What to do when a refund request is denied on the App Store?

jsidd wrote:

What about in-app purchases that aren’t given because the app crashed?

Some in-app purchases can be restored:

If you can't find or use your in-app purchases - Apple Support

• Have you contacted the app developer?
• The developer of the app can give you a promo code to activate the purchase you made.
• What app are you having the problem with?

I have a similar situation. It is already hard being a college student, I just wanted a free trial to help with some school work, not use my grocery money to pay for something I won’t be using again. I even canceled my subscription.

I am having a very similar issue expect the app made it seem as if I was paying for a MONTH subscription and then I got charged $85!! Talk about a shock! I am currently trying to figure out what to do. Did you ever find a solution?

Hi Apple please can I have my refund back from all that I requested because the purchases that have went threw was not wanted and I didn’t want that so please can I have all my refunds

kind regards RayhanAhmed7

In January I got jacked for an app I forgot to cancel. 89.99. The stupidest app I have ever seen. I got denied by apple twice. I even reached out to the developers only to be denied. Almost $100. Beware of an app called “headway”! And now today I seen they got me again for $59.99. My claim is pending. I have little faith it will be returned. I never received a notice that the free trial was ending and nothing about the upcoming 59.99. I think if a person files a claim they should give it back. The 89.99 I couldn’t force myself to use that lame app. Unbelievable.

My niece downloaded different apps on my phone by which it charges me way too much. I need my money back. I did apply for a refund but they said it not eligible for refund and the final

decision has been made. It is not fair. As I am an international student and I need the money very urgent and it was not done by me and I have no idea about that installation of apps in my phone and no idea about the subscriptions it charges me more than $200 I need that money back because I am in emergency.

Apple's refund policy feels incredibly unfair. It makes me hesitant to buy anything through the App Store. Our only real power as consumers is to vote with our wallets and choose alternatives. I love the option of subscribing to services like ChatGPT directly through their website. It cuts out the middleman and gives me more control. I wish more developers offered this – it would be a game-changer!

Mini_Lover7 wrote:

I love the option of subscribing to services like ChatGPT directly through their website. It cuts out the middleman and gives me more control. I wish more developers offered this – it would be a game-changer!

Actually a lot of developers do offer that and many users have been stuck with subscriptions they are unable to cancel because it is not being managed by Apple. Simply search on this website with keywords such as "Nebula" or "StarApps" or "Cancel Hint Subscritption". You can use the search option on the top of this page and will see over 300 complaints of users who could not cancel their subscription because it is not being managed by Apple with an in-app purchase where it can be easily cancelled.

You don't have more control with a website subscription, you have NO control. As for getting a refund through ChatGPT, you may want to check out their Support Forums where users are constantly complaining about not getting a refund. Here is just one of them.

https://community.openai.com/t/i-have-just-signed-up-and-i-want-a-refund/691429/13

I appreciate you bringing up those examples! It's true that some developers have had issues with managing subscriptions outside of the app stores, and those cases definitely need to be addressed.

However, I believe that well-implemented direct subscriptions can offer significant benefits to both users and developers. They can lead to lower prices, more flexible options, and better customer support.

The key is for developers to be transparent about their cancellation policies and provide easy-to-use tools for managing subscriptions. OpenAI offering direct subscriptions for ChatGPT Plus is a positive step, and I hope they'll continue to improve the process based on user feedback.

Ultimately, I think a healthy mix of app store and direct subscriptions is ideal. It gives users more choice and encourages competition, which benefits everyone in the long run.

Most services are available outside the App Store.

• X (Twitter)
• Neftlix
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Walmart

Actually it is just about every service I can think of and way too many to list. You are free to purchase those subscriptions outside the App Store and use them in the app, that is entirely up to you. Just realize that there will not be one place to cancel those subscriptions as there is with the App Store, and you will need to deal with each developer directly. Refunds are a hit/miss whether you try from a website subscription or App Store.

The choice is yours. App Store offers the convenience with easy cancellation in one place or sign up with the developer on their website. It is the developer that sets the price for the subscription in the App Store and on their website, so there is really no competition that will drive the price down.

Guess what, when puchasing app it was showing Free Trial for two weeks. After purchase, Apple charged full price for a year. We even have screenshots of it. And they blocked us from even trying to get refunds.

joranas wrote:

Guess what, when puchasing app it was showing Free Trial for two weeks. After purchase, Apple charged full price for a year. We even have screenshots of it. And they blocked us from even trying to get refunds.

• What was the app?
• Did you previously use a free trial?
• Was the free trial from an in-app purchase or ad from the developer?
• Post the screenshot of the verification screen before you double clicked the side button.
• What do you mean by the blocked you from refunds? You get 2 requests for a refund.

Please help me for a refund that iPhone took from my bank card.I requested a refund but got denied because a child subscribe to the App and I did unsubscribe and deleted the app but still I wasn’t refunded.What am I supposed to do now because I really need the money for my mom’s medicine💔😭

Hey apple how you doing

I requested a refund because I did not buy the subscription it just automatically bought it form me so please apple give me a refund

and I did not open the app and use the app

Hi! I hope you can help me with this situation. I requested a refund few days ago and now it say’s its not eligible to refund. So i submit a “review a decision” but still got denied.

So here’s the situation I already deleted the subscription app but my subscription amount detected I don’t know what to do. Please I really do need a refund because that money is very important to me.