Supriah
Level 1 (4 points)

Q: Free apps will NOT update without Credit Card?

When my wife received her new iPad 2 three years ago we did NOT use a credit card to set it up. Recently my wife received a gift card and purchased just one (1) app in the past 3 years. Suddenly, we cannot update ANYTHING on the iPad 2 without providing a "valid credit card". Sorry Apple, but that's not going to happen. She plays FREE games on it, uses Google Maps, and we use Square on it for our business.

 

We will NOT be providing Apple with a credit card number, as they simply and legally do NOT need it. Oh, and please don't give me that "They need it to verify who you are" spiel either, as we've had the thing for over 3 years now and it's only ever asked for our User ID and Password, and never once asked for a CC - until this most recent update...

 

We do not purchase any apps, games, music, etc., on this thing, nor do we plan to. We even tried following the suggestion of some people by choosing NONE when selecting the credit card, but None is NOT available to choose from. Only Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover. There is NO None option...

 

So, what do we do now? 


iPad 2 - iOS 9.2.1 - Model MD329LL/A

iPad 2, iOS 9.2.1, Model MD329LL/A

Posted on Jan 29, 2016 7:57 AM

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Supriah

Q: Free apps will NOT update without Credit Card?

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 29, 2016 7:59 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 9 (50,228 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2016 7:59 AM in response to Supriah

    The card is used for ID, you don't have to supply it but in return Apple will not supply you withe anything.

     

    It's all up to you.

  • by Supriah,

    Supriah Supriah Jan 29, 2016 8:02 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 8:02 AM in response to Csound1

    We also have In-App purchases turned OFF, so there is no need or reason for them to require a credit card to download and install FREE apps. They already have our information from when we originally created the account over 3 years ago, then when the new update (iOS 9.2.1) took place, suddenly it's demanding a credit card - not to mention that the battery life has drastically decreased, it gets extremely hot even with brightness turned down, etc.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 29, 2016 8:04 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 9 (50,228 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2016 8:04 AM in response to Supriah

    As I said before, what you do is up to you. Apple will share the same freedom to run their business their way.

  • by Supriah,

    Supriah Supriah Jan 29, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Csound1

    If you're not going to offer helpful suggestions, and instead use sarcasm, why even bother to respond?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 29, 2016 8:16 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 9 (50,228 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2016 8:16 AM in response to Supriah

    By 'helpful' responses I assume that you mean ones that you agree with?

     

    This is the real world, don't hold your breath.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 29, 2016 8:18 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 9 (57,056 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 29, 2016 8:18 AM in response to Supriah

    Supriah wrote:

     

    If you're not going to offer helpful suggestions, and instead use sarcasm, why even bother to respond?

    Take your issue up with Apple. This is a user to user technical support forum. No one here can change anything for you. Your problem is with Apple directly. Use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 29, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 9 (53,643 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 29, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Supriah

    Apps, even if free, potentially have licensing and distribution restrictions.  Apple has apparently decided the way to prove you are resident in a region and permitted to use apps for that region is by demonstrating you have a credit card and billing address for that card in a region.  Frankly if they were to just ask people to fill in a line with a country there would likely be a lot of people not telling the truth so they could buy items from other countries.  Of course this makes it tough for people who can't or don't want to provide credit card information but then the choice is up to you.  That is the way Apple does business and are probably also to some extent required to do business by the people who supply the software and the media sold by Apple online.

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Jan 29, 2016 9:29 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 6 (8,117 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 29, 2016 9:29 AM in response to Supriah

    Hi

    Buy an itunes gift card £15/£25 in uk use that to pay for apps .

    Having a credit card with apple is for your benefit .

    You can also use some debit cards i do.

    Cheers

    Brian

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Jan 29, 2016 9:43 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 4 (1,814 points)
    iPad
    Jan 29, 2016 9:43 AM in response to Supriah

    Have you tried signing in through iTunes to check if there's a None option in your payment info?

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Jan 29, 2016 9:45 AM in response to ShagCA
    Level 10 (94,797 points)
    iPad
    Jan 29, 2016 9:45 AM in response to ShagCA

    From the original post....

     

    We do not purchase any apps, games, music, etc., on this thing, nor do we plan to. We even tried following the suggestion of some people by choosing NONE when selecting the credit card, but None is NOT available to choose from. Only Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover. There is NO None option...

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 29, 2016 11:30 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 9 (57,056 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 29, 2016 11:30 AM in response to Supriah

    If you cannot see None as an option, maybe this will explain it. Why can’t I select None when I edit my Apple ID payment information? - Apple Support

  • by Ralph9430,

    Ralph9430 Ralph9430 Jan 29, 2016 11:31 AM in response to Supriah
    Level 6 (18,157 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 11:31 AM in response to Supriah

    There is a way to set up an Apple ID without using a form of payment. But when you download free apps or purchase apps a form of payment is required. You don't have to use a credit card however. You can purchase an iTunes gift card and enter that as your form of payment. You will not be charged for free apps.

     

    This link is to the Acceptable forms of payment at the App Store.

    Payment methods you can use in the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store - Apple Support

  • by ShagCA,Helpful

    ShagCA ShagCA Jan 29, 2016 3:19 PM in response to Demo
    Level 4 (1,814 points)
    iPad
    Jan 29, 2016 3:19 PM in response to Demo

    Demo wrote:

     

    From the original post....

     

    We do not purchase any apps, games, music, etc., on this thing, nor do we plan to. We even tried following the suggestion of some people by choosing NONE when selecting the credit card, but None is NOT available to choose from. Only Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover. There is NO None option...

    Thanks but I already read the original post before replying. There are no details how OP got into his account. I'm saying there are several ways to get into our accounts. Doesn't hurt to explore all of them. Perhaps None option will appear if we get in thru iTunes (on the computer).

     

    I went through similar situation a few years ago but mine was related to the creation of a new ID. OP's problem is different. Anyway, "None" option wasn't there when I created a new ID for the app store. Unfortunately I can't remember what I did exactly but I was able to create an ID without any payment info (debit/credit cards and gift cards are not used at all).

  • by ShagCA,Helpful

    ShagCA ShagCA Jan 29, 2016 3:18 PM in response to Ralph9430
    Level 4 (1,814 points)
    iPad
    Jan 29, 2016 3:18 PM in response to Ralph9430

    Ralph9430 wrote:

     

    There is a way to set up an Apple ID without using a form of payment. But when you download free apps or purchase apps a form of payment is required. You don't have to use a credit card however. You can purchase an iTunes gift card and enter that as your form of payment. You will not be charged for free apps.

     

     

    Not true, at least in 2014. I didn't have any form of payment, not even gift card but I was able to install several free apps (facebook, bbm, skype, yahoo mail etc). I don't know if Apple changes their policy now.

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