Apple to Soon Let Users Fix Subscription Billing Issues Directly Within Apps

[MacRumors]

Apple will soon make it possible for users to fix App Store subscription payment issues within apps, rather than having to go into their device's Settings to make the necessary changes.

Currently if a third-party app has an issue with an auto-renewing subscription – if the payment method is no longer valid, for example – users must exit out of the app and make the changes in the Apple ID section of the Settings app.

This system often forces users to take out the subscription again, which can cause them to lose any in-app discounts or introductory subscription offers. However, that's set to change. From Apple's announcement on its developer website:

Starting this summer, if an auto-renewable subscription doesn't renew due to a billing issue, a system-provided sheet appears in your app with a prompt that lets customers update their payment method for their Apple ID. No action is required to adopt this feature.

The new in-app system should make it easier for users to resolve payment issues, says Apple, meaning developers should be better able to retain subscribers and benefit from in-app purchases.

When it goes live in the summer, Apple says the in-app billing issue resolution sheet will require iPhones and iPads to be running a minimum of iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4, respectively.

Article Link: Apple to Soon Let Users Fix Subscription Billing Issues Directly Within Apps

 

[DigitalAR]

I recall when cancelling a subscription was hidden in the billing settings within the App Store.

And then it was moved into settings kinda hidden.

Now it’s easier to access. Much easier.

And now it’ll be even easier.

Which is great.

But this doesn’t solve the issue of unessessary loot boxes and spending.

Whatever. I just wanted to be first.

 

[Realityck]

The new in-app system should make it easier for users to resolve payment issues, says Apple, meaning developers should be better able to retain subscribers and benefit from in-app purchases.D

Good that they changing this to be easily found not hidden within apps. Still doesn’t seem to allow anything else outside App Store like different pricing.

 

[klasma]

Doesn’t help for subscriptions made outside Apple that save you the 30% Apple tax.

 

[chachawpi]

Doesn’t help for subscriptions made outside Apple that save you the 30% Apple tax.

Seriously. Why would someone knowingly pay 30% more for something?

 

[OS X Dude]

Seriously. Why would someone knowingly pay 30% more for something?

Devil's advocate - ease of cancellation. How many companies make you go around the houses to cancel a subscription? Fine for you and I, not so fine for older people or the less tech-literate. For them, that safety net is worth a couple of quid more per month.

 

[siddavis]

I don't think this is the same thing, but it would have been great to have ANY kind of support over the weekend with my MLS Season Pass subscription. All my devices were kicked out right at game time and said I needed to subscribe. The only Apple Support option was to send an email or schedule a call for the next day. Wonderful!

Sent an email and the response - 2 days later - was "sorry for the inconvenience".

 

[0924487]

Devil's advocate - ease of cancellation. How many companies make you go around the houses to cancel a subscription? Fine for you and I, not so fine for older people or the less tech-literate. For them, that safety net is worth a couple of quid more per month.

Just call cc company for fraud. They will investigate and even terminate their merchant accounts and payment gateway access.

 

[compwiz1202]

Devil's advocate - ease of cancellation. How many companies make you go around the houses to cancel a subscription? Fine for you and I, not so fine for older people or the less tech-literate. For them, that safety net is worth a couple of quid more per month.

*cough*SiriusXM*cough* And everything is in one place too, so you can just quick check subs.

 

[ROF]

Devil's advocate - ease of cancellation. How many companies make you go around the houses to cancel a subscription? Fine for you and I, not so fine for older people or the less tech-literate. For them, that safety net is worth a couple of quid more per month.

Absolutely!

And not just old people--it can be a massive time suck following the circuitous path many vendors have created to unsubscribe.

I was annoyed by the early iterations of Apple's subscription dashboard but I've come to really appreciate a single, easy-to-find spot to manage all subscriptions. For the one-off months of HBO or other streaming services, it's super convenient.

As long as Apple requires vendors to also keep unsubscribe option in Apple dashboard, I'm good.

 

[OS X Dude]

Just call cc company for fraud. They will investigate and even terminate their merchant accounts and payment gateway access.

That's a faff, though, and do that enough times and they may take a 'boy who cried wolf' approach which will bite you if you really do become a victim of genuine fraud. Plus, it's not fraud so you may find they won't help following their investigation. You may have luck with a chargeback claim, but I doubt fraud would get you anywhere, realistically.

 

[Numbah One]

I'll believe it when I see it. The last couple of subscriptions I got rid of had to be canceled over the phone with someone in customer support who had LONG, pre-written scripts they insisted on reading. If a subscription can be done in the App finally, I'm for it.

