Q: Credit Card is Declined

After 11 days of waiting, I finally received an email telling me that my account was fixed and to wait 24 hours before trying to input my credit card info and buying anything on iTunes. I waited, and it looks like it is indeed fixed. iTunes accepted my credit card, and I am now able to purchase apps again.

I also am having the same problem that many of the other users are having. I am a U.S. Soldier stationed in South Korea. I just want to buy the Nike GPS App so I go for a relaxing run and track it... I have tried all the remedies suggested in the threads here, HotSpot Shield, Express VPN, updateing from the store.apple.com site... everything, no results. I first noticed it happening about 3 days ago and also contacted Apple Support via e-mail as many of you have and also go one of the same generic replys back. My hopes are to soon get an e-mail saying i should try it again in 24 hrs....

One would think that an issue like this would get much more news coverage then just some users posting in a thread, I think this is happening on a much larger scale then what is depicted on here. I am still able to download free apps as I am sure that for some that is all they download with the not so often purchase... I read CNET news alot.. maybe sometime soon i will sync and see this issue reported.

If anyone else has any suggestions please post!

What I have tried so far:

1. Use HotSpot Shield on laptop and try to purchase on Itunes - Failure
2. Use Express VPN on IPhone and try to purchase in App Store - Failure
3. Try updateing my info in store.apple.com on a U.S. Army network which has American IP Space. - Failure
4. Send E-mail to Apple Support and have received e-mail saying someone was working on it... Will try to update if anything else is reported from Apple Support.
5. ...Get very frustrated........

i just got off the phone w/my bank. all is correct w/my address and my card. iTunes has actually even sent transactions to my bank, yet for some reason they are saying that my card info does not match my band info...hmmmm we've been using the same card for YEARS on iTunes...the bank said i'm not the first caller...USAA anyone???

I am having the same issue the crazy thing is that I can buy music and anything else except for Apps. The problem is on my laptop and iphone we need answers and Apple is acting dum on the issue. I also have not received replies to any of my emails and there 48 hour responce time is just to tell you that they are investigating. WE NEED ANSWERS

I'm having the same problem..and Apple has no help at all. Since I'm currently out of the country, and I'm not able to purchase anything. Here's the solutions from the Itune support.

1. change your country region and credit card information - Who will apply an oversea credit card while they only stays there for a month for two? And I don't think the bank will issue you a credit card when you put a hotel address as the billing address.
2. Your credit card company's servers may have been busy. Trying again later may resolve the issue.

3. Your card may not have been activated yet. If so, you will need to activate it.
4. You may need to call your credit card company before the authorization is approved.
5. You may need to ensure that you correctly located the credit card's security code. To see instructions for locating the security code, choose View My Account from the iTunes Store menu, sign in to your account, click Edit Payment Information, and then click the "What is this?" link next to the Security Code field.
6. Your billing name or address does not match the address listed on your credit card statement. Any discrepancy in punctuation, abbreviation, or capitalization can cause errors, which might prevent you from purchasing from the iTunes Store. If you moved, or if your zip code changed recently, ask your credit card company to make sure its records are up to date and match exactly what you are entering as your billing information.

Of course I did try with all my credit/debit card, even paypal before contacting them. They think I'm dumb!!!! That I'm so ****** off !!!

I have the same problem for a couple of days. I tried all my credit cards and even PayPal account. Nothing worked. Is there any solution to this issue? I just want to buy a $0.99 game! >.<

I hope people remember to read ALL the posts here. The SOLUTION has been posted. You must write to Apple on the provided form (not just here) and then wait. For them to reset your account. As not everyone is experiencing this glitch, Apple techs seem to have to fix each account manually, one at a time. Takes a lot of time. And no amount of threats seem useful to speed up the current process. I know I got very impatient and kept bugging them myself. I don't think that helped speed things up. Probably just annoyed them. But eventually (about two weeks) they got to me and fixed my account. So patience is useful in this case, I think.

Good luck.

