iPhone Upgrade Program and maintaining major carrier to stay eligible

[iMore Question]

I signed up for the upgrade program last year and open a Tmobile account but found cricket to have better coverage in my area. Fast forward I went into the apple store to get my upgrade iPhone 7plus in black. All was fine until I was asked for my carrier information. I told the apple associate I don't have one of the major carriers. Im using cricket. She gave me a blank stare and walked away. After a few minutes she came back and I was told i had to resign up with a carrier to leave the store with the phone. I understood signing up for the program initially required one of the 4 carriers but didn't know it was a requirement to upgrade yearly. did anyone else have this experience?

 

[nikkisharif]

They only offer the upgrade program for the 4 major carriers, regardless of if you're new to the program or upgrading. That has been a condition since inception.