Apple Account in credit but can't spend it

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Level 1

8 points

Apple Account in credit but can't spend it

I recently received an Apple Gift Card as a birthday present. I have redeemed it into my account which is therefore now in credit. I want to use that credit to make purchases on Apple TV, however when I try to make a purchase it wants to charge my debit card.

I have taken this up with Apple Support via emails but after several days of emails they are still unable to sort out the problem for me and seem to have stopped responding.

The stage at which we left things was that apparently my primary payment method is set up as PayPal. I believe there may also be an issue in that I use Family Sharing with my wife, for the sole purpose that we can each have our own Apple Music libraries via the one account. The monthly Apple Music payment is invoiced to my account via PayPal.

I do not understand why the above scenario means I cannot spend my Account Balance on Apple TV. Can anyone explain?

iPhone XS, iOS 15

Posted on Sep 30, 2022 12:28 AM

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Answer 1

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,920 points

Sep 30, 2022 1:44 AM in response to red_lester

If you have Family Sharing with the Purchase Sharing option on (not needed for Apple Music Family), then any purchase by any of the Family Sharing group members will be charged to the card of the Family Sharing organizer — except for individual account balance, that is always used first.

If you have Family Sharing with the Purchase Sharing option off, then any purchase by any of the Family Sharing group members will be charged to the group member that made the purchase — with account balance used first.

If a purchase exceeds the balance amount, then the remainder will be charged to the secondary payment method.

Check your Apple Account balance - Apple Support

If you somehow have multiple accounts (not advised), then verify that the balance is on the account as used for the purchase.

Change, add, or remove Apple ID payment methods - Apple Support

For each purchase, payment methods are tried in order, and account balance is fixed as the primary method.

That is how it is supposed to work. If it’s different for you, then you will need to continue to work with the Support staff.

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Apple Account in credit but can't spend it

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