family sharing and verification code

We have family sharing set up and I am the organizer. My wife is the parent/guardian and we have 2 kids. When my wife wants to make a purchase for herself (like buying a new book), it requires her to get a verification code from me (the organizer). I can understand this for the kids...but she shouldn't need approval to make purchases.


I believe the issue is because our default form of payment is the Apple Credit Card. It only allows for a single user--spouses can't be added as approved purchasers.


To test the theory, I changed our form of payment to a Visa card that my wife and I share. Now, all she has to do is enter the 3 digit security code from the card, which she has access to, and can make purchases without my approval.


The downside to this is we no longer get to use the Apple Card to receive discounts on Apple purchases. Seems crazy to me...but I think that's the issue. Just wondering if anyone else has the same issue and could confirm this.


Thanks in advance!

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Oct 24, 2020 2:50 PM

Reply
7 replies

Dec 11, 2020 7:09 PM in response to Steven Toffler

Same has been happening for me and my mom (another adult in the family sharing account) and it's Every Single Purchase. It's almost a joke at this time, since she makes a lot of micro purchases for Pokemon Go. I'm wondering if it's related to the new iOS since most of these complaints seem to originate around the time it was released? Time is so hard in 2020 that I'm honestly not sure when it started, but I think it was around that time...


Was anyone else experiencing these issues before iOS 14 was released on Sept 16?

Dec 11, 2020 8:02 PM in response to erisedilla

iOS 14 may definitely be a variable. To be honest I didn't add my Apple Card as my method of payment until after I was on iOS 14. I don't remember the issue happening prior to the Apple Card being added and can pretty confidently say it's related to the card versus the iOS. But I guess a clarifying point would be whether anyone had this issue specific to the Apple Card prior to iOS 14?

Dec 10, 2020 7:13 AM in response to Steven Toffler

Unfortunately nothing new or productive to add to the forum except that there's others affected too as indicated by this alternative Discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252034708


I actually contacted Apple Support via chat and after the cursory checks they referred me to the banking institution behind the Apple Card (saw that one coming). Reached out to them also via chat and was assured everything was good there. The most interesting thing I got from that conversation is that if the bank requires verification it's done through text and/or email. And if, like myself, you guys are seeing the typical "Apple Security" pop-up window - that 100% rules it out as a banking institution issue.


So I reached back out to Apple Support - this time via phone call. Spoke with the initial Tech Support Advisor who checked the things and got me in touch with a Sr Advisor. That's where we hit a brick wall. Their initial trouble shooting step was to remove my partner from Family Share and then test the theory.


Here's what I know about these verifications:

-They aren't required for free downloads

-They seem to only come up if it's an actual monetary transaction that needs to be approved

-They seem to only come up when my Apple Card is set as my primary payment method


With that information I told the Sr Advisor I'd complete their proposed steps but wouldn't be able to test functionality because there was nothing we wanted to spend money on at the time. So unless Apple wanted to spot us $5 for an app to purchase testing would have to wait. We all know that answer.


So I did the proposed step which was a pain. Got my partner re-added to Family Share with all the necessary setup and ensuring she wouldn't lose access to her iCloud Storage, apps, etc. And now we wait. I 100% do not believe this will be successful but I can't prove anything.


Here's my update and I hope it adds some validity to the issue we're seeing.


Question: Does anyone else have experience using another non-debit/bank account linked credit card? That's the only variable I have not tested as any other card I've ever used as been my typical attached-to-my-bank-VISA-debit card. Wondering if this type of issue/security would exist on another standard interest loading credit card.

Nov 27, 2020 7:34 AM in response to blizaine

Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.


If you want to, you can send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem or a suggestion for change. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem/suggested change solved sooner. Pick the closest topic you can find.


Click here to send Feedback          

Dec 16, 2020 3:28 AM in response to JcKolton

From what I can see, the problem is related to having Apple Pay as your payment method.


When I first add my Visa card my wife can make purchases without any issues. After a day or so the payment method for that card changes from "visa" to "Apple Pay". From that point on a verification code is required. I think this is a side effect of the way that Apple Pay works. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any way of opting out of Apple Pay if it is available for your card and region

Dec 16, 2020 5:56 PM in response to Wilko11

I was contacted by Apple support regarding this issue. iOS 14.3 has added a new, manual, step to link your payment card with Apple Pay, rather than the automatic link that happened previously.


I have removed and re-added my Visa card and not linked it to Apple Pay. I believe that this will resolve the problem.


I don't have an Apple Card, so I can't confirm whether there is an option to not use Apple Pay with that card, but it is worth a try if you do have one.

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family sharing and verification code

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