Credit Card is Declined

this is sooooo bad.

I have the exact same problem, started a couple of days ago.

Tried all my credit cards, called my bank. Turns out its apple's fault.

Sent an email, received initial email.

Still not fixed, still can't purchase new apps or install updates.

Exact same problem, using paypal and got message - your credit card declined. No problems with other stores. Frustrating.

Is the only solution to have Apple reset your account? The exact same thing has been happening to me for the past 2 days and it's frustrating as ****! Mine is a newer iPhone, so I barely have any apps on it. At this point in time, I cannot download any - not even FREE ones! No matter what I do or which card I try, it says credit card declined. I also contacted the bank and they did not see any attempted transactions come through, nor any problems with my cards. What is going on?? My iTunes account was working fine for years, and then just stopped two days ago. Does anybody at Apple care? It doesn't seem like it!

If you dig deeper into this issue, you will notice several postings all with the same issue. It appears that there is a problem with verifying accounts in iTunes for some users. I have a PayPal account linked to my iTunes which was linked over a year ago. Now all of my purchases are declined, including when I update my account with a new credit card. My only solution was to email apple support:

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact.html?form=account&topic=iTunes%20Sto re%20Account%20and%20Billing&subtopic=Managing%20your%20Account

Lets hope they get it fixed soon!

Same problem here.

Called my bank and confirmed there's nothing wrong on their end. I filled out the online support form. Hopefully this will be fixed soon. I can't even download free app updates!

Well ... I just figured out a weird workaround.

While connected to a VPN for work, I was able to successfully make an APP purchase. Disconnecting from the VPN produced the same 'declined' error. I then tested Hotspot Shield (an internet proxy app) and found I was able to make purchases while connected through it.

I'm currently travelling and not in the US. Could iTunes have started validating IP addresses for accounts and only allowing local IP addresses to purchases items from the store? I certainly hope that's not the case, since I'm on the road a lot!

Are other people who're experiencing this problem accessing an iTunes store out of their physical region?

Message was edited by: goldenegg001

I am having the same problem. I tried several different credit cards and all are declined. Credit card companies say nothing came through and credit cards all work when purchasing products outside. This pathetic and irritating. I am in Hong-Kong now and I can open my Itunes but can not buy any applications.

How does one contact Apple or Itunes about this??

OK - So I sent an email to Apple, and here is there response - lets hope it works!


---------------------

Dear Michael,

Thank you for contacting iTunes Store Support, I understand that you have experienced a credit card declined message when trying to make a purchase. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.

The problem has been fixed, please try again in 24 hours. If you are still unable to update your account information, let me know.

Again, thank you for contacting iTunes Store Support. I hope you have an amazing day!

Sincerely,

Danielle
iTunes Store Customer Support

Please Note: I work M-F, 9AM-6PM CT

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you. You may receive an AppleCare survey email; any feedback you provide would be greatly appreciated.

Same problem... "Credit card declined." Checked w/bank that issues card, which responded "After reviewing your account I found no reason why a charge should be declined." So, the problem is on Apple's end.

It seems a common thread is many of us are accessing iTunes from outside the US (I'm in SE Asia). The hypothesis that Apple is blocking purchases from non-US IPs somehow (perhaps accounts registered as US, but accessing outside?). Saw some articles saying Chinese hackers had cracked the iTunes gift card algorithm, perhaps this is part of that.

In any event, it's an issue Apple is well familiar with. Two e-mails to Cust. Service respond with tips on how to prevent your account from being hacked... No, Apple, that wasn't the problem. A swing and a miss...

Same problem here. I am in Malaysia, so I had my wife log in and try it from her lap top in the US, and she was able to make purchases no problem. I try from here, and credit card declined. I assume that the Itunes store must be looking at IP address...

I even had her buy a I tunes card and load it on the account and even then I cant buy anything.

Pretty darn frustrating to buy an IPad for travel and not be able to use the thing when you are traveling!!

I got the same response from Apple support as topmike. I can now make purchases without any problem!

Well, I'm in the US, so it's not just non-US users having this issue.
Emailed support back from my reply and asked if there was any progress. This was the reply:

"Joe, I just want to let you know that I have escalated this issue to my concerned team. They are investigating on it and I will reply back to you once I get any response from them.
I sorry for the delay and I know it is of significant concern whenever something unusual happens on our iTunes account.
Thank you for your patience."

Getting pretty annoyed now. Just want to waste my money on games I'll only play once and never touch again. Is that such a big problems??

I wrote iTunes Customer Service twice, both times the reply has been (paraphrased) "there appears to be something wrong with your account and we're checking into it. This over a week, now. I've had this account for five years without a problem. I suspect it has something to do with hacks, but Apple would not admit to that, I'm sure. I was, in the meantime able to change my credit card information to "none". Just in case and am keeping a very close eye on my banks that were associated with this account. The more people who file a complaint, the more they'll have to listen (of course that didn't work with the iPhone 4 and/or ios4 upgrade did it (we're still waiting for a fix on that one). Apple seems to have some internal problems these days . . . big time. And it's impacting customer relations, something that had been above the rest. Not so any more, it looks like.

Lucky you!
I hoped it but it still did not work as of 6pm PST....