Why can’t my purchase be completed when I have the funds in my apple account

If you get a message -> Your purchase could not be completed, you need to Add a payment method to your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

• If you want to change your card, add first the new card, then remove the old one.
• or if you use your Apple Account balance, you need to set your Apple Account balance as your default payment.

See also ⤵️

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

FYI: Not all credit & debit cards seem to work with App Store / iTunes Store, try a different one, or preferably a credit card. If your card is not accepted as a paymenf method, you need to contact your bank.

Add money to your Apple Account balance -> Add money to your Apple Account balance - Apple Support

If you have set your Apple Account balance as your default payment method, your default payment method will be used first by Apple when you need to make a payment.

Some purchases might require you to have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase.

Check also -> If your payment method is declined in the App Store or iTunes Store, see -> 

If your payment method is declined in the App Store or iTunes Store - Apple Support

⤵️

How to complete your purchase if a payment failed or was declined

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name.
3. Tap Payment & Shipping.
4. Add a different payment method and remove the old one. 
5. Try to complete your purchase.

If you still can't make a purchase

• You might have an unpaid order. Learn how to pay an unpaid order.
• Contact your financial institution. 
  • You might need to ask your financial institution to allow international purchases on your debit or credit card.
  • If you want to know why a debit card, credit card, or other payment method was declined, speak with your financial institution. Apple doesn't have information about why the payment method was declined.
• In some countries and regions, your payment method might be declined because of changes to local law. Learn about billing and purchases in Europe or what to do if your card is declined in India.
• Still need help? Contact Apple Support.

If you update your payment method or add funds to your Apple Account balance, It would take about 1 to 3 business days in order to process.

If you're still unable to update your payment method, Contact Apple Support.

If you have followed all the steps and instructions and if you still need help, get support from Apple directly -> Get Support or call Apple in your region see -> Contact Apple for support and service or check -> here for more support and assistance.

I have money in the account,

If you want to use your Apple Account balance, you need to set your Apple Account balance as your default payment.

See the first link in my previous post:

👉 If you get a message -> Your purchase could not be completed, you need to Add a payment method to your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

• If you want to change your card, add first the new card, then remove the old one.
• or if you use your Apple Account balance, you need to set your Apple Account balance as your default payment.

. . . and a CC as backup,

👍

You can have a credit card / debit card on file and an Apple Account balance.

If you have set your Apple Account balance as your default payment method, your default payment method will be used first by Apple when you need to make a payment.

Some purchases might require you to have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase.

See -> What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance – Apple Support (UK)

⤵️

• You can't use your Apple Account balance to send gifts or gift cards.
• If you use Family Sharing, your family members can't spend your Apple Account balance. Funds that you add to your Apple Account balance are only available to you. Find out more about how purchases are billed to your Apple Account balance.
• Some purchases might require you to have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase.

If you still need help, get support from Apple directly -> Get Support or call Apple in your region see -> Contact Apple for support and service or check -> here for more support and assistance.

See again what posted:

If you have an Apple Account balance that you can’t use, see -> Check your Apple Account balance

Check your Apple Account balance – Apple Support (UK)

scroll to ⤵️

If you have an Apple Account balance that you can’t use

You can't redeem or return Apple Gift Cards, App Store & iTunes Gift Cards or unused Apple ID balance for cash, except as required by law. If your jurisdiction allows the refund of redeemed gift balances, you can contact Apple Support to request a refund. 

When you contact Apple, include the following information:

•           Your Apple ID.

•           The refund amount.

•           Your current delivery address.

To the OP, Kamsi100;

One issue I don't see covered in this long, uninformative converstaion with the 3rd party who has hijacked your topic, is that your account balance must also be sufficient to cover the price of your purchase, plus any local sales tax that is usually added in the final steps of the sale. This is especially the case if you don't have a secondary payment method in your account details that can pay the additional amount.

M1 Mac mini, macOS 13.4;  Watch, series 7 GPS/cellular, watchOS 9.5; iPad Pro 2nd Gen, iPadOS 16.5; iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 16.5; TV 4th Gen, tvOS 16.5; HomePods, audioOS 16.5 and Airport Express w/ Airplay 2

Read the post and actually try to answer it and stop copying/pasting from the Apple support page...

