HT201359: How iTunes Store purchases are billed

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DaveBrizzle

Q: Is there any way to have have store credit used before charging card?

I am the primary account holder for my family sharing group. I have over £200 of store credit which is used when I buy something on the App Store. However I have just noticed that purchases made by my family members are being charged to my card when I still have plenty of store credit.

 

What is the sense in that?

 

Is there any way I can change this behaviour?

 

thanks

iPad Air, iOS 8.1.2

Posted on Dec 30, 2014 5:45 AM

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Q: Is there any way to have have store credit used before charging card?

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  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Dec 30, 2014 5:48 AM in response to DaveBrizzle
    Level 9 (79,538 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 30, 2014 5:48 AM in response to DaveBrizzle

    DaveBrizzle wrote:

     

    I am the primary account holder for my family sharing group. I have over £200 of store credit which is used when I buy something on the App Store. However I have just noticed that purchases made by my family members are being charged to my card when I still have plenty of store credit.

     

    What is the sense in that?

     

    Is there any way I can change this behaviour?

     

    thanks

    No.

    iTunes credit is associated only to the account is is redeemed to.

    If you do not want them to use your CC, they need iTunes credit against their specific iTunes account.

  • by DaveBrizzle,

    DaveBrizzle DaveBrizzle Dec 30, 2014 6:03 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2014 6:03 AM in response to Chris CA

    I Thought that would be the answer.

     

    why would anyone want their card to be charged when they have store credit?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Dec 30, 2014 7:02 AM in response to DaveBrizzle
    Level 9 (79,538 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 30, 2014 7:02 AM in response to DaveBrizzle

    You have store credit. The other AppleIDs do not have store credit.

    Likely done this way so Bob, Mary & Sue can have their own $$ on the account without worrying if it will get used by the others.

  • by DaveBrizzle,

    DaveBrizzle DaveBrizzle Dec 30, 2014 8:18 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2014 8:18 AM in response to Chris CA

    I Understand that I have store credit and the other id in question does not.

     

    if my account has store credit and A charge is made to my account, I expect my store credit to be used before any charge is made to my card. I can't be the only one that expects it to work this way.

     

    I  ca can't think of any other company I have dealt with that would charge my card before first using existing store credit. Can you?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Dec 30, 2014 9:20 AM in response to DaveBrizzle
    Level 9 (79,538 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 30, 2014 9:20 AM in response to DaveBrizzle

    DaveBrizzle wrote:

    I  ca can't think of any other company I have dealt with that would charge my card before first using existing store credit. Can you?

    Yes. Every store.

    If I have a gift card from store X, my kids can't use the gift card in store X because they don't have the gift card.

  • by DaveBrizzle,

    DaveBrizzle DaveBrizzle Dec 30, 2014 8:18 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2014 8:18 PM in response to Chris CA

    That is a totally different scenario.


    if your kids went into a store, they would not be able to use your credit card.

     

    i Have store credit, not a gift card. Apple is well aware that I have existing store credit and elect to charge my card instead.

     

    i can't think of any scenario in which a consumer would want their card charged before existing store credit has been used.

     

    can you think of any other company that charges your card before using existing store credit?

  • by ed2345,

    ed2345 ed2345 Dec 30, 2014 9:54 PM in response to DaveBrizzle
    Level 7 (24,806 points)
    Dec 30, 2014 9:54 PM in response to DaveBrizzle

    By design, iTunes Family Sharing has certain constraints that allow Apple to legally deal with minors under supervision of the Family Organizer.  Under normal conditions, those minors would not be eligible to transact business with the Store at all. 

     

    By reading this Forum, you can see that not all customers are thrilled with all the constraints of Family Sharing.  If you wish to give feedback directly to Apple, use the iTunes Feedback page:

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

     

    .

  • by DaveBrizzle,

    DaveBrizzle DaveBrizzle Dec 30, 2014 10:06 PM in response to ed2345
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2014 10:06 PM in response to ed2345

    Thanks.

     

    Perhaps I should have been clear that all of the other members of my family are adults with their own full Apple ids and cards.

     

    the only reason I have set up the family sharing thing is so we do not have to buy the same app multiple times.

     

    i would rather not have all purchases billed to my account (as the group organiser) but I can understand why th do that, so that you don't sharewith strangers.

     

    what I can't fathom is why it is necessary to charge my card when I have plenty of store credit. I put the credit on my account precisely for this purpose so I wasn't best pleased to see the charges on my card.

     

    i Will take a look at the feedback link. Thanks

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Dec 31, 2014 5:50 AM in response to DaveBrizzle
    Level 9 (79,538 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 31, 2014 5:50 AM in response to DaveBrizzle

    DaveBrizzle wrote:

    what I can't fathom is why it is necessary to charge my card when I have plenty of store credit. I put the credit on my account precisely for this purpose so I wasn't best pleased to see the charges on my card.

    It's necessary because this is the way Apple decided to do it.

    i would rather not have all purchases billed to my account (as the group organiser)

    Then you other family members can get iTunes gift cards for their accounts and their purchases will not be billed to your credit card. iTunes will use the iTunes credit linked to their account.

    As ed noted, use the Feedback link to make suggestions to Apple.

  • by DaveBrizzle,

    DaveBrizzle DaveBrizzle Dec 31, 2014 9:28 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2014 9:28 PM in response to Chris CA

    Its necessary because it's the way Apple decided to do it? Thanks for that.