If you have an iPhone, you probably download or buy apps and games by linking a bank card to your Apple ID.
This is fraught with uncontrolled write-offs of money as a regular payment for various subscriptions, which the developers of almost all applications and games love to impose.
It happens that a notification about debiting money arrives on your smartphone, completely suddenly and without any explanation. Just rrraz - and 300 rubles went somewhere. And this can happen at any time, not necessarily at the beginning or end of the calendar month.
Be a little lazy, and the developers will take money from you for a service that you don’t even use.
How to protect yourself?
? Together with Yota, we will tell you what we hid from you under the fine print.
Checking for paid subscriptions on iPhone
To find out which services you are subscribed to, you need to do the following on your iPhone:
Step 1 . Open Settings, go to the Apple ID menu, and then go to the Subscriptions section.
Step 2 . Check the list of active subscriptions. If you see incomprehensible applications or games, click on them and feel free to click “Cancel subscription”.
In case of cancellation, the subscription will be valid until the end of the billing period. The exception is Apple Arcade, which stops working as soon as you cancel your subscription.
Why can't I turn off my subscription?
This is also possible and there are several reasons for this:
- The previous subscription period has not been paid, or there are other “debts” to the iTunes Store or Apple Store. Most often they are accompanied by the error “There is a billing problem with a previous purchase” - more details here.
- Problems directly with the Apple ID. You need to check that it is not disabled or blocked for security reasons.
- Make sure that your account information is current and correct - for example, the linked card must be valid and functional.
Although the most common reason is still the first item on the above list. And here, sometimes, a very interesting story happens...
How to get a refund for a paid subscription
We have sorted out the cancellation of unnecessary subscriptions, but now I want to return the money that has already been written off
Step 1 . Go to the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad and click on your account avatar.
Step 2 . Look for the “Purchase History” menu item, click on it and select the purchase for which you want a refund. In our case, this will be payment for some kind of subscription.
Step 3 . Click on the line with the payment amount, then on the “Report a problem” line and you will be redirected to the Apple technical support site.
Step 4 . From the list of possible problems, select “I want to request a refund.” In the description you should write in English that the payment was made by a child and this will not happen again.
Step 5 . Click the “Send” button
You're waiting. Usually, the money is returned to the card within 2-3 days.
How long will it take for money to be returned for a canceled purchase?
After Apple reviews your application, you will receive either a refusal, the reason for which you can read in the received letter in your mail, or a refund using the same payment method that was used to purchase the application or subscription. The exact timing of the refund depends entirely on the method of payment for the services:
- If you pay with a bank card, you will receive your money back within 30 days. If the specified period has passed and the money has not been returned to your bank account, we recommend contacting the bank.
- By paying using funds in your App Store account, you will receive the money within 48 hours.
- If you pay using your mobile phone balance, you can get your money back within 60 days. It all depends on how quickly your mobile operator processes the refund.
What can prevent the return of funds?
It is important to keep in mind that the list of reasons why you may be denied a refund operation is quite small. But it’s still worth considering:
- Purchase history of applications and subscriptions. The support team will first check this information to determine whether you are a bona fide user or a scammer.
- Number of requests. Frequent requests to change your password or contacting company moderators to solve problems may also cause them to recognize you as a fraudster. As a result, the account will be blocked.
- Continued use of the application or subscription after filing a complaint.
Refunds via Apple.com
This method of returning money is similar to the above, only slightly simplified. If there is a link on the Apple website from the Report Problem section, you can get there immediately without manipulating iTunes. Another advantage of this method is the ability to return money directly from an iPad or iPhone, because only a browser is needed.
The algorithm of actions is identical. You must follow the link https://reportaproblem.apple.com/ and log in. Then we find the application for which we want to return the money, and click on Report Problem, describe the essence of the problem.
The chances of getting the money written off are very high, especially if the user performs the procedure very rarely or contacts support for the first time. Success also depends on the time that has passed since the purchase: the sooner the user contacts support, the higher the chances of a return.
