Credit Card is Declined

My iPhone accessing APP store works now (Shanghai) ... I posted a few days ago that I was getting the same authorization rejection and loop that everyone else was getting on my iPhone 3Gs when even just trying to update free apps. Mine now works and what I think the problem was is that there was an old expired credit card of mine stored on the Apple Store (not iTunes) which I went in and deleted via store.apple.com account. After successfully deleting that old credit card info and putting none in, I was able to successfully register a current credit card at store.apple.com (online in web browser not via iPhone). Once that information was changed and updated I went into my iTunes account via my laptop iTunes and deleted my PayPal account and then entered the same credit card info as my store.apple.com information. Immediately my iPhone here in China could download and update all my new apps and there were no problems. Customer Service STILL has not gotten back to me anyway, so thank god this fixed it. I really don't think it's an IP / Country block they're necessarily doing, but perhaps does have something to do with the configuration when you're outside a US IP that is making it weird. Anyway, was a very simple resolution for me and hope it may help someone out there.

Good Luck!

Also sounds like may have something to do with PayPal account linked to your iTunes. I deleted that in iTunes (even though I could re-link it seemingly succesfully several times it never worked). So once PayPal was deleted and my old credit card info updated on store.apple.com it worked. To be consistent, use the same credit card on store.apple.com and your iTunes account. I have had no problems since (4 or 5 days now) updating apps, downloading new ones etc. no problems at all. My problems started 8/25 after returning to China.

I must say that it is about time Apple Corporate got involved and at the least issued a Memo stating that there is a problem and that they are trying to fix it. Denial of the problem only makes me feel that Apple has started to enter a state of decline and buying an I pad is a really bad a idea. I like my Iphone but I only bought it because of itunes and the apps. Without access to these services my Apple is as good as a brick to me. Steve Jobs take note! I am the first domino to fall.

I started having the same problem yesterday, and here is what I sent to Apple Support. I have not gotten a response yet.


Hi Apple Support,

I'm hoping you can help me. I have been been getting my credit card declined message when updating my billing method in itunes since yesterday, 8 Sept when trying to buy an app for my iphones and ipads. It was working fine until then, and there were no problems. I am a US Military member stationed overseas in the United Kingdom, with a US iTunes/Apple account with US based credit card(s)which has worked fine up until yesterday.

I did a net search, and my problem seems to be related/described in the following link:

http://www.aeromental.net/2010/08/31/itunes-store-bug-your-credit-card-was-decli ned-please-enter-valid-credit-card-information-2/

To check this, I tried logging into US itunes from my UK based macbook, and setting my billing information and got the credit card denied message. I then remotely logged into my mom's laptop in Tampa Florida (within minutes of the first attempt at home in the United Kingdom), and was able to successfully update my credit card information. I logged out of the US based system, and tried to make a purchase with my newly updated account from macbook at my home in the UK, and was presented with the "update billing information" dialogs again, and then subsequently failed that credit card update. I then repeated the process, and was able to again successfully update my account billing info from the US machine and made a purchase, but the process repeated itself when moving back to the UK machine. I have also checked with my bank, and they only see the "successful" purchase and no declines at all. This is with trying 2 separate credit cards and a debit card. This would appear that there is IP domain checking or geographic checking going on and thus iTunes (not my bank) is denying the credit card update and subsequent purchases. Can you please put me on an "exclude list" to fix this or have this fixed so I can resume being a loyal Apple customer (imac, macbook, 2xiphone4, ipad, 2xipodtouch3G, nano, shuffle, 2xATV, Powermac Dual G5tower, MobileMe.). When I set the account to "no credit card", I can "purchase" free content and updates with no problems. I have also tried this on multiple machines with itunes10 installed.

All these devices are somewhat limited if I can not purchase content through the itunes store.

This is extremely inconvenient, as I was trying to purchase the tom-tom USA application for a trip I leave for on Sunday in Wash DC. I would really like this to be remedied before then. This seems to be itunes issues, as my bank(s) (both of them) have not processed any transaction requests that were denied.

Your speedy reply/assistance is greatly appreciated.

After 11 days of waiting, I finally received an email telling me that my account was fixed and to wait 24 hours before trying to input my credit card info and buying anything on iTunes. I waited, and it looks like it is indeed fixed. iTunes accepted my credit card, and I am now able to purchase apps again.

