Apple ID is Disabled for no reason at all after $1000 of purchase

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Level 1

6 points

Apple ID is Disabled for no reason at all after $1000 of purchase

I have been a long time Apple customer with purchased for more than $1000 in music, apps, TV series and movies.

I used this Apple ID for many things including my iCloud.

There is never a fraud of any problem before with my account.

And suddenly I couldn't purchase app-in purchased from the Apps, but I still can purchase a song. I contacted custmer support, now My ID has been Disabled.

The sad thing with dissabled ID, I couldn't upgrade my previous purchase, or redownload my musics.

At leas they should be enable for upgrade if I can't purchase the new ones.

Here are the email from customer service:

"Grace here with the iTunes Store Customer Support team. In an effort to be clear and avoid any miscommunication, we have disabled your account and it will not be reenabled. You are in violation of the iTunes Store Terms of Sale.

As stated in the previous email, please note that you are not authorized to obtain content from the US iTunes Store. We are unable to provide further information regarding this situation. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused."

This is a bad move from Apple.

Jerry

iPad, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Feb 23, 2012 5:22 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

stevejobsfan0123

Level 9

54,384 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:25 PM in response to Jsjxyz

I'm sure they did a thorough investigation before accusing you of violating the terms.

FYI, we are users like you, so there is nothing we can do to re-enable your account.

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Answer 2

Jsjxyz Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:33 PM in response to stevejobsfan0123

The only parts that I am wrong is I traveled alot from US. I live in US only 2-3 months in a year.

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Answer 3

ed2345

Level 9

62,492 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:34 PM in response to Jsjxyz

As stated in the previous email, please note that you are not authorized to obtain content from the US iTunes Store. We are unable to provide further information regarding this situation. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused."

Jsjxyz,

The specific reference to the "US iTunes Store" could mean that they determined that you (or someone using your account) was purchasing items from outside the USA. Are you outside the USA?

Apple is required to enforce the geographic limitations of the licensed material that it sells.

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Answer 4

Jsjxyz Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:36 PM in response to ed2345

I am outside of US at this moment, will I got back my ID, once I am back in US?

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Answer 5

ed2345

Level 9

62,492 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:41 PM in response to Jsjxyz

I do not know if they will reinstate it.

Be aware that the Terms of the USA iTunes Store state as follows: "The iTunes Service is available to you only in the United States, its territories, and possessions. You agree not to use or attempt to use the iTunes Service from outside these locations. Apple may use technologies to verify your compliance."

That is what they found to be violating.

When you get back to the USA, you can try requesting that it be reinstated.

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Answer 6

steve359

Level 6

17,169 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:47 PM in response to Jsjxyz

Whether or not they will reinstate probably has much to do with what was in the previous e-mail they sent.

If they have little or no faith that you will resist using iTunes outside of the prescribed boundaries due to prior violations, you may have an uphill battle.

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Answer 7

Jsjxyz Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 23, 2012 5:48 PM in response to ed2345

Thanks Ed,

But at least if they stop of my purchasing new ones, they should enable me to upgrade my Apps.

This is hurting.

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Answer 8

ed2345

Level 9

62,492 points

Feb 23, 2012 7:24 PM in response to Jsjxyz

Jerry,

No guarantees, but you can make a polite request toiTunes Customer Service via their webpage.

I strongly suggest that you be in the USA when you submit your request.

Good luck to you!

Ed

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Answer 9

Jsjxyz Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 23, 2012 8:26 PM in response to ed2345

Ed, I sent this to Apple, thanks for your advice, hopefully is working:

I have been in US in several area, but I also an expat working outside.

My Apple ID has been disabled without any explanation whatsoever. But I guess the main reason is accessing the US store from outside of US. I will come back to US this summer.

I understand if you prohibit me for buying new items until I come back to US.

But please allow me to be able to upgrade my Apps or accessing my iCloud. There are $1000+ of digital inventory that I had purchased from iTunes include iBooks, Movies, TV Series, Musics and Apps.

Please help me, I have been always loyal and advocating legitimate digital purchases for iTunes. For your kindness I express my gratitude always.

Warm Regards

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Answer 10

Jsjxyz Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 24, 2012 8:38 AM in response to Jsjxyz

This is really sad, even I can't upgrade any software that I purchased through the App Store for my Mac.

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Answer 11

hexonxonx

Level 4

2,477 points

Feb 24, 2012 10:44 AM in response to Jsjxyz

Not only that, with a disabled account, you can't even download past purchases of music, TV shows and apps. The only thing that you can still download are future TV episodes from season passes. They can't disable those since you paid for them.

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Answer 12

TehCount

Level 1

5 points

Feb 24, 2012 6:33 PM in response to ed2345

It's amazing that they can just terminate your account over something like this. You'd think they would just reverse any transactions made outside the country or not allow them in the first place. Instead they destroy your entire account. These cloud services are getting scary. You can invest so much money into them, then they can just be taken away from you like this. Ridiculous...

I had my own situation where I was accused of making a chargeback on my iTunes account. My account was terminated. Customer service was completely worthless and wouldn't do anything. Only through harassing corporate was I able to resolve the situation. In the end I was told that they "accidentally" flagged my account as having a fraudulent chargeback. I could have lost my entire account with $1000+ in purchases because of their sloppy mistake and inability to resolve the issue through customer service.

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Answer 13

Jsjxyz Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 25, 2012 3:05 AM in response to TehCount

This is the latest email from Apple.

I will ask them again to re-enable when I am in the US again next month.

"

My name is Angela with iTunes Store/ Mac App Store Support and I will be taking over for my colleague Grace since she is out of the office for the next few days. I understand that your account was disabled because you are in violation of the iTunes Store Terms of Sale. I see that you are a US expat who spends 11 months every year working outside the US, and you are wondering if this information would allow us to enable your account.

Please know that I consulted with a senior advisor about your request. Regrettably, I was informed that your account will remain disabled because you are still in violation of the iTunes Store Terms of Sale by using your United States iTunes account when you are not in the United States. You may try opening a new account, but this account will not be reenabled.

I know that this information may cause some disappointment. Please know that Apple takes suggestions from our customers very seriously. As an customer myself, I encourage you to go to Apple's feedback link. You can use this link to share your experience as an American Expat trying to use iTunes. What you want matters. Please follow the link below. It will lead you directly to the Apple's feedback site.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

"

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Answer 14

Dazhu

Level 1

10 points

Aug 26, 2012 7:15 AM in response to Jsjxyz

FYI, this is done because of the government of certain countries want to control the information that the people of that country experience. This is not something that Apple has done because they felt like it, it is done so that they are legally allowed to have iTunes setup in those countries. If you don't use the iTunes account of that country, then you're violating the laws of that country and thus Apple can get banned / fined from doing business there. This is the same when it comes to movie and video game distribution; each country has their own set of laws that they studios have to abide by. If the studio doesn't they can get banned from selling there. It has nothing to do with the studio themselves.

This also explains why some people had no problems and others do. It depends on which country you go to. China is very strict with this and will actively pursue going after violators (example, look at Blizzard, for some time they were banned from selling Warcraft because the Undead looked too undead; so they released a patch, for China, that added more flesh to them.) Germany does this for Nazi material, it isn't allowed at all even in a negative manor. Australia has no red blood (I think that's what it is). Since Apple distributes video games and movies, they have to follow rules for BOTH of those industries.

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