How long will you have to wait?
Before analyzing how to return a purchase to the App Store and get your money back, it was already said that such a procedure is performed as an exception. Therefore, it may take you from several days to a whole month to wait (extremely rarely).
If you have fulfilled all the conditions described above and have not received a response after more than five business days, do not rush to call support. The problem is that users who are too actively interested will be mistaken for scammers, and their accounts will be blocked.
For what reasons may Apple refuse a refund?
In some cases, Apple may not accommodate your request. Typically, this happens for the following reasons: for example, if you have requested too many refunds lately, or you have already issued a refund for this reason. Apple is quite sensitive to erroneous downloads by minors, in which case you will be strongly advised to set up Screen Time and limit purchases for children. If you do not do this, your request for funds may be denied. Share your experience of returning money for applications or subscriptions in the comments and in our Telegram chat.
I really wouldn't want this article to become an incentive for people to start writing to Apple support to get their money back for apps that work just fine. Let's be honest. And I will be very glad if this article really helps you solve your problems.
When can I cancel?
Apple gives you 90 days to cancel your purchase, but that doesn't mean you can get your money back if you contact us after two months. It is best to apply as soon as you discover that your subscription has been completed. It is advisable even before the first calendar month of using the program.
The money does not always arrive in the account immediately. For example, if you indicate a “broken application” as the reason, then Apple reserves the right to give the developer time to fix the problem.
The necessary conditions
As already mentioned, canceling a purchase on iTunes is problematic if the money has already been transferred. However, you can try to get reimbursement for unwanted costs. Let's imagine a situation where a person inadvertently subscribed to a function that does not interest him. Or he agreed to try the program for free, and then deleted it and forgot about the subscription. As a result, money for the current month will be automatically withdrawn from his card, and the amount may not be small. Naturally, no one wants to spend money on something they won’t use. The same situations are possible with Apple Music.
Manage Apple Subscriptions
See the conditions under which access to applications is provided
Often, subscriptions to VPN services, firstly, are renewed not on a monthly, but on a weekly basis, and, secondly, their cost is an incredible 500-700 rubles. And this is per week. It’s easy to calculate how much you will be charged per month.
But there are also so-called fleeceware . Despite the similarity to malware, these are completely harmless applications. At least from a functionality point of view. But the harm they cause is different. As a rule, these are applications with a very narrow set of functions - calendars, calculators, notes - for which their developers charge unreasonably high subscription fees.
Apple has changed the App Store rules. Now they are even tougher, and developers can complain about each other
But even they are unable to impose anything on you. It's just that when you set up the application, you don't pay attention to what you're agreeing to. Meanwhile, there are no small prints in the subscription . Everything is written unambiguously, large and intelligibly.
The most effective way to deal with unplanned subscription charges is to turn off the test period before it expires. Make it a rule to cancel your subscription immediately after installing and launching the subscription application for the first time.
Before execution
First, it’s worth going over a few important points that will help you quickly complete the procedure. According to many answers left on various sites under the following tips, the issue is resolved literally in an hour. So, before you return money for a purchase in the App Store, you need to remember:
- Regardless, Apple has a message that once you purchase a free subscription, it will renew automatically. So before you write a message to the moderators that money was illegally withdrawn from your account, make sure that you are right.
- Describe the situation as it actually happened. Cheating will not lead to anything good. The support team can check any information about your financial transactions. And if you are caught lying, then instead of answering the question of how to get your money back for a subscription to the AppStore, you will have to look for ways to recover your account.
- You have exactly 90 days after the write-off operation to contact support. Otherwise, returns will not be possible due to prolonged use of the product.
- Keep in mind that most often the decision to return debited funds to you is made based on an analysis of your previous activity in branded stores. If the list of your purchases does not raise suspicions, then with almost 100% probability you will receive your money. But keep in mind that most often the return procedure is carried out as an exception.
