iTMS (UK) no longer available...

mpw · Nov 27, 2004, 06:00 PM

....in my area.

Since iTMS was launched I've happily downloading the weekly free tracks and maybe 2-3 paid for tracks a week without any problem, only confirming my .mac password when prompted.

Today I went to download a track for the first time from my shiney new iMac (woo-hoo!) and got the error message that the service was no longer available in my area!

Anybody else had this problem?

Other than the iMac nothing has changed and I've opened the curtains to check I've not moved and everything.(damn the lawn needs weeding!)

Mark James · Nov 27, 2004, 06:39 PM

In the immortal words of the Sun, Hop Off You Frogs!

mpw · Nov 27, 2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark James

In the immortal words of the Sun, Hop Off You Frogs!

What?

Mark James · Nov 27, 2004, 06:51 PM

Sorry, probably before your time: 1980s newspaper headline in response to some legislation the French where trying to put through the EU.

Perhaps Apple are confused as to where the Channel Islands are? There's already a French Music Store, so it can't be that the company have ceded you to France.

C'est mystérieux...

mpw · Nov 27, 2004, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark James

Sorry, probably before your time: 1980s newspaper headline in response to some legislation the French where trying to put through the EU.

Perhaps Apple are confused as to where the Channel Islands are? There's already a French Music Store, so it can't be that the company have ceded you to France.

C'est mystérieux...

It's not before my time, I'm just not a Sun reader. It's news is fantasy and the porn is half-hearted, I like it the other way round.

I tried the French store and get the message that my account is only available at the ITMS UK. Catch 22, I'm awaiting word back from Apple customer service.

Mark James · Nov 27, 2004, 07:50 PM

Just Googled this up, from some site called 'Macrumours':

*****

dogsbody

Well, Guernsey (and I presume the other Channel Islands) aren't allowed to use the iTunes UK Music Store. Shame about that - they e-mailed back to say it wasn't available in my region yet, but to keep an eye on the previews so I can line some up for when it IS available. That's courtesy for you.

Not so happy day any more

*****

No idea when it was posted (could only view the cached version). Were you barred from the UK iTMS when it originally opened for business?

Perhaps one of your fellow islanders has complained about having to pay the VAT element. Expect a six year interruption to service whilst it goes through the courts...

mpw · Nov 28, 2004, 03:17 AM

I've changed the post code for my .mac account (to Apple's Regent Street Apple Store post code) but left the rest of my address correct and it's had no problem letting me download.

Not exacty the most cast iron of security systems at iTMS but as long as I get access I'll not complain.

Now I wonder if Fairplay is as easy to get around?

dogsbody · Nov 28, 2004, 11:38 AM

Hi and thanks for the e-mail you sent me mpw,

I found a solution to my problem relatively soon after my initial disappointment - typing your postcode in lower case does the trick.

Now, I have a couple of suspicions about the reasons that Apple is allowing this to happen, because this 'trick' was even listed in the local newspaper as a method for bypassing the restrictions...

I reckon that Apple know that people can get around the postcode requirements, but they'd rather get a load of people buying songs from the iTMS than banning them til they crank out a CI version....either way, it's pretty clear that they can't be arsed to sort out a VAT redempt version of it - not for our small populations, anyway.

No doubt there's an Apple spokes'person' somewhere that will happily decline to comment on the whole issue...

All the best & happy dodgy-postcoding,

Dogsbody

Nermal · 03:24 PM

You're lucky you can do this, actually. The US store matches the postcode with the city - if the postcode you enter doesn't match the city name, you get an error. Apple thinks I live in Beverly Hills 90210, because it's the only city/code combination I know (note that I'm actually in NZ)

I have 65 iTunes songs, so I'm doing quite well for someone who 'shouldn't' be able to get them

aswitcher · Nov 28, 2004, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nermal

You're lucky you can do this, actually. The US store matches the postcode with the city - if the postcode you enter doesn't match the city name, you get an error. Apple thinks I live in Beverly Hills 90210, because it's the only city/code combination I know (note that I'm actually in NZ)

I have 65 iTunes songs, so I'm doing quite well for someone who 'shouldn't' be able to get them

But you need a US bank credit card to do this right?

