Q: Credit Card is Declined

Same problem :/ But this started yesterday for me and so i thought maybe i should just wait till today to try again and it sort of happened again but then i tried once more and it finally let me start buying stuff again so i got throught like 7 purchases then all of the sudden the next one i tried to order said there is a problem with a previous purchase. So i went back into my account to look and now it says i owe the amount i payed for those 7 songs and started the wont accept my card crap again. -_-  i just want them to fix this and hopefully when they do it wont say i owe that money anymore. this is so weird and frustrating!

checking and changing zip was helpful https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action

here's support's reply

Alexander, it may be due to the iTunes Store has been unable to verify an authorization from your financial institution. There are several possible reasons for this:

1) Your financial institution's servers have been busy. Consider trying again at another time.

2) Consider using a different card.

3) Your billing name or address does not match the address listed on your credit card statement and with the United States Postal Service (click "Look Up a ZIP Code" at http://www.usps.com and follow the onscreen instructions). 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 financial institution to make sure their records are up to date and match exactly what you are entering as your billing information. For more information, visit:

iTunes Store: My credit card's security code or zip code does not match my bank's records

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1646

Please follow these steps to confirm or update your account information:

1) Go to the My Apple ID site at:

http://appleid.apple.com/

2) If the site is not displayed in your preferred language, click the flag icon in the lower-right corner of the page, then select your country from the next page.

3) Click the "Manage your Apple ID" button.

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 column on the left. Edit your information if necessary and save your changes.

6) Click "Phone Numbers" on the left. Make sure the area codes and phone numbers are entered correctly in their respective fields. Save your changes if you edit anything.

Try placing an order on the iTunes Store again. If the iTunes Store still cannot obtain an authorization for your card, please contact the card issuer, as they may be using a 3rd party to process credit card authorization transactions. The information the 3rd party processor has may not be updated, which can cause the card to not be accepted.

You can use a different card or one of the following payment methods:

- PayPal (http://www.paypal.com)

- iTunes Gift Certificates

- iTunes Gift Cards

Note: A valid credit card (other than an American Express) is required to use PayPal as a payment method on the iTunes Store. The credit card must be issued in the same country associated with your iTunes Store account.

You can also purchase an iTunes Gift Card in various denominations to get credit on the iTunes store. iTunes Gift Cards are available from retailers across the United States such as:

- Target

- Best Buy

- Walgreens

- Local gas stations

- Local grocery stores

- Amazon.com

- Apple Store locations (http://www.apple.com/retail)

- Apple Store online at http://store.apple.com

I hope this resolves the issue and the above information is helpful in renewing the subscription. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, we will be happy to help.

Have a great day!

Im very annoyed that apple store & itunes does this to us,i can not update my apps because itunes decline my Credit Card,this is horrible service to us loyal customers!!Its almost a week now that i can not install updates!!PLIZ ATTEND TO THIS ASAP!!

If your credit or debit card is declined or your getting the message the security code (CVV) or zip code is correct please read the below article:

Tunes Store: My credit card’s security code or zip code does not match my bank’s records
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1646

If you have called your credit or debit card provider and they aren’t able to to resolve this for you then your only option is to try a different card or switch to iTunes gift cards. Apple iTunes cannot solve credit or debit card issues as they ARE NOT YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD PROVIDER.

Also if you have an unpaid order on your account Apple isn't going to allow you to make further purchases or use the account whille you owe them money.

I realise this is an old thread, but it seems that Apple is at it again. I just purchased a macbook pro, everything is fine on my banks end of things, but not on Apples. I am really not going to be happy if they cancel my order because in 7 days they still cannot apparently take the funds out of my bank acccount.

I have called my bank 10 times over, I am not even kidding on how many times I have called my bank to check on things, they say all is ok and Apple should be able to clear my funds. I rang Apple over Thursday and Friday and all they could do was appologise...really guys there is only so many times you can say you are sorry before someone wants to get to the yelling stage. Action would be much better, Here's hoping my funds get cleared sometime today, and I can finally have my macbook pro for uni!

I have never had an issue with buying a product from the Australian Apple store on my credit card ever, so I think I may of dodged a bullet for now. But Apple really need to work on their security system as I also have multple charges of the $1.00 and a $100 authorisation hold on my card.

This basically happens to everyone who moves , or the city they live in has changed the address on their house. The information at the bank has updated but you havent updated the address on your iTunes account. Sometimes it also takes the bank 3-4 to do this update, or to change in the system nationwide

My bank says there is nothing wrong with my card and I have used it since. This whole problem with my credit card being declined started the minute I changed my password, (which, by the way, works fine signing in and out of my apple account.) Again, this happened right after I successfully changed my apple ID account password.

I have a similar issue. I recently changed my apple ID and then was asked to verify my icloud and then my debit card details. When I did this (twice) it said it was declined. Does this mean they tried to take money out. I don't have any cash for several days so I'm not surpised it declined, but I did not expect Apple to try and take money. I will try to verify details when I have cash in my account but judging by what others are saying I expect trouble. thank heavens for pre paid itunes cards (I assume I can use those?).

This happened to me, again! I was trying to purchase an in-app urgently and apple told me to verify my account, and I was directed to iTunes Store. It's frustrating that no matter how trillions of times I tried keying in my security code, reconfirming, even reconfirming the card no and expiry date, same red color word "security code is invalid" shows up. Is there any way for apple to fix that than opening a discussion room with the problems not solved ultimately.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1646?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Follow through the steps on the link. Essentially, you need a computer to access to your iTunes. This is a way I fixed the problem eventually, and this is the second time.

an Authorization Hold will be pre-charged http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3702

Its happened to me just now. I tried to buy FInal Cut Pro and it said my credit card is declined. A few minutes later my credit card company called me to confirm my purchase in ITunesunes and asked me to try it again. It worked fine after that. 

Same problem here in Japan starting today!

So many years after the first post and still no fix?

Apple what are you doing?

The fix is as follows; delete your payment methods on your iPhone. sign out of your account. then sign back in and set your card up under payment methods again....wala! it worked for me!

Hiya beninho

You need to pay the balance off using a giftcard.

I use Paypal but iPhoto isn't taking it, they want my credit care number.