This is definitely a system glitch from Apple iTunes that was happening to fewer people last year and intensified this last couple of weeks to a lot of people. It is not a geo location problem, but some issue with the application store anti-piracy system or whatever security feature on iTunes that became rogue.

The offending computer or device used with the account when attempting to purchase an application, becomes blocked (or embargoed) with the credit card declined loop were it is not a problem with the card, as any other payment type are also blocked, including the "none" option.

There is no need for people to VPN as the problem is also happening to US accounts based in the US, like mine.

The workaround is logging to the iTunes account in a computer different from the one that "caused" the glitch and filling up the remaining information when asked to verify the account. Still did not verify if this works under iTunes 10, but all different computers under version 9 I tried worked. However they became blocked again when tried to purchase an app. It has to be done with a computer that did not try to purchase apps after the first computer was blocked.

The embargo will continue on the app store and the user will be able only to update applications, download free applications, buy movies and songs or whatever. Don´t try to purchase apps or your computer will become blocked again.

This will work on all devices linked to one´s iTunes account, including Apple TV, PCs, iPhones and iPads.

This will work until a supervisor at iTunes unblocks your computers and account. They are overburdened with the launch of the new ipods and new iTunes 10. In my case still waiting for more than a week exchanging messages with an extremely polite agent that can´t do this by herself. iTunes does not have a customer service desk reachable by phone, only email. So hold on to your seats.

When attempting to purchase an application, the in use device or computer will become blocked and the verify account information loop will come back. Then the fix has to be find another computer (not used before) and start all over again. This works like a virus that spreads after the first device is infected as the account becomes infected. Only a non infected computer can be used for the workaround.

I am sure Apple, as a great company they are, will fix this on due time and when they recognize the problem(maybe they already have), but until then this is what is presented.

As difficult as it is to believe. Finally got an answer. Yes the answer doesn't fix the problem but it's as least a responce.
____________________________________

First email After I put in the request to support:

My name is Michael from iTunes Store Support. I understand your credit card being declined and you cannot make further purchases at this time. I know you must be looking forward to having all this taken care of, and I'll be happy to help you with this. If you would like to purchase from an iTunes Store in a particular country, you must have both a residential address and a billing address in that particular country. Items on any particular country's iTunes Store are available only for distribution to customers who use a credit card, debit card, iTunes Gift Certificate, or iTunes Gift Card issued in and for that country. For example, the U.S. iTunes Store can only sell to U.S. residents using credit cards or debit cards that were issued in and for the U.S., or U.S. residents using iTunes Gift Certificates or Gift Cards that were purchased in the U.S. I'm sorry you ran into trouble with your iTunes Store purchase. To purchase music on the iTunes Store, you need to refresh your account information in your user profile. Your time is valuable, so I would like to point out that there are several steps to take for this to be done correctly. I'll walk you through this process to get you back up and running in no time. 1) Make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes. It can be downloaded free of charge at the Apple website: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download 2) Open iTunes. 3) From the Store menu, choose Sign In. 4) Enter your account name and password then click Sign In. 5) From the Store menu, choose View My Account. 6) On your Apple Account Information page, click Edit Payment Information. 7) On the Edit Payment Information page, select the None radio button to completely remove all your credit card info. 8) Click Done, and then click Done again. 9) From the Store menu, choose Sign Out and then close iTunes completely. Once you have removed your credit card info, follow these steps: 1) Using your web browser, go to the My Apple ID page at: http://appleid.apple.com/ 2) If the site is not displayed in your preferred language, click the Change Language link in the upper-right corner, type the name of your language in the field that appears, then click the Save button. 3) Click the "Manage your account" link. 4) Type your iTunes Store account name (which is your Apple ID) in the Apple ID field, type your password in the password field, then click the Sign In button. 5) Click "Addresses" in the left column. 6) Edit your addresses and make sure the appropriate state is selected for all of them, then click the Save Changes button at the bottom. 7) Next, click "Phone Numbers" in the left column. 7) Ensure your phone numbers are formatted correctly (i.e. the area code is correctly typed into the area code field). 8) Click the Save Changes button. After you have updated your billing and shipping address, follow these last steps: 1) Open your web browser, and navigate to the Apple Store Online: http://store.apple.com 2) At the main window, choose the option to Review Your Account. 3) Log in with your iTunes Store account name using the same password you use in the iTunes Store. 4) At the Your Account screen, choose the Change Account Information option on that screen. 5) Enter your credit card billing information, including the shipping address information. 6) Choose the proper county for your address. Click continue. Your account will then be updated, and a pre-authorization amount will temporarily be charged to your credit card (which will be automatically removed). Once your account is updated, close your web browser. 7) Launch iTunes. Your iTunes Store account should work normally. If you continue to experience this issue, just reply to this email and include any more information you may have discovered. I trust the information that I have provided will be helpful to you in resolving this issue. If you have any further questions, please reply to this email and I will be happy to assist you again. Sincerely, MichaeliTunes Store Customer Support Please note my schedule is 8AM to 5:00PM(EST) Sunday to Thursday. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you. You may receive an AppleCare survey email; Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

