Why Apple wants your credit card when downloading free apps?

[mattkowalski]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous. One is more likely to expect that when making a huge initial/maintenance outlay, that that is that, bar upgrades. However you can't really class buying apps as upgrade, because that is what the device was designed for, running apps, being multi functional.

Wow - your argument has made me realise that I shouldn't have been paying for software/games for my PC/games consoles over the years! I've been cheated!

[Interstella5555]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous.

Yeah, imagine my anger and surprise after buying a PS3 (and this is after buying my TV, paying for internet service and paying rent!!!!) that I would actually have to purchase games for it. Man, so angry....

What it is like, is buying an expensive wifi router, paying for an expensive Internet connection, then having to pay for each time you want to download/browse different types of data/connections.

I want to use google .........thats free, but we need your cc/dc details
I want to look at https .............£1.99 please
I want to look at a YouTube vid ....£0.99 please
I want to use FTP...............£2.99 please
I want to download a free PDF.....£3.99 please
I want to acces my email.......£1.99 please

Would you consider that reasonable, just to make use of what your Internet connection was designed for? Paying for extra services, or app support is expected,, but do you really buy these devices expecting to sheep out more just for apps/fulfil its intended potential?

I would assume (generally) that if you can afford to buy a $300.00+ device with a $100 per month contract, you can probably afford a $40.00, one time cost router. Unless you're buying yours at Overpricedelectronics.com (I hear they sell HDMI cables too).

I'm also not sure what your "pricing" chart is supposed to convey. By your logic, how is google free? As you said, you're already paying for service. And Scaled pricing for YouTube/HTTPS/PDF? How in the world is it going to cost you that much to download a free PDF? Mixed, confusing analogies don't really work that well for getting your...point (meandering thought train?) across. Again, how are you paying "extra" here? You pay for an internet connect (cost). You buy a iPhone (cost) You access youtube (free app) over wifi (already paying for) and...pay more all of the sudden?

POINT 3:

Why shouldn't I be allowed to re-download an app I have already paid for if my cc/dc on file is declined for whatever reason. Having free access to apps already paid for is part of the sales package. By removing this option, it's like selling you a car, then after you paid for it, and they have your money, they then take the wheels off because there is no money in your bank?!?

Again, you're mixing analogies here. It's more like you buy a car (the phone) and buy the upgraded stereo system (the app), losing the stereo system, and expecting them to give it to you again. There's no loss of functionality because the app wasn't there to begin with; you purchased it separately.

[fat jez]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 2:

There is no PayPal option the choose funding method, nor is there a 'none' option in the card selection.

I can tell you don't live in the US, by the mere fact that you have to enter a credit card when creating your Apple ID. It's the same in the UK, you can't download free apps without an Apple ID. You can, as far as I remember, put in card while creating the Apple ID and then delete the card when finished. I think it's just to verify your registered address against your billing address.

[Almy]

Can you not use gift cards instead of a credit card to start an account like we can in the USA? I just figured something like that was universal.

[fat jez]

Originally Posted by Almy

Can you not use gift cards instead of a credit card to start an account like we can in the USA? I just figured something like that was universal.

Yes you can. But we don't have the option to set up an account without some means of payment being registered, even if we only want the free Apple apps.

It was a pain at work when we wanted to grab the free update to Lion. To get that through the App Store needed an Apple ID, which needed a credit card. Since it was done on eligibility of purchase date, this meant creating new Apple IDs for the MacBook Pros which were eligible, just so we could download Lion.

[Lukkee24]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous.

You don't have to buy apps if you don't want to, it's your choice - you don't have to do anything.

[stroked]

I can understand why this would be frustrating, when you can do all of this with any computer, right out of the box.

Originally Posted by Salviablue

I want to use google .........thats free, but we need your cc/dc details
I want to look at https .............£1.99 please
I want to look at a YouTube vid ....£0.99 please
I want to use FTP...............£2.99 please
I want to download a free PDF.....£3.99 please
I want to acces my email.......£1.99 please
?

[Austin45322]

Originally Posted by DeathChill

Yeah you can create an account without a credit card, so just do that.

