Q: What do I do with iTunes gift cards if I am using Family sharing?

Stephen,

You can redeem the gift cards to any one of the accounts.  The balance will be used for purchases on that account rather than the Family Organizer's credit card.

Stephen Dicenso wrote:

 

Sorry it took me so long but thanks.

You are welcome.  Happy Holidays!

I had a similar problem, and/but my son has a gift card.  When he tried to use it, it said that I had to approve, (which is OK with me- I put my code in), but it also defaulted to my visa card.  Then it said that credit card purchases were not available at that time.

Help?

I have a similar problem.  I attempted the suggestion made to Stephen in the string above; however, the system still sent a request for permission and defaulted to the credit card and didn't provide an option to pay with iTunes card.  I verified the iTunes card was registered under my child's Apple ID.  The iTunes card shows on their iTunes store page at the bottom with available amount; however, I can not find a way to access the iTunes card without removing my child from the Family Sharing, using the gift card, then bringing them back into the Family Sharing.

I need help as well??

I have the same problem.  I am the family organizer of family share with a gift card balance on my account.  When my child wanted to buy something, as part of the family share, the purchase pointed to my credit card and not the gift card balance.  What has to be done to point the purchase to the gift card balance?

What has to be done to point the purchase to the gift card balance?

Redeem the gift card to the kid's account.  Any purchase made by the kid will go against his/her own credit balance before hitting the Family Organizer's credit card.

Thank you for your response, but the gift card has been redeemed already on my account.  I am the family organizer with a gift card balance already.  One of my children had a gift card balance on their iCloud account and when he made a purchase, yes, the purchase came off his gift card balance.  However, as the family organizer with a gift card balance, my daughter made a purchase and it was processed against my credit card, instead of my gift card balance.  I think it's a glitch with family share.  I see that I am not the only one with this problem.

Thank you for your response, but the gift card has been redeemed already on my account.  I am the family organizer with a gift card balance already.

and only YOU can use that gift card balance...

However, as the family organizer with a gift card balance, my daughter made a purchase and it was processed against my credit card, instead of my gift card balance.  I think it's a glitch with family share.  I see that I am not the only one with this problem.

This is how FamilySharing with Gift Cards is supposed to work.

Using gift cards in Family Sharing will charge against a gift card ONLY for purchases against that specific account.

You redeemed the gift card you you account so only purchases YOU make will go against that gift card.

If your daughter redeems a gift card, any purchases she makes will go against that gift card.

-> How iTunes Store purchases are billed - Apple Support

"How are Family Sharing purchases billed?

When you initiate a new purchase, it will be billed directly to the family organizer's account, unless you have gift or store credit. First, your store credit will be used to pay the partial or total bill. The remainder will bill to the family organizer. iTunes Store credit on your account isn't shared with other family members. So if the family organizer has a $50 credit on their account and another family member initiates a purchase, it won't deduct from the organizer's iTunes Store credit, but will bill the organizer's credit or debit card."

Thank YOU!  That definitively explains it.  But Apple has it wrong.  If the family organizer has a gift card balance, their children should be able to spend against it and not have a credit card charge for it. 

This is a perfect example of a computer programmer preparing a procedure without the user's needs in mind.  I need to report this to Apple support.

BikeSI wrote:

I need to report this to Apple support.

-> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Thank you.  Yes, I did report it.  They will get back to me in 48 hours.  I will let you know how it goes!

I reported it to both customer support and the feed back link you sent me.  Thanks again!

The problem is if you added itunes credits to the account before family sharing existed. My kid used to receive a ton of itunes gift cards and I had to redeem them to my account because she was too young and family sharing wasn't around yet. Now she has her own account, with me as the organizer, and she has no access to her own store credit balance. When we set up her account, I couldn't transfer the balance to her and she can't purchase anything herself without it charging my credit card. It is ridiculous that under family sharing you can share a credit card but not an itunes store credit balance. Makes no sense to me at all.