Give me my money back apple

So about a month ago I joined Duolingo hoping to learn a little Italian. During the setup process Duolingo asked me if I wanted to sign up for a premium subscription plan, but with a 1 week free trial. I subsequently signed up for this subscription not knowing it would actually charge be 36 dollars for a 1 year subscription without my secondary consent.


So, fast forward about a week, I notice an Apple bill that was about 36 dollars, which I did not recognize at the time. I didn’t have that much money on that specific card at the time, so it placed a charge on it. I didn’t think much of it, because if there was no money in the card, then I wasn’t paying it right? Nevertheless, I noticed I couldn’t proceed with other purchases or even download new apps because of this miscellaneous charge. So I investigated and figured out I was the darn Duolingo subscription which I cancelled. It’s important to remember this is a 1 year plan so I was already several days into it according to Duolingo and Apple even tho I had not paid. So I couldn’t outright cancel the subscription because I was several days into a 1 year subscription.


I then contacted Duolingo support, which properly told me to contact Apple, which told me they couldn’t do anything unless I paid the charge. I could pay the charge and request a refund. So that’s what I did. I paid the charge and request a refund. The refund is then not returned, so now I’m just left holding my balls like an idiot.

Apple just bambozalled me out of 36 bucks, which they won’t give me back, which I was not willing to pay in the first place because I thought it wasn’t worth the hassle of losing a not insignificant amount of money for a few days request a refund. Now I’m stuck without my money, if I had known this would happen I would just have not paid the stupid charge. Apple give me my money back.

Posted on Nov 1, 2026 6:41 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 1, 2026 9:55 AM

Hi Canitirix8s2,


We are just fellow users here, so we can't look at your account or issue a refund.

Your best bet is to go to the Official Apple Support Website or use the Apple Support App to start a live call or chat. Tell the agent you were forced to pay a pending balance just to unlock your App Store, and ask to speak with a senior Billing advisor if they turn you down. They are the only ones who can override a rejected refund.


Good luck!

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 1, 2026 9:55 AM in response to Canitirix8s2

Hi Canitirix8s2,


We are just fellow users here, so we can't look at your account or issue a refund.

Your best bet is to go to the Official Apple Support Website or use the Apple Support App to start a live call or chat. Tell the agent you were forced to pay a pending balance just to unlock your App Store, and ask to speak with a senior Billing advisor if they turn you down. They are the only ones who can override a rejected refund.


Good luck!

Nov 2, 2026 4:30 AM in response to Canitirix8s2

This is a user to user support site. The people responding on this support forum are users like you. We have no special access to Apple or your account information. All we can do is guide you to the information Apple provides to all of us. In this support article —> Request a refund for apps or content that you bought from Apple - Apple Support Apple usually says, “Some purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books, or other Apple services might be eligible for a refund.” It says “might” but that also implies some might not be eligible. Apple does not detail its criteria for refusing refunds. Refund terms vary greatly according to country so I strongly suggest that you check them for where you live by clicking on this link Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple then choose your country and language if you are not automatically taken to the correct page version. Refunds are outlined at the end of section B.


Apple's terms of purchase in some countries (e.g., USA, Canada, New Zealand) are clearly "All Transactions are final.” From user comments on this forum it appears that for routine purchases Apple may make limited refunds solely at their discretion and as an exception. Apple can simply say no without having to provide a specific reason. I understand this can be frustrating but by using the service you agree to the terms.


Apple cannot remove content from a device once downloaded and has to trust that you no longer are keeping and using a copy. In countries where it does not outright say all transactions are final, Apple’s terms likely include a way to deter people from buying a bunch of items and then insisting upon right of refusal to have them refunded. In some regions Apple says, “If technical problems prevent or unreasonably delay delivery of Content, your exclusive and sole remedy is either replacement of the Content or refund of the price paid, as determined by Apple.”


Terms for most countries include a statement:

“From time to time, Apple may suspend or cancel payment or refuse a refund request if we find evidence of fraud, abuse, or unlawful or other manipulative behavior that entitles Apple to a corresponding counterclaim." It may be that certain refund requests might be considered suspicious or excessive. According to https://reportaproblem.apple.com/static/en-us/privacy.html , Apple uses an automated system to detect fraud. Your request may not have met the automated system’s criteria for a refund. In the article Apple says, “If you disagree with your final decision, contact dpo@apple.com “ However, according to user posts on this web site the result is confusing because you receive an automated response talking about privacy issues, not refunds.

If you want to contact Apple to dispute a refund refusal, try a telephone or chat method, 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:


"See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world." Click here --> Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


Speak with a live representative (possibly requesting a more senior person). Present your case clearly because after you have been denied once you may only get a second chance. Once you have been denied twice, or it says the decision is final, then in my opinion it is probably pointless contacting Apple anymore.


*Additional information about EU right of refusal:

https://9to5mac.com/2015/01/13/apple-defends-against-eu-14-day-refund-abuse-with-app-store-alert-for-customers-with-excessive-refunds-on-file/

Section 3 of https://www.osborneclarke.com/insights/apple-introduces-14-day-refunds-what-does-that-mean-for-virtual-content-providers By double clicking to download you may be waiving your right.


Nov 3, 2026 2:20 AM in response to Limnos

So basically, I requested a 2nd refund request which was denied. I then contacted support and they told me they couldn’t do anything. So I’m now out 36 bucks, which I was told to pay to unblock the restrictions on my card. Which I was already apprehensive about because I didn’t feel like going through the refund process which would take a couple days, and could result in no money being returned. I feel like I’ve been scammed my Apple, and they are saying they can do nothing about it. It’s bs.

Give me my money back apple

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