How do you do that because I did not see that option

[iHelios]

Originally Posted by Almy

You can also use a gift card instead of a credit card to set up an iTunes account.

this

[DeathChill]

Originally Posted by Austin45322

How do you do that because I did not see that option

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534?v...S&locale=en_US

[barredfreak]

This is to make it easier for future purchases, in case you're unfamiliar. Apple has something called '1-Click Purchasing' and without your credit card pre-entered, even downloading an in-app purchase in a free app would be troublesome and not '1-Click'.

[Mac.World]

Originally Posted by jgalan14

Is just does for some weird reason. I had my credit card with the, for over 5 years nothing has happened so your safe don't worry. Maybe just making sure your an adult lol

Originally Posted by LithePanther

Paranoid much...?

If they were stealing your information, someone would have realized by now, and a huge company such as Apple could never weather the kind of PR *****torm that would cause

Hate to say this, but my account was hacked twice since 2008. Once while I was living in England and once while I was living in the States. I use varying 12 digit alpha, numeric, upper and lower case, plus special keys. This was two seperate credit cards. I no longer give Apple any of my credit card info. Ever!

[Eddie Bombay]

In app purchases.

[Zerostop94025]

POINT 3:

Why shouldn't I be allowed to re-download an app I have already paid for if my cc/dc on file is declined for whatever reason. Having free access to apps already paid for is part of the sales package. By removing this option, it's like selling you a car, then after you paid for it, and they have your money, they then take the wheels off because there is no money in your bank?!?[/QUOTE]

Hi newbie here
I have a 4s 64 gig iPhone I live in the US in Cal I want on a trip to Seattle for Xmas. First I am an iTunes/App nut meaning out of 64 gig I had like 405 mb (give or take) left of room. Any ways when I got here I to Seattle I had to reset my iPhone to it factory setting meaning I lost everything but I'm like that ok I got iCloud and iTunes Match. Here the thing my plain tick it was saved in a app I lost my I.D. ( had a pic of it in the iCloud but it didn't save it wtf) and seeing how I max out my card on New Years I could not get my apps back now I'm still here in Seattle freezing. Thank you to who Evers idea it was to make it so I can't get my F$&@ing app back so I can miss work ps my pay Check dose not go right to Wells Fargo cuz I just some guy with a lame job/jr. college life.
I trust you smart people at the store and by bend me over and tell me to think happy it only hurt at first.

[wxman2003]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous. One is more likely to expect that when making a huge initial/maintenance outlay, that that is that, bar upgrades. However you can't really class buying apps as upgrade, because that is what the device was designed for, running apps, being multi functional.

I know! It's like hiring someone to work for you, and then having to pay them. What's up with that? I mean, I'm the one that spent my money on the company, and then these workers expect me to pay them! Absurd!

[vastoholic]

Originally Posted by Zerostop94025

POINT 3:

Why shouldn't I be allowed to re-download an app I have already paid for if my cc/dc on file is declined for whatever reason. Having free access to apps already paid for is part of the sales package. By removing this option, it's like selling you a car, then after you paid for it, and they have your money, they then take the wheels off because there is no money in your bank?!?

Hi newbie here
I have a 4s 64 gig iPhone I live in the US in Cal I want on a trip to Seattle for Xmas. First I am an iTunes/App nut meaning out of 64 gig I had like 405 mb (give or take) left of room. Any ways when I got here I to Seattle I had to reset my iPhone to it factory setting meaning I lost everything but I'm like that ok I got iCloud and iTunes Match. Here the thing my plain tick it was saved in a app I lost my I.D. ( had a pic of it in the iCloud but it didn't save it wtf) and seeing how I max out my card on New Years I could not get my apps back now I'm still here in Seattle freezing. Thank you to who Evers idea it was to make it so I can't get my F$&@ing app back so I can miss work ps my pay Check dose not go right to Wells Fargo cuz I just some guy with a lame job/jr. college life.
I trust you smart people at the store and by bend me over and tell me to think happy it only hurt at first.

I thought you could redownload apps that were in the cloud without going through that sort of thing. I'm sorry about your situation. That does indeed suck. I don't know what else to say about it though.

[thewitt]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous. One is more likely to expect that when making a huge initial/maintenance outlay, that that is that, bar upgrades. However you can't really class buying apps as upgrade, because that is what the device was designed for, running apps, being multi functional.