I haven't copy/pasted anything. I have read the OP's original comment. And I am responding to the OP from my experience in this forum since the Mac App Store was first launched in beta in 2011. In my many years helping folks out here a lot of OPs state that they have the funds for their purchase, for example, they have $25 in their account and are trying to buy an app that costs $24.99 but it won't go through. If they live here in Seattle where the local sales tax is 10%, they actually need to have $27.48 in their account to successfully make the purchase and because they only have $25, the sale will not go through and for the life of them they can't figure out why!

You are here with what looks to be a brand-new account. You have rudely hijacked another user's topic. Now you are being rude to me and making ignorant assumptions and accusations regarding my advice to the OP. These are violations of the Terms of Use that you agreed to follow when you opened your account to participate here in the Apple Support Communities. Please refrain from responding to my comments in this thread. If you do so, I will be reporting your behavior to the forum moderators.

The Apple Account is the default. See my screenshot. I have money in my account,

👍 yes I see it.

and Apple refuses to process the transactions.

Do you get any error message?

I see that you have posted another thread.

Well that doesn't work because the sale will be over by then. So I just called them back and asked for the balance of my Apple ID account to be sent to my cc

I don't know about sales.

If you have an Apple Account balance that you can’t use, see -> Check your Apple Account balance

Check your Apple Account balance – Apple Support (UK)

scroll to ⤵️

If you have an Apple Account balance that you can’t use

You can't redeem or return Apple Gift Cards, App Store & iTunes Gift Cards or unused Apple ID balance for cash, except as required by law. If your jurisdiction allows the refund of redeemed gift balances, you can contact Apple Support to request a refund. 

When you contact Apple, include the following information:

•           Your Apple ID.

•           The refund amount.

•           Your current delivery address.

ONCE more:

See again what posted:

If you have an Apple Account balance that you can’t use, see -> Check your Apple Account balance

Check your Apple Account balance – Apple Support (UK)

scroll to ⤵️

If you have an Apple Account balance that you can’t use

You can't redeem or return Apple Gift Cards, App Store & iTunes Gift Cards or unused Apple ID balance for cash, except as required by law. If your jurisdiction allows the refund of redeemed gift balances, you can contact Apple Support to request a refund. 

When you contact Apple, include the following information:

•           Your Apple ID.

•           The refund amount.

•           Your current delivery address.

You are not talking to Apple here, we are also users of Apple products & services like you.

If you still need help, get support from Apple directly -> Get Support or call Apple in your region see -> Contact Apple for support and service or check -> here for more support and assistance.

If you still need help, get support from Apple directly -> Get Support or call Apple in your region see -> Contact Apple for support and service or check -> here for more support and assistance.

But they have money in their Apple ID account. I'm getting the same error. I have money in the account (Apple ID), and a CC as backup, but Apple refuses to process the transaction. They're effectively holding my money hostage.

I get the exact same error as the OP. I bought apple gift cards and then put the money into my account. I was able to use some of it, but now they're not letting transactions go through. So my only recourse to not miss out on the in-app sale time is to make purchases via Android (same app). That effectively has me double paying as I put the money into my Apple account specifically for this sale and I can't get it back. They've effectively taken my $ hostage and it's costing me $ in lost savings.

I put the money on my account via gift cards that I had purchased. So since they won't let me use them for the in-app purchases do I just lose the money since you keep repeating 'You can't redeem or return Apple Gift Cards'? That sounds fair. Please come buy our gift cards, and 'maybe' we'll actually let you use them, bwahhhahahahhhahahahhaha!

But you're repeating the same information over and over. You're pointing to the section that says 'you can't redeem or return Apple Gift Cards...'. So I'm telling everyone that if you buy Apple gift cards and then put them into your account you're at the mercy of Apple to allow you to use your $, with absolutely no recourse. So please stop copy/pasting the same information over and over as if it's a solution, and let my explanation to this situation stand for everyone to understand.

The Apple Account is the default. See my screenshot. I have money in my account, and Apple refuses to process the transactions.

My first response is directed to OP

Both the OP and myself are experiencing the same issue with the same error. We have the money in our Apple ID account, but Apple won't process the transaction.

[Edited by Moderator]