Sounds to me like a good way to get your Apple Card account flagged for possible fraudulent activity. GS seems to be a pretty savy creditor, their internal fraud dept is bound to catch onto this game if they haven't already done so.
they also might just cancel the payment plan instead of crediting to your account balance seeing as how you didn't actually pay for the device out of your available credit.
Starting Score:FICO8s 505ex, 508 eq&tu
@masscredit wrote:I'm wondering how banks look at returns when it comes to usage? For example, I was recently approved for an Apple Card when I purchased a new iPad from Apple. I decided to go with AT&T's offer which breaks the payments up over 36 months and no interest. Plus it doesn't count against my credit card utilization (that was the most important part for me). So I'm going to return the first iPad to Apple when it comes in. That will be a credit. That and my other charges for the month will post as the high balance for the card. A manual review from the issuer will see it as a return. But do they dig that deep or is it just shown as a credit? And on reports, it's just part of the high balance.
I'm sure they do "dig that deep" and will see it for what it is.
I read thru the Apple Card terms and conditions and didn't see anything at all about returns of items in payment plans.
just the standard boilerplate Your account may be closed by us at any time for any reason vagueness
Did you read the full terms and conditions of AT&Ts 36month offer?
I'm sure there's a paragraph or two about returning the device in there somewhere
Ok back to the original question
the last time I returned something it was within the same billing cycle and the ccc credited the amount against my balance. Then the next month an adjustment was made to my rewards points balance automatically. (Removing the points I earned on the purchase)
so it definitely codes differently than a credit for a payment.
In your situation because the balance of the payment plan is not tied to your available credit, I don't think they will credit the refund to your balance.
and if they do I would expect it to be reversed in a month or so because the charge didn't have an authorization number from your card account in the first place.
@Snook_on_the_Line wrote:Ok back to the original question
the last time I returned something it was within the same billing cycle and the ccc credited the amount against my balance. Then the next month an adjustment was made to my rewards points balance automatically. (Removing the points I earned on the purchase)
so it definitely codes differently than a credit for a payment.
In your situation because the balance of the payment plan is not tied to your available credit, I don't think they will credit the refund to your balance.
and if they do I would expect it to be reversed in a month or so because the charge didn't have an authorization number from your card account in the first place.
I'm keeping the case that was ordered with the first iPad from Apple. The card will be PIF before the statement closes. Or, a slim chance I might just let the balance post then PIF. Either way, the return will be done before the closing date. I'm just looking at in general, when there is a purchange made that pushes the balance to the highest balance on the card then the item is returned, is that balance looked at by lenders as being the highest balance on that card that was paid? I'm not wondering this for any shady reasons. Just wondering how it works. 
So now I'm confused
That what I get for trying to do three things at once.
let me see if I understand this correctly
1. You have Apple devices that you still owed on
2. decide it's time to upgrade, so you app for the Apple Card during checkout. Approved
3. Purchase ipad#1 with card.
4. Purchase ipad#2 thru att payment plan.
4.5. Pay off old devices with card and make a couple other purchases. Now you have a balance including an iPad and a payment plan for an iPad.
5. Want to know if returning one iPad will be reflected on your reports as making an iPad sized payment to your card balance.
Did I get it right?
***edit***
just read the last post you wrote while I was writing this post
if you pif before the statement date the high credit on your report will be zero if this is your first statement.