.
 

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
I got my Apple Card about seven or eight months ago and have been very satisfied with it ever since. I use it mainly for tech-related purchases (Apple stuff) and camera gear (camera body, lenses, etc.) and it's been just fine. I use a different credit card when at the grocery store because that card offers better cash back benefits on groceries, and everything works out well for me each month. I love being able to so quickly go into the Wallet on my iPhone and pay the bill, in the blink of an eye and a double-press on the side button. Very cool!
 

sjsharksfan12

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2020
2,049
2,511
San Jose, CA
I just made my first transaction on the Apple Card. I opened it because I'm going to subscribe to the annual Apple Music at the end of the month and I can get the 50 free dollars. I'm not sure how much I will use it, especially since my other cards have better promotions, but this could be my Walgreens card at least, and I can get some from Itunes and other Apple products. It might even be beneficial if I do decide to get the Apple TV 4K, or subscribe to TV+
 
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pughimag49

macrumors newbie
Mar 17, 2015
9
11
Finally got tired of the limitations, card terms and especially the extremely poor customer service with GS. Not going to keep any credit card active that I never plan on using again. Credit Scores 790-820 on all bureaus. Very small hit on those by cancelling. I've got other cards with rates now between 7-8% if I have a need to carry a balance which I normally don't. GS wouldn't consider lowering. No direct interaction with my financial software. No access except from my phone. The current cash back pales in comparison to many other cards. Apple of course uses it to try to keep folks tied to the iPhone. That is certainly not why I would or would not stick with either product. As a side note, it took 42 minutes of a text session with GS to accomplish a cancellation. Most of that time was waiting for responses from the GS rep. Total of 12 text entries in the thread between the two of us in those 42 minutes.
I am gratified that someone else is having a poor experience with the GS support and the way that the Apple Card "works" with installments. In February 2020 I decided it was time to buy my first iPhone, especially since I have been a Mac fan since the "Hello" Mac appeared on the scene in 1984. I own 6 Apple products.

I decided that I would take advantage of the 24-month no interest plan which saves me from the $1,000 hit and is an acceptable cash flow increase. I applied for and received an Apple Card. So far so good.

In July I sold my 2011 MacBook Pro and ordered a Mac mini 6-core I7 on Apple Card installments. I quickly found out how illogical payments are on the Apple Card and how abysmal Goldman Sachs support is. They do not seem to understand how their product works at all and take forever to return calls. I spent several hours after being cut off 4-5 times with no call back even though the "specialists" had my number.

I'll explain illogical (to me). When you buy more than one Apple product on installments, both will appear when you go to your wallet and select the Apple Card, click the three dots (top right of screen) and then monthly installments. Now here's the illogical bit. I select Mac mini and see a very nice display showing total paid, total remaining and total financed. I also see a "Pay Early" link.

Now one would think that being on the Mac mini screen this "Pay Early" would apply to the Mac mini. NOT SO! Clicking on the link brings up text that tells you that you must pay off all other purchases before paying off money on your installments. Fair enough, mine are all paid off and I have a zero card balance because my installments are up to date. Hit "continue" and you will see the "payment circle" which displays the total owing on ALL your installments. Since you were in the Mac mini screen you might think that you can reduce the amount to an amount you want to pay off your Mac mini, say $200. Hit Pay Now and you're done. You just reduced the amount owed on your Mac mini by $200. NOT SO!

What you will find when you go back and look at your Mac mini balance has not changed, instead, the application has applied the $200 to your iPhone balance. There is nothing you can do to pay down your Mac mini balance, everything goes to the iPhone. One GS representative told me that it's because I bought the iPhone first (what?).

So I made some experimental payments to my Mac mini and sure enough they ended up paying off the iPhone. Also, I found out that when I add up all the installments I paid plus the "Pay Early" payments and they do not match the remaining balance on my iPhone. GS have no idea why this is so and seem to get confused even when I try to take them through it. Also, I paid an installment early (Installments are combined for payment in the wallet app) and added some additional money as suggested by the application. The extra payment hasn't shown up anywhere yet whereas a "Pay Early" payment shows up in 5-10 minutes, on the iPhone balance of course.

Sorry for the long post. So in this situation extra payments end up on the iPhone making the 24-month option less than 24 months and leaving a high payment 12-month option where it is, negatively affecting my cash flow. I had planned to pay off the Mac mini early to leave the low iPhone payments on my account only. Now I will pay off the iPhone and try to pay off the Mac mini faster so that I can get rid of this crazy Apple Card. If you get to Apple Support they will always send you to GS who are terrible and can't seem to grasp what's going on. They do not understand the application.
 

pughimag49

macrumors newbie
Mar 17, 2015
9
11
I love mine - I use ApplePay everytime I can to get 2% or 3% back.
Pay it full every month so no interest.
For a no annual fee card, it's a good deal!