Next, we’ll figure out how to return money for a purchase on iTunes.
Refunds for in-app purchases
In this case, the previous recommendations will not help. Here you need to select the option “I did not consent to this purchase.” After specifying the reason, you will be prompted to speak with Apple support. If you manage to prove that an application or program was purchased without your consent, you will be refunded. Don't worry, Apple's employees care about their customers, so if you honestly state that the subscription was purchased in error, you will get a refund.
Don’t think that the procedure for returning money for an iOS app and subscription is tedious and lengthy. Do not be afraid that the company will reject your request for a refund, because if you listen to the tips and recommendations described in this article, as well as honestly indicate the reason for the request, Apple will quickly return your funds to you. So, if you feel that the application does not live up to the stated promises of the developers, then you can safely apply for a refund. Fortunately, this article will tell you how to do it correctly.
How can I cancel a paid service that my operator has activated?
Where do paid subscriptions come from?
- Very often, Megafon clients voluntarily activate paid additional services, which they almost never use.
This especially happens when various promotions are held, the purpose of which is to advertise new opportunities or services for subscribers. Such options are very often connected for free, since there is a free period. When this period ends, money begins to be withdrawn for the connected subscription. - The second way to connect additional paid options that the subscriber does not use is a new SIM card. Operators usually include additional services in the starter package. If the subscriber forgot to turn them off after activating the SIM card.
If you have the knowledge to disable unnecessary options on your Megafon phone number, the subscriber can easily do it on their own.
First you need to check which of them are connected to you. If you find out that paid unwanted services are connected to your phone number, you should use one of the options below.
How to cancel through your personal account?
- You need to log into Megafon's personal account. Here you need to look at all connected options and disable unnecessary ones.
- To do this, select “Services and options” - scroll down the page - find the item “With a subscription fee” (or the “My” tab if there is one).
- After clicking this item, paid subscriptions will appear.
- All you have to do is look and click on the “Disable” button next to the unnecessary subscription.
Via SMS message
Is a pretty simple way.
- Send an SMS with the text “info” to number 5051.
- You will receive a response message with information about connected paid subscriptions and recommendations to disable them.
Via USSD request
- Dial *583# on your phone and press call.
- After this, you will receive an SMS message with information about the connected services and commands to disable them.
- Next, disable them with the appropriate command.
Via technical support operator
You can also resolve the issue of disabling unnecessary paid subscriptions through the technical support operator by calling 0555 or 0500559. By spending very little time, you can get rid of unnecessary paid subscriptions and reduce your cellular communications costs.
When can I get a refund from the App Store for an app?
Games and applications purchased from the App Store can be returned within 24 hours. In this situation, the funds will be credited to your account in full. The user will not find buttons to cancel an order in the store; this procedure is a little more complicated. You can return funds in several ways, including requiring the desktop version of iTunes.
You will also have to explain to Apple why you decided to return the funds. If the game often crashes or does not work, the user can ask for a refund. This is the most common reason for which people seek to return funds.
In such a situation, Apple technical support will respond that the user should first contact the application developers and ask them to fix the existing problems. Only in a situation where the developer admits that there are indeed errors and cannot be eliminated will the money be returned.
How to block an unknown number on iPhone
A completely different situation is when applications in the App Store have descriptions that do not correspond to reality. For example, the screenshots show one thing, but in reality the application has a different appearance. Or is it a joke application that is not able to perform its functions, for example, “X-ray”, which does not scan a person and does not work like an X-ray.
Here you need to carefully read the description and make sure that there are no words about a joke application. For Apple, this reason is the most significant and the money will be returned to the user.
Apple also provides refunds for erroneous purchases. For example, you made a mistake in the name; the two programs are very similar. It will be enough for the software to have the same icons. The chances of a return are significantly increased when both applications are located in the same section, belong to the same developer, or have similar functionality.
