Q: Charges on my account

Hey carlamomof4,

You are correct. If you have an active balance on iTunes (from a Gift Card, or other means), any purchases will be deducted from that balance (with a few exceptions):

iTunes Store: How to redeem a code

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1574

When you buy individual songs from the iTunes Store:

 

- Free song credits are redeemed first.

- If you have no free song credits, gift certificate, prepaid card, and allowance credits are used next.

- If your gift certificate, prepaid card, and/or allowance credit is less than the total cost of the purchase, your credit card is billed for the remaining balance.

- If you have no free song credits or gift certificates, prepaid cards, or allowance credits, your credit card is billed for the songs you buy.

It may be that the charge you see is from a previous outstanding purchase, or the purchase that was made could not be fully covered by the credit. In any matter, if you feel this charge was made in error, please contact iTunes Store Support:

How to report an issue with your iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, or iBooks Store purchase

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1933

Thanks,

Matt M.