I also am having the same problem that many of the other users are having. I am a U.S. Soldier stationed in South Korea. I just want to buy the Nike GPS App so I go for a relaxing run and track it... I have tried all the remedies suggested in the threads here, HotSpot Shield, Express VPN, updateing from the store.apple.com site... everything, no results. I first noticed it happening about 3 days ago and also contacted Apple Support via e-mail as many of you have and also go one of the same generic replys back. My hopes are to soon get an e-mail saying i should try it again in 24 hrs....

One would think that an issue like this would get much more news coverage then just some users posting in a thread, I think this is happening on a much larger scale then what is depicted on here. I am still able to download free apps as I am sure that for some that is all they download with the not so often purchase... I read CNET news alot.. maybe sometime soon i will sync and see this issue reported.

If anyone else has any suggestions please post!

What I have tried so far:

1. Use HotSpot Shield on laptop and try to purchase on Itunes - Failure
2. Use Express VPN on IPhone and try to purchase in App Store - Failure
3. Try updateing my info in store.apple.com on a U.S. Army network which has American IP Space. - Failure
4. Send E-mail to Apple Support and have received e-mail saying someone was working on it... Will try to update if anything else is reported from Apple Support.
5. ...Get very frustrated........

i just got off the phone w/my bank. all is correct w/my address and my card. iTunes has actually even sent transactions to my bank, yet for some reason they are saying that my card info does not match my band info...hmmmm we've been using the same card for YEARS on iTunes...the bank said i'm not the first caller...USAA anyone???

I am having the same issue the crazy thing is that I can buy music and anything else except for Apps. The problem is on my laptop and iphone we need answers and Apple is acting dum on the issue. I also have not received replies to any of my emails and there 48 hour responce time is just to tell you that they are investigating. WE NEED ANSWERS

I'm having the same problem..and Apple has no help at all. Since I'm currently out of the country, and I'm not able to purchase anything. Here's the solutions from the Itune support.

1. change your country region and credit card information - Who will apply an oversea credit card while they only stays there for a month for two? And I don't think the bank will issue you a credit card when you put a hotel address as the billing address.
2. Your credit card company's servers may have been busy. Trying again later may resolve the issue.

3. Your card may not have been activated yet. If so, you will need to activate it.
4. You may need to call your credit card company before the authorization is approved.
5. You may need to ensure that you correctly located the credit card's security code. To see instructions for locating the security code, choose View My Account from the iTunes Store menu, sign in to your account, click Edit Payment Information, and then click the "What is this?" link next to the Security Code field.
6. Your billing name or address does not match the address listed on your credit card statement. Any discrepancy in punctuation, abbreviation, or capitalization can cause errors, which might prevent you from purchasing from the iTunes Store. If you moved, or if your zip code changed recently, ask your credit card company to make sure its records are up to date and match exactly what you are entering as your billing information.

Of course I did try with all my credit/debit card, even paypal before contacting them. They think I'm dumb!!!! That I'm so ****** off !!!

I have the same problem for a couple of days. I tried all my credit cards and even PayPal account. Nothing worked. Is there any solution to this issue? I just want to buy a $0.99 game! >.<

I hope people remember to read ALL the posts here. The SOLUTION has been posted. You must write to Apple on the provided form (not just here) and then wait. For them to reset your account. As not everyone is experiencing this glitch, Apple techs seem to have to fix each account manually, one at a time. Takes a lot of time. And no amount of threats seem useful to speed up the current process. I know I got very impatient and kept bugging them myself. I don't think that helped speed things up. Probably just annoyed them. But eventually (about two weeks) they got to me and fixed my account. So patience is useful in this case, I think.

Good luck.

This is definitely a system glitch from Apple iTunes that was happening to fewer people last year and intensified this last couple of weeks to a lot of people. It is not a geo location problem, but some issue with the application store anti-piracy system or whatever security feature on iTunes that became rogue.

The offending computer or device used with the account when attempting to purchase an application, becomes blocked (or embargoed) with the credit card declined loop were it is not a problem with the card, as any other payment type are also blocked, including the "none" option.

There is no need for people to VPN as the problem is also happening to US accounts based in the US, like mine.

The workaround is logging to the iTunes account in a computer different from the one that "caused" the glitch and filling up the remaining information when asked to verify the account. Still did not verify if this works under iTunes 10, but all different computers under version 9 I tried worked. However they became blocked again when tried to purchase an app. It has to be done with a computer that did not try to purchase apps after the first computer was blocked.

