Renewing yearly AppleCare+ possible on used Mac? (UK)

[drecc]

I have a Macbook Air M2, which is currently under 3-year AppleCare+ coverage.

AppleCare+ UK terms say I can transfer this fixed-term coverage.

When I reach the 3-year deadline, I can then renew AppleCare+ on a yearly basis.

However, according to this page:

If you make monthly or annual payments* for your AppleCare plan, and your plan is already linked to an Apple ID, it can’t be transferred to a new owner

Does that mean that if I sell my M2 after the 3-year initial term, the purchaser won't be covered by my yearly AppleCare+ extension, and so the purchaser won't be able to keep renewing the AppleCare+ yearly in the same way that I can as the original purchaser?

Thanks

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Yes, essentially that's correct. If you move to Annual AC+, then the new owner won't be able to renew it. They'd have the remainder of whatever coverage you've already paid for - but nothing beyond.

Are there ways around that? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Maybe. Nothing I'd personally deal with. Essentially you'd have to keep the AC+ coverage on your Apple ID, which I would not be willing to do as buyer OR seller.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I have a Macbook Air M2, which is currently under 3-year AppleCare+ coverage.

AppleCare+ UK terms say I can transfer this fixed-term coverage.

When I reach the 3-year deadline, I can then renew AppleCare+ on a yearly basis.

However, according to this page:



Does that mean that if I sell my M2 after the 3-year initial term, the purchaser won't be covered by my yearly AppleCare+ extension, and so the purchaser won't be able to keep renewing the AppleCare+ yearly in the same way that I can as the original purchaser?

Thanks

I have just been in this situation, except I was the new owner. I purchased a 2+ year old M1 MBA from the national used electronics chain CEX in UK. I was not at all surprised that Settings > AppleCare & Warranty said all cover had expired. However I was very surprised when a few weeks before its 3rd anniversary, I saw in Settings a notification that Applecare was about to expire and did I want to extend it for a year....which I did with a new policy in my name.

So contarary to the quote, I was able to purchase a new plan in my name .....and why did it say all cover expired for several months after I had purchased it.

 

[drecc]

Yes, essentially that's correct. If you move to Annual AC+, then the new owner won't be able to renew it. They'd have the remainder of whatever coverage you've already paid for - but nothing beyond.

Are there ways around that? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Maybe. Nothing I'd personally deal with. Essentially you'd have to keep the AC+ coverage on your Apple ID, which I would not be willing to do as buyer OR seller.

Thanks, I guess I should sell before the 3-year point then.

 

[drecc]

I have just been in this situation, except I was the new owner. I purchased a 2+ year old M1 MBA from the national used electronics chain CEX in UK. I was not at all surprised that Settings > AppleCare & Warranty said all cover had expired. However I was very surprised when a few weeks before its 3rd anniversary, I saw in Settings a notification that Applecare was about to expire and did I want to extend it for a year....which I did with a new policy in my name.

So contarary to the quote, I was able to purchase a new plan in my name .....and why did it say all cover expired for several months after I had purchased it.

Wow, thanks, that's interesting... I'll be interested to see what the AppleCare+ status shows as when I wipe and factory reset it

 

[Mike Boreham]

Wow, thanks, that's interesting... I'll be interested to see what the AppleCare+ status shows as when I wipe and factory reset it

I should also have said that I have purchased many other devices over the years from the CEX chain, and quite often Settings > AppleCare & Warranty has reported that device is still covered by an AppleCare plan. The first time this happened I phoned Apple and they said there was no way of transferring the plan to be in my name, but the device was still covered unless the original purchaser cancelled it. The policy stays with the device until cancelled. Apple’s attitude was that I had got lucky, which I had in a way.

The M1 MBA I mentioned earlier is the first time I was able to get a policy on a used device in my own name.

EDIT I dont believe factory resetting will have any effect on the plan…it is all serial numbers on Apple servers. I have often reset devices without any effect on Apple care

 

[drecc]

EDIT I dont believe factory resetting will have any effect on the plan…it is all serial numbers on Apple servers. I have often reset devices without any effect on Apple care

I guess it will say it is covered, but if they try and go to the Apple store, they will be refused due to not being the same person that took out the policy?

It's worrying that it may count against the seller in the national insurance anti-fraud databases if someone bought one that was in rough condition, and then intentionally broke it and took it to Apple to take advantage of the AC+ accidental damage cover.

Also, is it always a bad deal to take a cash offer from CEX? I don't think I'd have any use for a voucher since I don't have any plans to buy anything second-hand in the foreseeable future, and I've heard they're fussy about warranty repairs unless the item is in exactly the same condition as it was purchased.