 

[Verified Whiskey]

Another reason to use apps from the App Store.

 

[0924487]

That's a faff, though, and do that enough times and they may take a 'boy who cried wolf' approach which will bite you if you really do become a victim of genuine fraud. Plus, it's not fraud so you may find they won't help following their investigation. You may have luck with a chargeback claim, but I doubt fraud would get you anywhere, realistically.

Word it base on the situation of course. Maybe ask for a stop payment. Some credit card companies allow you to do that in the app directly. You can stop the next payment from the merchant and all future charges regardless of amount will be declined even if it’s not a recurring charge.

 

[iStorm]

*cough*SiriusXM*cough* And everything is in one place too, so you can just quick check subs.

Haha, I loathe SiriusXM and OnStar. For SiriusXM, I ended up switching my payment method to a VISA debit gift card...and then spent the money. For OnStar, I switched my payment method to PayPal...and then went into my PayPal account to remove it from there. OnStar finally just noticed my payment method no longer works after three-ish years (probably only because they had to change my plan after the 3G sunset).

On that note, does the Apple Card allow you to create several virtual numbers to give out, and be able to cancel/deactivate them when no longer needed? Sort of like Hide My Email, but for credit cards...

 

[compwiz1202]

I'll believe it when I see it. The last couple of subscriptions I got rid of had to be canceled over the phone with someone in customer support who had LONG, pre-written scripts they insisted on reading. If a subscription can be done in the App finally, I'm for it.

SiriusXM. I'm not even sure anymore how we actually got it canceled. That alone would make me never sub again.

 

[compwiz1202]

Haha, I loathe SiriusXM and OnStar. For SiriusXM, I ended up switching my payment method to a VISA debit gift card...and then spent the money. For OnStar, I switched my payment method to PayPal...and then went into my PayPal account to remove it from there. OnStar finally just noticed my payment method no longer works after three-ish years (probably only because they had to change my plan after the 3G sunset).

On that note, does the Apple Card allow you to create several virtual numbers to give out, and be able to cancel/deactivate them when no longer needed? Sort of like Hide My Email, but for credit cards...

OnStar wasn't a problem for us, but Sirius is ridiculous. Somehow they finally canceled it after calls upon calls for hours. I wish they would pass the law in PA already that everything can be canceled online. I won't sub to anything where you need to call to cancel anymore.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I just want Apple to let me merge my pre-iCloud iTunes account with my iCloud account.

My old original iTunes account is an old AppleID that *isn't* a full email address. It's just a name. (If my username here were it, it would be just anonymousfreak rather than anonymousfreak@icloud.com) But of course I later created the iCloud account, so now I have "account for purchases" separate from my iCloud account, which also means billing things in two accounts. I get AppleTV+ through iCloud+ Family Plan, but at one point apparently I subscribed using my old iTunes account, and was double billed for a few months before I noticed. Plus I have to subscribe to iTunes Match through the iTunes account.

 

[Abazigal]

Seriously. Why would someone knowingly pay 30% more for something?

Premium notwithstanding, I think it's nice to be able to track and manage all your subscriptions in one place. I have them listed in an app called Bobby, recently had to cancel my cards, which in turn meant I had to visit each of these websites one by one to change my billing details. I am currently still having issues adding a new credit card to my office subscription, so I hope I can settle that before September.

That said, not all apps charge more if you are subscribing via iTunes. For example, Netflix is the same $22 / month whether I subscribe via their app or their website, so it really boils down to whether I want to let Netflix keep 100% of their revenue or let Apple dip 15%.

 

[svish]

Seems like it will be easier now.

 

[OS X Dude]

Word it base on the situation of course. Maybe ask for a stop payment. Some credit card companies allow you to do that in the app directly. You can stop the next payment from the merchant and all future charges regardless of amount will be declined even if it’s not a recurring charge.

This is exactly the point - you shouldn't have to do that. Contrary to what the Internet would have you believe, many people are doing just fine and would gladly pay an extra £2-3/month for this convenience and peace of mind. I can think of a whole bunch of people I know who do, off the top of my head.

 

[0924487]

This is exactly the point - you shouldn't have to do that. Contrary to what the Internet would have you believe, many people are doing just fine and would gladly pay an extra £2-3/month for this convenience and peace of mind. I can think of a whole bunch of people I know who do, off the top of my head.

I spend a lot of money on App Store. For me, it's not just a $2 difference per month.

The most expensive app I paid for is $139, and roughly $42 went to Apple.

 

[_Spinn_]

This is a great change!