Ernst Sittig

Q: iPad, Apple ID, driving me crazy!

I am about to throw a (hardly used) iPad MD370NF/A out of the window!

 

This morning I updated it to OS  9.3.5. After that I found out there are two Apple IDs involved, one for iTunes and AppStore (the Apple ID I also use on 1 Mac Pro, 3 iMacs and 2 MacBooks) and one for iCloud (an old ID, which I had forgotten about).
This old ID refuses to be changed or removed. When I approach it from a Mac, the message is "... is not an Apple ID". The iPad asks for verification every 15 seconds!
I do not want to connect to any cloud! Can I disable this whole cloud business?

 

And changing the valid ID is not possible either, because Apple insists on a credit card. I have a perfectly normal (platinum) credit card, but that's not good enough for Apple. I live in Germany, but I happen to have a Dutch bank account + credit card number.  According to Apple that is not possible....

 

Is there anything I can do to reset an invalid (even not existing) Apple ID?

 

All suggestions are welcome!

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Sep 10, 2016 9:11 AM

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Q: iPad, Apple ID, driving me crazy!

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  • by King_Penguin,Helpful

    King_Penguin King_Penguin Sep 11, 2016 3:44 AM in response to Ernst Sittig
    Level 10 (133,767 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 11, 2016 3:44 AM in response to Ernst Sittig

    You've tried logging out via Settings > iCloud > Sign Out ? If Find My iPad is 'on' you will need the account's password to be able to log out of the account, if you can't remember the password (and can't reset it) have you tried contacting iTunes Support to see if they can find the id / reset its password ? Or you could try going to an Apple Store (make a Genius Bar appointment if you do) or try contacting iTunes Support online (https://www.apple.com/emea/support/itunes/contact.html) and see if they can remove the iPad from the account - they are likely to want to see proof of ownership before they might help e.g. original receipt with the serial number on it

     

    By 'changing the valid ID is not possible either, because Apple insists on a credit card' do you mean changing the country on an account ? If you do, and if you don't have a card issued by a German bank (whilst in Germany you can only use the German store, and only a card issued by a German bank can be used with the German store), you could try contacting iTunes Support and see if they can do anything to bypass that requirement for you.

  • by Ernst Sittig,

    Ernst Sittig Ernst Sittig Sep 10, 2016 11:37 AM in response to King_Penguin
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Sep 10, 2016 11:37 AM in response to King_Penguin

    Thanks for your response!

     

    Yes, I have tried to sign out, but I couldn't because the Apple ID doesn't exist. Trying to change it only drives me around in circles :-(

     

    Can you explain why iTunes support would be able to help? I thought iTunes is a program to manage music and other media.

     

    I can use my credit card world-wide. So why would Apple only accept a card, issued in the country of residence? It all doesn't make any sense to me.

     

    There isn't a Genius Bar in this area. But next week I'll be in the Netherlands. I'll see where I can visit one. Good suggestion!

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Sep 10, 2016 5:22 PM in response to Ernst Sittig
    Level 5 (4,899 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 10, 2016 5:22 PM in response to Ernst Sittig

    Apple requires all "geo" data must line up. This would be a requirement on them by a number of players, including content licensors, governments and so on. There is no such thing as a global usage license for any of iTunes' content. Apps, Music, movies et al are licensed country by country. Taxes are collected in the country of residence and usage.

     

    This is easily enforced by making your geographic location, credit card data and account location line up. Purchasing from the German iTunes Store requires an account with the address in Germany, using a German credit card.

     

    iTunes is a phrase to cover several things. It's an application and a department at Apple. They handle all billing issues, separate from AppleCare which supports OSX, tvOS, iOS, device hardware and so on.

  • by Ernst Sittig,

    Ernst Sittig Ernst Sittig Sep 11, 2016 1:37 AM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Sep 11, 2016 1:37 AM in response to LACAllen

    I can imagine national laws apply to content, in particular royalties. But paying is a completely different matter.

    It disappoints me that a company like Apple is so ethnocentric. Not the way to achieve global coverage.

     

    The Apple Stores in Los Gatos, Milton Keynes and Düsseldorf weren't averse to my (Dutch) credit card!

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Sep 11, 2016 2:03 AM in response to Ernst Sittig
    Level 5 (4,899 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 11, 2016 2:03 AM in response to Ernst Sittig

    You're comparing apple and oranges. (pun intended)

     

    There is a difference between online commerce and instore commerce.

     

    I would imagine Apple would choose not to comply with these requirements if they could. Governments are most likely at the root of this.

  • by Ernst Sittig,

    Ernst Sittig Ernst Sittig Sep 11, 2016 2:31 AM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Sep 11, 2016 2:31 AM in response to LACAllen

    Not really.... Two months ago I ordered (from Germany) two iMacs from the website, paid by Dutch credit card and picked them up in the Apple Store in Milton Keynes (UK). Isn't that online commerce?


    On the way to the Chunnel I unfortunately cracked the screen of our 2008 13" MacBook. So we had to buy a new MacBook as well. Also paid with the same card. IMHO that's instore commerce.


    The exchange rate of the Pound worked in our favour; I had a free trip to visit my UK relatives.

    Buying in Germany is no option, because configuring a QWERTY keyboard seems to take three months. Don't ask me why....

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Sep 11, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Ernst Sittig
    Level 5 (4,899 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 11, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Ernst Sittig

    The Apple Store is not the same as the iTunes Store(s) that are virtual and only live in/on your Apple devices. My use of online commerce is with regards to purchasing music, apps, movies etc. from the iTunes store(s)

     

    The hardware purchases you are referring to have no "rights" and "licensing" to be managed.

     

    Pretty much every item in the app stores do.

     

    If you want a universal payment method, may I suggest iTunes Gift cards redeemed to your account. Buy them as you wish, where you wish and once redeemed to your account are geo-agnostic.

     

    Redeem iTunes or Apple Music Gift Cards and content codes - Apple Support

  • by King_Penguin,

    King_Penguin King_Penguin Sep 11, 2016 3:12 AM in response to LACAllen
    Level 10 (133,767 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 11, 2016 3:12 AM in response to LACAllen

    iTunes gift cards are only valid in the country that they were issued, they can't be used in other countries (and an account's balance can't be transferred between countries)

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Sep 11, 2016 3:28 AM in response to King_Penguin
    Level 5 (4,899 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 11, 2016 3:28 AM in response to King_Penguin

    I stand corrected.

  • by sallenmd,

    sallenmd sallenmd Sep 11, 2016 8:24 AM in response to Ernst Sittig
    Level 1 (126 points)
    iPad
    Sep 11, 2016 8:24 AM in response to Ernst Sittig

    Because the iTunes store contains intellectual property owned by many artists, developers around the world, Apple is limited by the copyright laws of each country. It is simper for them thus to limit you to the iTunes store for the country in which you live and to a payment method from an account in that same country. Had you bought an iTunes gift card in the Apple Store in Los Gatos, you could only have used it in the US iTunes Store and only after entering a valid address in the US. Don't blame Apple, blame governments of countries.