The Misleading part is answered in the follow on email:

This is Michael again from iTunes Support. Thank you for getting back to me regarding this matter. Please accept my apologies for the delay in my response. I am sorry you continue to experience trouble editing your billing information for your iTunes Store account. Please understand if you are not within the United States, you cannot use the iTunes Store U.S iTunes Store. The U.S iTunes Store is for customers who reside within the country. If you are outside of the U.S, that is exactly why you are experiencing this problem. You may have valid billing in the iTunes Store, but you are not within the U.S states. I will continue to investigate this matter and hopefully provide a resolution for the issue you have reported, but I cannot change the terms of service of the iTunes Store to resolve this problem. You may consider creating an iTunes Store account for the correct country that you reside in. To do that, you will also need valid billing information for the country. I will email you after the matter has been investigated and further information is available. Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible. Sincerely, MichaeliTunes Store Customer Support Please note my schedule is 1PM to 9:30PM(EST). Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you. You may receive an AppleCare survey email; Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

______________________________________
interresting aspects.
1. If you call 1800-My-Apple about the problem your advised that the service desk cannot help you via phone this can only be corrected via Email.
2. If you have a creadit card associated with the account that is approved prior to you leaving the U.S. then your card will continue to work while overseas if downloading video or Music. But if downloading apps it fails.
3. The length of time to get at least this much in responce is crazy.
4. Will the app providers be happy with the fact that they are not going to make any money on the over 400,000 US people who are outside the US supporting the U.S. Military while overseas?
5. Having credit on ITUNES prevents you from being able to change your region. Your required to spend the ballance before changing the region. The ability to spend the ballance is hindered by not being able to provide a valid payment method. You'll have to do the New account request.
6. The suggested action from APPLE is to get a local credit card for the country in which they are in. Yea, like that is possible being your a U.S. Citizen assigned overseas not a overseas customer living there as a tax payer.

As for use of VPN here's what I got.

For Fun.I repeated all the steps above this time using a VPN based in the US. Well I was able to sucessfully get all the way to the last two steps. Opened the Itunes Application. selected to log-in. Entered username and password. Got the Verification is required box ...Before you can make purchases, you must click OK then verify your payment information. So Clicked OK Up comes the Edit Payment information screen. Where the credit card has all but the Seurity code information. Entered the proper number. Verified the address was correct from my Bank's statement. Country Region is United States. Select "Done" And Again Your credit card was declined. Please enter valid credit card information.

Apple is working toward blocking the VPN work around as well.