Try Amazon for 5% back on Amazon purchases and 1-2% on non-Amazon. Mac products are also discounted there.
 

sjsharksfan12

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2020
2,049
2,511
San Jose, CA
I decided to cancel my card on Friday. I was really in it for the $50 promotion but it's just so limited in what it can do. I also didn't get a payment receipt for the first payment I made but I did get one for the last payment. Also, I use Chase Freedom and they were offering a nice promotion for the Chase Unlimited card. I don't want too many cards.
 

AZhappyjack

Suspended
Jul 3, 2011
10,183
23,657
Happy Jack, AZ
I decided to cancel my card on Friday. I was really in it for the $50 promotion but it's just so limited in what it can do. I also didn't get a payment receipt for the first payment I made but I did get one for the last payment. Also, I use Chase Freedom and they were offering a nice promotion for the Chase Unlimited card. I don't want too many cards.

I understand your frustration... but opening and closing credit card accounts can hurt your credit score... first, there's the hard pull on your credit check, and then, cancelling a card with a short history reduces the overall length of credit component to your score...

But, like I said, I absolutely get the frustration with Apple/Goldman-Sachs.
 

sjsharksfan12

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2020
2,049
2,511
San Jose, CA
I understand your frustration... but opening and closing credit card accounts can hurt your credit score... first, there's the hard pull on your credit check, and then, cancelling a card with a short history reduces the overall length of credit component to your score...

But, like I said, I absolutely get the frustration with Apple/Goldman-Sachs.

That's actually the first and only card I was going to open/close. I have three other cards that I've had for over 2 years. The Chase unlimited Card had a nice promotion where I get 5% cash back on Grocery purchases (And $200 on my first $500 in purchases). I think they will not bat an eye if I closed one card out of 3 I have that I've had for a few years.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
That's actually the first and only card I was going to open/close. I have three other cards that I've had for over 2 years. The Chase unlimited Card had a nice promotion where I get 5% cash back on Grocery purchases (And $200 on my first $500 in purchases). I think they will not bat an eye if I closed one card out of 3 I have that I've had for a few years.
No one will really care one way or another, but your credit score might suffer to one degree or another.
 

sjsharksfan12

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2020
2,049
2,511
San Jose, CA
No one will really care one way or another, but your credit score might suffer to one degree or another.

Well, I pay my stuff on time, and last time I checked my credit score was pretty good. I guess I can just work my way back up.

Also, according to Experion, my credit score is exceptional.
 
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C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
Well, I pay my stuff on time, and last time I checked my credit score was pretty good. I guess I can just work my way back up.

Also, according to Experion, my credit score is exceptional.
More than likely it won't hurt too much and you'll recover. Ultimately it's at least partially a question of whether or not it's actually worth it or worth just leaving the account as is and just not use it basically.
 
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WhatTheFox

macrumors member
Oct 16, 2013
64
36
Closed mine today after 14 months as I don't see myself using it for anything in the future. No regrets and glad I gave it a shot!
 

pughimag49

macrumors newbie
Mar 17, 2015
9
11
I am paying off my Apple Card balance as quickly as I can before I cancel it.

I just purchased a new Apple iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard from Amazon. The iPad Pro was $50 cheaper than Apple and there are similar discounts on other Apple products. Delivery was faster also, just a few days with Amazon. Then, since I used my Amazon card, I get 5% Rewards, beats 3% from Apple. Now Apple offer 0% financing but Amazon offer 5% or interest free financing. I typically pay off purchases right away so I take the 5%. On the Apple iPad Pro I received an additional $45.75 in Rewards, so that's a savings of $95.75 off an iPad Pro purchasing through Amazon. Also GS are not on the ball and their card payments options are unfathomable when you buy more than one product on installments.
 

4sallypat

macrumors 601
Sep 16, 2016
4,034
3,782
So Calif
Both cards are great depending on what you plan on doing I have both.

Amazon Prime VISA has the 5% back but you have to wait till the end of the billing cycle and you get it next month good for full payoff the next month to avoid interest. You can't finance it at 0% and get cash back - not both....

Apple Card has 3% back on Apple but it's immediate cash back. And if you choose to finance it for 0%, then you can choose to pay it off before the full 12/24 months. I am doing that with my iPhone 12 Pro - it's $27/month for 24 months @ 0% and will be paying it off in 12 months as I will probably want to upgrade next year.
And 3% ($30) cash back is not bad at all on top of that.
 
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