Creating new Apple ID

A possible reason for seeing this message is Apple cannot find a functioning payment method to use in making this purchase. Note that even free apps may require the presence of a payment method, although it won't be charged if they are free. You may not have adequate balance, the kind of payment method required, or there may be problems with the method(s) you do have.

Use the document Add a payment method to your Apple ID - Apple Support to review your payment methods such as credit or debit cards. Problem methods will usually have a notice in red lettering below them. The article: If your payment method is declined in the App Store or iTunes Store - Apple Support has some information about declined payment methods.

If using Apple Account balance to pay for an item, ensure there is adequate balance to pay for the item, including tax if applicable. Read this article about how to check your Apple ID balance.--> Check your Apple Account balance - Apple Support Some purchases may require the presence of another payment method such as a credit card even if the final payment will be made by account balance.

If the information above does not track down the nature of the problem then you may find the fastest route to resolution would be to accept the invitation to contact Apple for assistance with this.

To contact iTunes Support, do this:

1. Click on this link --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support

2. Select your country

3. Select: Billing & Subscriptions

4. Select: Subscriptions & Purchases

5. Select: Update payment method

6. Select a chat session or a phone call.

Did you try Apple general support? I only suggested iTunes Support because you said it told you to contact them, plus when you see that message it often means it wants a payment method for doing anything with your account and it is generally an app or iTunes Store issue.

Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple ➞ Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support

Select your country (also look for "other" regions), then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.

or:

Contact Apple for support and service by telephone ➞ Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

desm1 wrote:

The issue I had was that the birthdate was not entered in the correct format but the "error" msg. was something like: Can't create ID at this time. Last I checked a relevant error msg. for that now appears but there may be something similar in some other field.

Indeed. Sometimes an "at this time" message (but vkosickij didn't mention it) doesn't really mean something isn't working now but might be later; it instead can mean there is some other issue with the validity of the action you are trying to perform and once you take care of that issue then it can do it. Check Apple's documentation about the action you are trying to do and if you still have problems contact official Apple Support:

Click here --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support Select your country, then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.

or:

Contact Apple for support and service --> "See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world."

Click here --> Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

400 sounds like a general 'cannot access server' error message that any browser might produce. It may be the server is down in your area,.

Apple - Support - System Status

Note that Apple's servers might not like like VPNs and that might cause a problem. Also possible is if you are trying to create an acccount for a country which is NOT the one in which you reside you can run into all kinds of problems.

The issue I had was that the birthdate was not entered in the correct format but the "error" msg. was something like: Can't create ID at this time. Last I checked a relevant error msg. for that now appears but there may be something similar in some other field.

Formats have to confirm to the standards for the country for which the ID is being set. Not all countries follow the same date conventions. Also make sure you use the correct number of digits.

Sorry but I don't know what else to advise you. If the system status report says the server is available then the numerical error message says something else is wrong on the network. Apple may not let you use a VPN when doing something involving security, if you are using one. If you cannot get official Apple support - well you may have to wait until it becomes available again. At least you have this account to use.

Not helpful? You mean even the part where you say it tells you to contact iTunes support and I tell you how you can contact iTunes support?