To John Makle,
Your comment toward the solution has been posted is incorrect. The solution of sending an email to the rep does not correct the problem. It only gives the user the false hope that something is being done in the background.
What is being done in the background is Apple working on Apple's security procedures in accordance with agreements toward liscense and copywrite fighting the capababilities of piracy and intellectual property circumvention has decided that the following has to take place to procure an application from the ITUNES portal.
1. You must be using a computer that is physically located in the US (using a U.S. Service provider)
2. Your credit card has to be valid with a US financial institution.
3. Your billing address for the institution must be based in the U.S.
4. ITUNES 10 application does not use the WWW ports most assume are being used with connecting with a VPN. ITUNES V10 actually uses it's own ports and protocols and therefore if you selecct a VPN tool it needs to be more than just secure web browsing. You'll have to VPN your entire connection out of your house. (All ports and protocols)
Note depending upon how the application is writted it may also require you to old school tweek and change your local computers' Time and region settings to match whichever tiem it is where the VPN service is being granted from.

Rebutle (Point of this message):
There is no "solution" posted. Only facts leading to the work-around that you'll need to ship the device to someone in the U.S. so that you can have the device acquire the application you desire every time you want another Application.

As of now I am happy. I got a reply from Apple and am able to purchase applications again using my Iphone 4 like I was able to. Not sure how long this will last for so I am going to make sure I download all that I need before it goes away again lol..

*Hi ****,

*John here. Thank you so much for your patience while the iTunes Store researched this issue. It looks like your credit card company is having an issue communicating with the iTunes Store.*

*I have good news for you. I have taken this to a senior advisor and we have done some work on your account. It has been found that this issue has been resolved. Please try again in 24 hours.*

*If you continue to have issues in 24 hours, please feel free to reply to this email and let me know.*

*Have a great day, *****.

Sincerely,

John
*iTunes Store Customer Support*

*Please Note: I work M-F, 9-6PM (EST)*

*Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you. You may receive an AppleCare survey email; any feedback you provide would be greatly appreciated.*

Not true. All one has to do is read these threads to know how false your info is. I followed the advice of the Apple tech and my account was fixed, eventually. Your information fixes nothing.

Are you currently inside the U.S.?
If so congratulations I am Jealous.
For the rest of us (most of this posting) what was posted was the email I got today from Apple tech. If you outside the U.S. you will have to get a Credit card for the country in which you are currently at and use the web site for that country.
In trying to get this worked out. For me I live in Korea. I have to navigate the Korean web page (not offered is an english translated version) where the option is "Visa" "Amexpress" "Mastercard". So not I'm off to find a bank that will allow me to get a credit card (one of the three listed above) in a country I barely understand the language of to give me an approval for a credit card.

If you tell iTunes Tech Support your are outside the US, you will receive a scripted reply based on the iTunes terms of service. The problem is not geo location as many others are having the same problem, based in the US.

The only fix is an unblock that the customer service agent can´t do, only supervisors or tech. It is taking more than a week to have it fixed as they are doing it manually and are overburdened as this is a system glitch during the launch of many new products.

You will need to place a new tech support ticket and get somebody that understand this has to be escalated to a supervisor/technician. Keep trying and following up. The solution you received before does not work and has nothing to do with the App Store glitch.

Only with a non affected computer you will be able to confirm you payment method. Then you will be able to update apps, download free apps, rent/buy movies, songs and whatever. You will not be able to purchase apps.

No need to VPN in this case. BTW the proxy setup still through Windows Connections. Try changing the setting on the connection option without a VPN configured. iTunes will not be able to access the internet. Just use a non affected computer (maybe on a lan house) and log in iTunes with your account and confirm the code. If you attempt to purchase an app this computer will become affected/infected.

This is not an issue with iTunes 10 individually and has been happening for a year or so. Presently there are many thousands that are being affected by whatever change was done for the App Store security against hackers/piracy which has become rogue.

It makes no sense getting a payment option loop when logging in the US or elsewhere. If you try renting a movie on Netflix (which uses geo location) when travelling outside the US you will receive a message you are outside the US. This happens with Amazon also. All vendors are very clear with that. Point being, this is a system glitch, bug or whatever.

Apple will fix it eventually, but at this time customer service is the only one that can help those with this problem. And it takes time.

Please read my post on a partial temporary workaround.

You sound Korean to me..