You don't have to buy any apps. Your phone is fully functional without purchasing any additional apps.

One does not need a cc/dc to buy the device in the first place, or for data plans/Internet connections, nor indeed does one even need a bank account (although it's difficult to a provider that will allow payments via postal/money or on line payment accounts like PayPal or alertpay. Before anyone points out you need a cc/dc to use PayPal etc., you only need one to initially open up the account, after that you can remove the card and still use the account - charge it up with the likes of eBay sales, spend from there).

As has been pointed out, with a link to instructions, you don't need a credit card to download free apps.

Why shouldn't I be allowed to re-download an app I have already paid for if my cc/dc on file is declined for whatever reason. Having free access to apps already paid for is part of the sales package. By removing this option, it's like selling you a car, then after you paid for it, and they have your money, they then take the wheels off because there is no money in your bank?!?

You can redownload an app you have purchased, no problem. No credit card required.

[tech4all]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous. One is more likely to expect that when making a huge initial/maintenance outlay, that that is that, bar upgrades. However you can't really class buying apps as upgrade, because that is what the device was designed for, running apps, being multi functional.

Not sure why I'm bothering but...

Do have a PS3/XBox? You have to buy games.
Do you have a car? You have to buy gas.
Do you have a computer? You have to buy software? You say there's free apps? Same with smartphones.

Your argument is silly, moot, and ignorant.

I hope you're a 12 year old and don't know what you're talking about.

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by chris2k5

You need a debit or credit card on your Apple ID account to download anything free or paid. Simple as that.

I don’t use a credit or debit card on my apple account. I simply credit gift cards to my account and buy apps using that money

[tl01]

Originally Posted by Salviablue

POINT 1:

first off, buying an expensive piece of equipment, with an expensive data plan, then being expected to have to buy apps is rediculous. One is more likely to expect that when making a huge initial/maintenance outlay, that that is that, bar upgrades. However you can't really class buying apps as upgrade, because that is what the device was designed for, running apps, being multi functional.

One does not need a cc/dc to buy the device in the first place, or for data plans/Internet connections, nor indeed does one even need a bank account (although it's difficult to a provider that will allow payments via postal/money or on line payment accounts like PayPal or alertpay. Before anyone points out you need a cc/dc to use PayPal etc., you only need one to initially open up the account, after that you can remove the card and still use the account - charge it up with the likes of eBay sales, spend from there).

Ones Internet connection maybe bundled with their mobile or landline bill, which cabe payed with cash every month (tether the iPad/iDevice to the mobile, wifi to the landline).

What it is like, is buying an expensive wifi router, paying for an expensive Internet connection, then having to pay for each time you want to download/browse different types of data/connections.

I want to use google .........thats free, but we need your cc/dc details
I want to look at https .............£1.99 please
I want to look at a YouTube vid ....£0.99 please
I want to use FTP...............£2.99 please
I want to download a free PDF.....£3.99 please
I want to acces my email.......£1.99 please

Would you consider that reasonable, just to make use of what your Internet connection was designed for? Paying for extra services, or app support is expected,, but do you really buy these devices expecting to sheep out more just for apps/fulfil its intended potential?

POINT 2:

There is no PayPal option the choose funding method, nor is there a 'none' option in the card selection.

POINT 3:

Why shouldn't I be allowed to re-download an app I have already paid for if my cc/dc on file is declined for whatever reason. Having free access to apps already paid for is part of the sales package. By removing this option, it's like selling you a car, then after you paid for it, and they have your money, they then take the wheels off because there is no money in your bank?!?

So who should pay the developers to make the apps??

[ChristianJapan]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

I don’t use a credit or debit card on my apple account. I simply credit gift cards to my account and buy apps using that money

Me too, works perfectly. I even bought FCPX this way. Three big gift cards ... Secure and convenient. Even more as I can buy those card now in every convenient store.

And keep NONE as credit card in the account.

[Damolee]

Not paranoid.

When I had an iPhone 4 the first time, my account got hacked. Had a strong password too. Some chinese app purchases were made and I lost about £30 in iTunes credit. There was a big stink at the time about it.

Even now i'm dubious about having a card tied to my account, but it's the chance you take I guess.

[macingman]

Check the dates all....