Nermal · Nov 28, 2004, 03:36 PM

Usually, yes. I happened to acquire a $50 gift certificate though

(the other 15 songs are the weekly freebies)

Nov 27, 2004, 06:00 PM	#1
mpw Guest Join Date: Jun 2004	iTMS (UK) no longer available... ....in my area. Since iTMS was launched I've happily downloading the weekly free tracks and maybe 2-3 paid for tracks a week without any problem, only confirming my .mac password when prompted. Today I went to download a track for the first time from my shiney new iMac (woo-hoo!) and got the error message that the service was no longer available in my area! Anybody else had this problem? Other than the iMac nothing has changed and I've opened the curtains to check I've not moved and everything.(damn the lawn needs weeding!)
	0

Nov 28, 2004, 03:17 AM	#7
mpw Thread Starter Guest Join Date: Jun 2004	I Think I 'Fixed' It I've changed the post code for my .mac account (to Apple's Regent Street Apple Store post code) but left the rest of my address correct and it's had no problem letting me download. Not exacty the most cast iron of security systems at iTMS but as long as I get access I'll not complain. Now I wonder if Fairplay is as easy to get around?
	0

Nov 28, 2004, 11:38 AM	#8
dogsbody macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Channel Islands	Alternative way of circumventing Apple's iTMS security Hi and thanks for the e-mail you sent me mpw, I found a solution to my problem relatively soon after my initial disappointment - typing your postcode in lower case does the trick. Now, I have a couple of suspicions about the reasons that Apple is allowing this to happen, because this 'trick' was even listed in the local newspaper as a method for bypassing the restrictions... I reckon that Apple know that people can get around the postcode requirements, but they'd rather get a load of people buying songs from the iTMS than banning them til they crank out a CI version....either way, it's pretty clear that they can't be arsed to sort out a VAT redempt version of it - not for our small populations, anyway. No doubt there's an Apple spokes'person' somewhere that will happily decline to comment on the whole issue... All the best & happy dodgy-postcoding, Dogsbody __________________ And boom iMac 24, MBP 17 2.4, PB17 1.67, PB15 1.25, iMac Snow, iMac Bondi
	0

Nov 28, 2004, 03:21 PM	#9
Nermal Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Whakatane, New Zealand	You're lucky you can do this, actually. The US store matches the postcode with the city - if the postcode you enter doesn't match the city name, you get an error. Apple thinks I live in Beverly Hills 90210, because it's the only city/code combination I know (note that I'm actually in NZ) I have 65 iTunes songs, so I'm doing quite well for someone who 'shouldn't' be able to get them Last edited by Nermal; Nov 28, 2004 at 03:24 PM.
	0

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Nov 27, 2004, 06:39 PM	#2
Mark James macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sarf London	In the immortal words of the Sun, Hop Off You Frogs!
	0

Nov 27, 2004, 06:51 PM	#4
Mark James macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sarf London	Sorry, probably before your time: 1980s newspaper headline in response to some legislation the French where trying to put through the EU. Perhaps Apple are confused as to where the Channel Islands are? There's already a French Music Store, so it can't be that the company have ceded you to France. C'est mystérieux...
	0

Nov 27, 2004, 07:50 PM	#6
Mark James macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sarf London	Just Googled this up, from some site called 'Macrumours': *** dogsbody Well, Guernsey (and I presume the other Channel Islands) aren't allowed to use the iTunes UK Music Store. Shame about that - they e-mailed back to say it wasn't available in my region yet, but to keep an eye on the previews so I can line some up for when it IS available. That's courtesy for you. Not so happy day any more *** No idea when it was posted (could only view the cached version). Were you barred from the UK iTMS when it originally opened for business? Perhaps one of your fellow islanders has complained about having to pay the VAT element. Expect a six year interruption to service whilst it goes through the courts...
	0

Nov 28, 2004, 03:36 PM	#11
Nermal Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Whakatane, New Zealand	Usually, yes. I happened to acquire a $50 gift certificate though (the other 15 songs are the weekly freebies)
	0


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