Microsoft abruptly ends Surface Plus consumer financing program

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

The "ultimate way to own a Surface" is shutting its doors starting today.

Microsoft today ended its Surface Plus financing program for consumers, shuttering the service for new enrollees just a year after it first launched.

The move was first spotted by OnMSFT as an update to the Surface Plus promotional page (opens in new tab). The page now displays a short message, reading:

Microsoft is ending new enrollment into the Surface Plus Program, financed by Klarna, starting August 31st, 2018.

In an accompanying FAQ, Microsoft notes that, while the service will no longer be available for new enrollees, things will continue to operate as normal for existing Surface Plus customers. Those who took advantage of the program will continue to make payments through the 24-month plan, and accounts in good standing after 18 monthly payments will still be eligible to upgrade to a new device on a new 24-month plan.

As of September 30, Microsoft will also shut the doors on the Surface Plus online portal. Existing customers will have to reach out to Microsoft by phone to address any questions or concerns about their plans.

While Surface Plus for consumers is ending, the Surface Plus for Business program will continue on as normal.

Without a definitive explanation from Microsoft, it's unclear why the program is ending so soon. Possibilities range from there not being enough interest from consumers to Microsoft simply deciding to end its relationship with Klarna, the creditor behind the program. While the reasoning is open to speculation, the move comes at an interesting time; Microsoft this week just opened up a new financing program for Xbox called Xbox All Access, which provides a new console, along with 24 months of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for one monthly fee.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

22 Comments
  • I wonder if it has to do with Xbox All Access being financed through Dell. Seems like maybe they struck a deal with them so this financing program must end for a new one with Dell to start.
  • But that doesn't mean they have to close down the entire programme. You simply "transition" the records over to the new provider/creditor.
  • The current users are still being serviced by the original finance company. It is possible that a new program with Dell will be created. They could still be working out the details, but dont want to continue offering the old while setting up the new.
  • I was thinking the same thing
  • It's been the Microsoft way for a while to end something without a replacement, come up with a replacement months later at a bare bones stage, and take another year to get to the point where the original product was.
  • That would be scroogle, oh wait they never come up with a replacement.
  • Ha ha ha. How funny is that comment Hoppman. Totally inaccurate as well! BTW, SCROOGLE makes you sound like a salty 7 year old. MS, Apple, and Google are ALL THE SAME. They do the same things, no one is better or worse than the other.
  • Dell has an app that make your Android phone working on your Windows 10 laptop / PC. Something that Microsoft till now never get working for all in the right way.
  • What does Dell Connect have to do with this article or comments??
  • Every article is an open thread for complaining.
  • So true lol
  • I purchased my Surface Pro through the Plus plan and it switched from Klarna when I filled out the application, and the first bill came through Dell Financial.
  • From what I understand, the new Xbox All Access program is financed through Dell, which may explain the ending of the Surface Plus program. Microsoft's new agreement with Dell likely includes them ending relations with other creditors. Perhaps Microsoft is moving existing Surface Plus customers to Dell while it prepares to set up a new Surface financial program. Or maybe it's entirely unrelated, who knows.
  • And it will meet the same sad end that the Surface Plus program did. Microsoft just doesn't get it.
  • I didn't qualify for this anyway, but hopefully Xbox all access won't be as restrictive... Later Klarna! Who am I kidding? I can't have anything!
  • I don't think this was a thing in Canada. If it was, I never heard of it or I would have shifted my business to Microsoft instead of dell. Maybe its a good thing I didn't then!
  • Yeah but the Xbox All Access is financing through Dell, so there's no worries there.
  • Had no idea this even existed, US only I guess? Seems like the usual way these things (don't) go with Microsoft, like the 360 deal before and probably the One deal in the future. Makes you wonder why they keep trying.
  • I absolutely agree that Microsoft needs to step up their international game to ever be a cohesive and long-term threat in all the markets they're trying to reach, but I'm also fully aware that despite many services and programs being limited to the US market, Microsoft is still one of the most profitable and successful businesses in the world.
    That doesn't make me wonder why they keep trying. I know why they keep trying: they're making buckets of money in the US. What it makes me wonder is why they're not trying harder to break into the international market more completely. If Microsoft is so incredibly successful in the US, what could they do with the rest of the world?
  • "While Surface Plus for consumers is ending, the Surface Plus for Business program will continue on as normal." large companies have more than enough money to buy these devices flat out. Why remove this plan for consumers? The ones who can't fork over $4000 for a new surface book. Once again, Microsoft is showing that they don't care about consumers.
  • Seems like this may be related to the Xbox All Access program being financed through Dell rather than the original creditor with Surface Plus. It may be part of the agreement with Dell that Microsoft has to end relations with other creditors.
    Or maybe it has nothing to do with this. Microsoft is notoriously bad at communication, a fact I have commonly lamented in the past.
  • This is sad! Again Microsoft can't commit. Smh