AppleCare name change...

Hi...

I'm buying a friend's MacBook Pro, which has the three year extended warranty...my question is am I able to utilize the same warranty after it changes hands?...and is it possible to change the name on the warranty to mine?...

Thank you...

pramaprow said:

I'm buying a friend's MacBook Pro...am I able to utilize the same warranty after it changes hands?

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Well, if they're a friend you don't expect to suddenly become not friends with, and you're buying it cash-in-hand (both of which I assume are true); then why not just get your friend to send it to Apple on your behalf if it ever needs repair?

pramaprow said:

Hi...

I'm buying a friend's MacBook Pro, which has the three year extended warranty...my question is am I able to utilize the same warranty after it changes hands?...and is it possible to change the name on the warranty to mine?...

Thank you...

Click to expand...

Applecare warranty's are tracked by the computers serial number. Therefore...whomever is the current owner of the computer is the beneficiary of the Applecare warranty. No paperwork needs to be completed...no names need to be changed.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Applecare warranty's are tracked by the computers serial number. Therefore...whomever is the current owner of the computer is the beneficiary of the Applecare warranty. No paperwork needs to be completed...no names need to be changed.

- Nick

Click to expand...

But, the name can be changed - once. The original owner has to mail Apple the new owner's info.

Look at the faq's for Applecare on the Apple site for your country.
The TOS will list the appropriate address and what info needs to be sent.

Went through this quite a few years ago with no problem. I think we were asked to have a copy of the original receipt though that may no longer be needed.

Slydude said:

Went through this quite a few years ago with no problem. I think we were asked to have a copy of the original receipt though that may no longer be needed.

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I don't know if the original receipt is required, but always get a legal receipt when buying a used Mac (if possible). Since only Apple (or an authorized Apple service center) are the only ones who can remove a firmware password (on newer Macs) you need to keep your receipt in order to prove ownership of the machine.

I checked recently when this came up either in this forum or somewhere else. Usually you are not asked for the receipt to prove that AppleCare is in force. Apple can check that rather easily in most cases.

Good point about the firmware password. I had not thought of that. We needed to demonstrate that the original warranty was in effect to get a logic board replaced. We had no real problems. If their had been an issue the previous owner was more than happy to provide documentation.

Thank you everyone!...

bobtomay said:

But, the name can be changed - once. The original owner has to mail Apple the new owner's info.

Click to expand...

As you know I am a big fan of purchasing used computers. I would say over the last 5 years I have purchased at least 7-10 used computers (all of them newer models at the time of purchase).

Of those 7-10...probably about 4 of them still had Applecare on them. And of those 4...I probably took 3 of them in for Applecare warranty covered issues (sometimes for minor things...sometimes for a major issue that I knew of when I purchased the computer...and only purchased the computer due to the active Applecare).

Whenever this happens (and I take the computer in for repair)...the Apple employee looks up the computers history via it's serial number...to verify active Applecare coverage. The computers history does include the previous owner's names (one or more)...but the actual previous owner(s) names, address's, phone #'s really mean next to nothing...other than simply as contact info to contact the current owner that the repairs are completed & the computer is ready for pickup.

Sometimes I'm the 2nd owner, sometimes the 3rd owner...rarely am I the 4th owner...and there is still active Applecare.

The only thing Apple cares about (when it comes to Applecare)...is the serial number of the computer. The only reason the current owners contact info is important is...just so Apple knows who to contact when repairs are completed.

My most current example. I purchased a used Early 2011 13" MacBook Pro about 2 weeks ago. It has Applecare thru September, 2014...thus someone along the way purchased extended Applecare on it (3 years Applecare). I got very lucky with this one!

I took it in for a battery issue...and all they needed (the first thing they asked for)...what is the serial number (to verify its current warranty status). They then pulled up the computers history...they asked me if I was "Mr. Blah Blah Blah"...and I said no...then they proceeded to ask & enter my contact info for the repair.

End of the day...the serial number is all that matters. That's why when I'm thinking of purchasing a newer used computer...and if it potentially still has Applecare coverage remaining (or claimed by the seller)...I use the serial number & Apple's website...to verify Applecare coverage before buying:

https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

- Nick

p.s. All of this info & my experience is based on how thing work in the United States. Other countries Applecare procedures may differ.

Get your friend to download the change of ownership from Apple, transfer to your name including your email address and it will be fine.

pramaprow said:

Again, thanks to each of you for helping me out here...the MacBook was purchased in Australia and I'm in Thailand, so we'll see (should the situation arise)...

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"Fingers Crossed" you will never need the Applecare!

- Nick

Well suggest that will be a no go.