Hello all,
I’ve just tried to get an iPhone from the Apple store through Barclays Partner Financing. Even though my credit score is good, the application was declined. When asking if it could be the bank, the employee asked around and came back saying they’ve never had a successful application using Monzo. Has anyone done it successfully? Could it be Monzo?
I used Barclays for a laptop last year…signed up with my Monzo account no problem
Yep, I’ve been on the upgrade programme since September last year using Monzo so the Apple employee is completely wrong!
Don’t see why it would be Monzo, it’s more likely to be some factor in your credit file.
It always used to be a Monzo problem to be fair. I seems they may have got round it in some places but it doesn’t seem to be universal from the evidence of this story.
A Monzo problem with credit applications in general? That’s not filling me with confidence - I might just have to switch back to my legacy bank then…
How long are we talking here? As I said, I’ve been on the programme for nearly a year without any issues. I don’t think one user warrants an issue still being present?
Also, Apple/Barclays would surely use the same tools throughout the country so I highly doubt it’d be an issue for one store and not another.
No, with Barclay’s Partner Finance specifically. Back in the early days people were having to take out finance using a different account and then change the DD because that was the only way they’d accept Monzo.
Haven’t heard it said recently, though.
If you’re that uncomfortable, I’d go for it. Banking stress in general is normally bad enough without those sorts of worries as well.
Works fine over here.
I setup the iPhone upgrade programme last September at an Apple Store in Manchester.
The iPhone Upgrade Programme is notoriously harder to get approved for vs standard Barclays Partner Financing on their website, too.
There was 100% an issue with the iUP application process not allowing 04-00-04 as a valid sort code about 18 months ago, but I as well as a few of my friends, at different Apple stores have been fine in the last 14 monthsish.
I’ve used Monzo to join the iPhone upgrade program without issue.
I’ve had declines using my Monzo as the main account during the BFP application so stick to using my fd account and then changing the direct debit afterwards.
Not for iPhone but for a MacBook Pro as well as AHF Furniture.
Sorry to revive an old thread but I found this interesting - was in the Apple Store today upgrading mine and my partners phones on the programme. My partner hasn’t gone entirely full Monzo yet but was going to change her direct debit at this point to Monzo (she can’t do a CASS yet for multiple reasons)
The person at the Apple store recognised the sort code (!!!) and advised against using Monzo as they had “had so many problems with people getting rejected”
Wonder if this is anything to do with Monzo only being visible on transunion? (She told me Apple/Barclays check Experian)
Having said that, I used my Monzo account (as I am full Monzo so had no choice) for my application and it went through fine… But then, I have been on the upgrade programme for 3 years so my checks may be less stringent than a new applicant?
I’ve used my Monzo sort code in the past for BPF and been rejected - when I used my firstdirect sort code, it gets through first time. The rejection wasn’t for the sort code being invalid, it just failed the credit checks when I gave my Monzo sort code.
Now I just use the fd account for the BPF application and change the direct debit so the money comes from another account.
I’m sure there are plenty of valid reasons (BPF is doing it wrong etc) but that’s one of the reasons after going full Monzo, I then decided to split between Monzo and another bank and not be full Monzo.
This is weird.
I’ve been on the upgrade programme since September last year (using Monzo) and renewed it on Friday and I was accepted, however it did take 4 minutes for a decision to come through. My brother and Mum got a decision within seconds using their Nationwide accounts.
I also know someone who was rejected straight away when they used Monzo, all seems very odd 
Its because Monzo don’t report to all credit reference agencies - had problems getting a mobile phone contract because of this as well… I don’t understand why a bank that has this many customers doesn’t report to more CRA’s.
I have done it twice with Monzo no issue 
Renewing from my understand doesn’t do a new credit check. If you let your upgrade option on the iup program lapse then make a new application it would do a hard check, and at that point may fail.
I would challenge that with this quote from the T&Cs:
Enrol in a new iPhone Upgrade Programme which includes:
- agreeing to purchase a new AppleCare+ policy;
- paying a further Upfront Payment; and
- applying for and entering into a new 20-month 0% APR instalment loan (“New Instalment Loan”) with Bank.
Either way, in my circumstance I actually paid off the previous loan and sold the phone to my brother therefore it was a brand new application so a credit check was required.
I used it this time after asking the guy in the Apple store his thoughts and he said many had gone through that day with Monzo with no issues.
