My AppleID account has a VISA Debit card successfully added months ago. I purchased "Bad Piggies" September 28th, the day it was released. I got my app (bit of a disappointment). 5 days later there were updates on my iPhone, but I couldn't update due to a "billing problem". I logged into my AppleID acct. and checked my payment methods, it said my "CVV2" code was invalid! Well, it _was_ valid when I originally registered it, but the page would not take the code! My entire purchase history was gone! I emailed support and got a series of emails indicating there was an outstanding order for which I had not received a receipt for. Their suggestion: "Not being able to verify an authorization is a sign that something needs to be addressed by the issuer of the card. You will need to contact your financial institution to determine the specific cause of the card being rejected.When contacting your financial institution, ask to speak with the fraud/security department. The representative will need to thoroughly review your account until they locate and resolve what is causing the issue. If there are holds on your account, those will need to be removed. Please note that your financial institution can also choose to bypass the authorization process."
Bollocks! Ridiculous! Total BS! The underlying problem was, in fact, that Apple had not retrieved their $ for the Bad Piggies purchase. Even though sufficient funds were availble when I made the purchase AND I got the app, whenever they got around to getting the payment ($1.12) my balance was in overdraft. That is the "billing problem". It has nothing to do with the card, the bank, or fraud, just misinformation and misdirection on Apple's part. I expected a lot more from Apple, and am very dissappointed and dissolusioned with this experience.
Once my balance was in the black, I revisited the iOS AppStore and got my updates. A short time later I got my receipt for Bad Piggies. However my AppleID acct. still has no purchase history, via the web Apple Store. I just checked via iTunes and it has my purchase history. Weird.
Apple should really work on providing clear and userful information regarding accounts and payments.