Q: How to activate my gift card as it won't redeem but wants me to activate it on iTunes?

You will need to try contacting iTunes Support (these are user-to-user forums) : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page, then iTunes Cards And Codes (you will probably need to give them images of the front and back of the card, and possibly its receipt)

I have been trying to resolve a similar problem for the last 30 days. See below:

Date:             December 28, 2013 8:34:09 PM EST Follow Up xxxxxxxxx26

Dear Stephen,

Welcome to iTunes Store Customer Support. My name is Shamanth.

I understand that you're seeing a message that your iTunes Gift Card hasn't been activated. I know how eager you are to get this issue resolve. I am glad to help you.

Stephen, After researching this issue, I found that your gift card didn't activate at the time of purchase.

To get your card activated, you can do one of these things:

- Go back to where you purchased the gift card and ask the retailer to activate it for you

- Reply to this email and attach scanned images or digital photos of your sales receipt and gift card

If you choose the second option, scan or take a picture of the entire front and back of the gift card. Also, please verify that your sales receipt includes this information:

- Name of the retailer

- Date of the purchase

- Line item that shows the iTunes Gift Card purchase

If you don't have the sales receipt, you might be able to get a copy from the store where you purchased the card. If you purchased the card from the Apple Store online, please send me the order number.

I hope that this will resolve your issue.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shamanth

iTunes Store Customer Support

      Date: January 18, 2014 8:25:01 PM EST

Greetings Shamanth,

Here is the information you require to activate these x-mas gifts. Thanx!

✌

      Date: January 19, 2014 1:36:56 PM EST

Dear Stephen,

Welcome back to iTunes Store Customer Support. Shamanth once again here.

I understand that your are unable to make purchase with your account as it asks to contact iTunes support. I am sure you are anxious at this time and I will do my best to help you.

Stephen, your inquiry is very important to me, so I have requested assistance with the issue you reported. You will receive an email after the matter has been investigated and further information is available.

Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shamanth

iTunes Store Customer Support

Date:             January 20, 2014 1:40:40 PM EST

Hello again,

I wanted to send a quick note to see if you are still experiencing any difficulties with the iTunes Store. Resolving your issue is important to me, so please don't hesitate to reply if you need any further assistance.

Sincerely,

Shamanth

iTunes Store Customer Support

Date: January 20, 2014 2:57:56 PM EST

            To:     iTunes Store iTunesStoreSupport@apple.com

Still getting error 'not properly activated'.

            Date:             January 20, 2014 7:41:39 PM EST

Dear Stephen,

Welcome back to iTunes Store Customer Support. Shamanth once again here.

I understand that your are unable to make purchase with your account as it asks to contact iTunes support. I am sure you are anxious at this time and I will do my best to help you.

Stephen, your inquiry is very important to me, so I have requested assistance with the issue you reported. You will receive an email after the matter has been investigated and further information is available.

Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shamanth

iTunes Store Customer Support

            Date:             January 24, 2014 7:56:39 PM EST

Dear Stephen,

Welcome back to iTunes Store Customer Support. Shamanth once again here.

Stephen, I requested you to send the front and back scan copies of gift card individually not four gift cards at a time.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shamanth

iTunes Store Customer Support

            Date:             January 24, 2014 9:58:56 PM EST

-- Yoda

What kind of horsehockey is this?!?!?!?!?!? This is the most RUDE of INSULTS and an UNACCEPTABLE REASON TO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM!?!?!?!>!>!>!>!>?!?!?!?

The receipt shows that all 4 gift cards were purchased at the same time.

READ THE EXACT WORDS OF YOUR INSTRUCTIONS!

Waiting for an apology.

Date:             January 25, 2014 8:08:24 PM EST

Dear Stephen,

Welcome back to iTunes Store Customer Support. Shamanth once again here.

Stephen, I have reviewed your all scanned images of the gift card  which was not much clear so, I request you to send the another copies of activation code and GCA number.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shamanth

iTunes Store Customer Support

            Date:             January 28, 2014 6:58:54 PM EST

Dear Shamanth,

I don't understand you recalcitrance regarding this issue.

My family receives iTunes Gift Cards from out of town relatives for Christmas (2013) and they will not activate.

So I contact iTunes support and get directions on how to get the cards activated.

I follow said directions.

Your responses have been anything but supportive. In fact you are coming across like a rude gatekeeper determined to not solve the problem.

First you said I shouldn't have sent all 4 iTunes cards as one scan and I highlighted the exact words on your email where you said no such thing.

Now you say you can't read them.

I sent your the required scans and the iTunes cards were scanned at a 600 x 600 resolution with dimensions of 5088 x 7012.

The scan of the receipt is not quite as high a resolution, but quite readable on my iPhone.

If you open them in "Preview" and click on the "+" icon the image gets bigger! As an Apple employee I am sure you have this application on your work machine.

I have been an Apple customer since 1995 (Mac Classic, Quadra 610 & 650, PowerMac 7200, eMAc, iMac, PowerBook 190 and 5300,  Wallstreet & Pismo, iBook, and 2 MacBooks plus LOTS of Software) and I have never-EVER dealt with anyone so utterly un Apple-like.

Furthermore your grammar is substandard for professional communication.

Again I implore you to help resolve this issue.

Date:             January 28, 2014 7:47:15 PM EST

Dear Stephen,

Welcome to iTunes Store Customer Support. My name is Shamanth and I am glad to help you today.

I understand that your are unable to make purchase with your account as it asks to contact iTunes support. I am sure you are anxious at this time and I will do my best to help you.

Stephen, your inquiry is very important to me, so I have requested assistance with the issue you reported. You will receive an email after the matter has been investigated and further information is available.

Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shamanth

Date:             January 28, 2014 7:53:11 PM EST

Dear Shamanth,

It has been 30 days since we started this charade. You have had 30 days to investigate and thus far have refused.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!

I Had won 3 iTunes cards form a YouTube giveaway and it show the error

Contact the organiser of the giveaway and ask them to take the card's back to where they bought them from get them activated properly. If the store won't then he/she can try contacting iTunes Support with images of the fronts and backs of the cards and the purchase receipt