Trade-In and Extra Payment Quirks with ACMI If You Forget to Select It at Checkout

I wanted to share a quick heads-up in case it helps others avoid the same frustration I experienced with the Apple Card Monthly Installment (ACMI) plan.

I preordered the iPhone 17 Pro Max using my Apple Card but forgot to select the ACMI option at checkout because I was rushing through the process. I called Apple Card support after it posted to convert the transaction into an installment plan. I’ve done ACMI before through the app and assumed it would work the same way—letting me make extra payments through the Wallet app and apply my trade-in credit directly to the installment balance.

However, I was told over the phone that when ACMI is added post-purchase, you cannot make extra payments directly toward the installment through Wallet. Instead, they suggested I call in every time I want to pay more than the minimum. Then it got even more confusing.

After speaking with an Apple Card manager, I learned that any extra payments or trade-in credits will only create a positive balance on the Apple Card itself—not toward the installment. This means you have to use up that balance before your monthly ACMI payments begin reducing the phone’s principal. You can’t apply those funds directly to the device installment.

It’s a frustrating setup and seems to stem from a lack of coordination between Apple and Goldman Sachs. So if you forget to select ACMI at checkout like I did and plan to add it after the fact, just be aware that early or extra payments won’t reduce your installment directly. You may want to weigh whether it’s worth converting at all.

I hope this helps others make an informed choice—and maybe encourages a bit more clarity from Apple and Goldman Sachs on how this works post-purchase.