The embargo will continue on the app store and the user will be able only to update applications, download free applications, buy movies and songs or whatever. Don´t try to purchase apps or your computer will become blocked again.

This will work on all devices linked to one´s iTunes account, including Apple TV, PCs, iPhones and iPads.

This will work until a supervisor at iTunes unblocks your computers and account. They are overburdened with the launch of the new ipods and new iTunes 10. In my case still waiting for more than a week exchanging messages with an extremely polite agent that can´t do this by herself. iTunes does not have a customer service desk reachable by phone, only email. So hold on to your seats.

When attempting to purchase an application, the in use device or computer will become blocked and the verify account information loop will come back. Then the fix has to be find another computer (not used before) and start all over again. This works like a virus that spreads after the first device is infected as the account becomes infected. Only a non infected computer can be used for the workaround.

I am sure Apple, as a great company they are, will fix this on due time and when they recognize the problem(maybe they already have), but until then this is what is presented.

As difficult as it is to believe. Finally got an answer. Yes the answer doesn't fix the problem but it's as least a responce.
____________________________________

First email After I put in the request to support:

My name is Michael from iTunes Store Support. I understand your credit card being declined and you cannot make further purchases at this time. I know you must be looking forward to having all this taken care of, and I'll be happy to help you with this. If you would like to purchase from an iTunes Store in a particular country, you must have both a residential address and a billing address in that particular country. Items on any particular country's iTunes Store are available only for distribution to customers who use a credit card, debit card, iTunes Gift Certificate, or iTunes Gift Card issued in and for that country. For example, the U.S. iTunes Store can only sell to U.S. residents using credit cards or debit cards that were issued in and for the U.S., or U.S. residents using iTunes Gift Certificates or Gift Cards that were purchased in the U.S. I'm sorry you ran into trouble with your iTunes Store purchase. To purchase music on the iTunes Store, you need to refresh your account information in your user profile. Your time is valuable, so I would like to point out that there are several steps to take for this to be done correctly. I'll walk you through this process to get you back up and running in no time. 1) Make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes. It can be downloaded free of charge at the Apple website: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download 2) Open iTunes. 3) From the Store menu, choose Sign In. 4) Enter your account name and password then click Sign In. 5) From the Store menu, choose View My Account. 6) On your Apple Account Information page, click Edit Payment Information. 7) On the Edit Payment Information page, select the None radio button to completely remove all your credit card info. 8) Click Done, and then click Done again. 9) From the Store menu, choose Sign Out and then close iTunes completely. Once you have removed your credit card info, follow these steps: 1) Using your web browser, go to the My Apple ID page at: http://appleid.apple.com/ 2) If the site is not displayed in your preferred language, click the Change Language link in the upper-right corner, type the name of your language in the field that appears, then click the Save button. 3) Click the "Manage your account" link. 4) Type your iTunes Store account name (which is your Apple ID) in the Apple ID field, type your password in the password field, then click the Sign In button. 5) Click "Addresses" in the left column. 6) Edit your addresses and make sure the appropriate state is selected for all of them, then click the Save Changes button at the bottom. 7) Next, click "Phone Numbers" in the left column. 7) Ensure your phone numbers are formatted correctly (i.e. the area code is correctly typed into the area code field). 8) Click the Save Changes button. After you have updated your billing and shipping address, follow these last steps: 1) Open your web browser, and navigate to the Apple Store Online: http://store.apple.com 2) At the main window, choose the option to Review Your Account. 3) Log in with your iTunes Store account name using the same password you use in the iTunes Store. 4) At the Your Account screen, choose the Change Account Information option on that screen. 5) Enter your credit card billing information, including the shipping address information. 6) Choose the proper county for your address. Click continue. Your account will then be updated, and a pre-authorization amount will temporarily be charged to your credit card (which will be automatically removed). Once your account is updated, close your web browser. 7) Launch iTunes. Your iTunes Store account should work normally. If you continue to experience this issue, just reply to this email and include any more information you may have discovered. I trust the information that I have provided will be helpful to you in resolving this issue. If you have any further questions, please reply to this email and I will be happy to assist you again. Sincerely, MichaeliTunes Store Customer Support Please note my schedule is 8AM to 5:00PM(EST) Sunday to Thursday. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you. You may receive an AppleCare survey email; Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

The Misleading part is answered in the follow on email:

This is Michael again from iTunes Support. Thank you for getting back to me regarding this matter. Please accept my apologies for the delay in my response. I am sorry you continue to experience trouble editing your billing information for your iTunes Store account. Please understand if you are not within the United States, you cannot use the iTunes Store U.S iTunes Store. The U.S iTunes Store is for customers who reside within the country. If you are outside of the U.S, that is exactly why you are experiencing this problem. You may have valid billing in the iTunes Store, but you are not within the U.S states. I will continue to investigate this matter and hopefully provide a resolution for the issue you have reported, but I cannot change the terms of service of the iTunes Store to resolve this problem. You may consider creating an iTunes Store account for the correct country that you reside in. To do that, you will also need valid billing information for the country. I will email you after the matter has been investigated and further information is available. Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible. Sincerely, MichaeliTunes Store Customer Support Please note my schedule is 1PM to 9:30PM(EST). Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you. You may receive an AppleCare survey email; Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

______________________________________
interresting aspects.
1. If you call 1800-My-Apple about the problem your advised that the service desk cannot help you via phone this can only be corrected via Email.
2. If you have a creadit card associated with the account that is approved prior to you leaving the U.S. then your card will continue to work while overseas if downloading video or Music. But if downloading apps it fails.
3. The length of time to get at least this much in responce is crazy.
4. Will the app providers be happy with the fact that they are not going to make any money on the over 400,000 US people who are outside the US supporting the U.S. Military while overseas?
5. Having credit on ITUNES prevents you from being able to change your region. Your required to spend the ballance before changing the region. The ability to spend the ballance is hindered by not being able to provide a valid payment method. You'll have to do the New account request.
6. The suggested action from APPLE is to get a local credit card for the country in which they are in. Yea, like that is possible being your a U.S. Citizen assigned overseas not a overseas customer living there as a tax payer.

As for use of VPN here's what I got.

For Fun.I repeated all the steps above this time using a VPN based in the US. Well I was able to sucessfully get all the way to the last two steps. Opened the Itunes Application. selected to log-in. Entered username and password. Got the Verification is required box ...Before you can make purchases, you must click OK then verify your payment information. So Clicked OK Up comes the Edit Payment information screen. Where the credit card has all but the Seurity code information. Entered the proper number. Verified the address was correct from my Bank's statement. Country Region is United States. Select "Done" And Again Your credit card was declined. Please enter valid credit card information.

Apple is working toward blocking the VPN work around as well.

To John Makle,
Your comment toward the solution has been posted is incorrect. The solution of sending an email to the rep does not correct the problem. It only gives the user the false hope that something is being done in the background.
What is being done in the background is Apple working on Apple's security procedures in accordance with agreements toward liscense and copywrite fighting the capababilities of piracy and intellectual property circumvention has decided that the following has to take place to procure an application from the ITUNES portal.
1. You must be using a computer that is physically located in the US (using a U.S. Service provider)
2. Your credit card has to be valid with a US financial institution.
3. Your billing address for the institution must be based in the U.S.
4. ITUNES 10 application does not use the WWW ports most assume are being used with connecting with a VPN. ITUNES V10 actually uses it's own ports and protocols and therefore if you selecct a VPN tool it needs to be more than just secure web browsing. You'll have to VPN your entire connection out of your house. (All ports and protocols)
Note depending upon how the application is writted it may also require you to old school tweek and change your local computers' Time and region settings to match whichever tiem it is where the VPN service is being granted from.

Rebutle (Point of this message):
There is no "solution" posted. Only facts leading to the work-around that you'll need to ship the device to someone in the U.S. so that you can have the device acquire the application you desire every time you want another Application.

As of now I am happy. I got a reply from Apple and am able to purchase applications again using my Iphone 4 like I was able to. Not sure how long this will last for so I am going to make sure I download all that I need before it goes away again lol..

*Hi ****,

*John here. Thank you so much for your patience while the iTunes Store researched this issue. It looks like your credit card company is having an issue communicating with the iTunes Store.*

*I have good news for you. I have taken this to a senior advisor and we have done some work on your account. It has been found that this issue has been resolved. Please try again in 24 hours.*

*If you continue to have issues in 24 hours, please feel free to reply to this email and let me know.*

*Have a great day, *****.

Sincerely,

John
*iTunes Store Customer Support*

*Please Note: I work M-F, 9-6PM (EST)*

*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.*