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PSA about Apple Account Balance
June 16, 2023 at
08:37 AM
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For a while now I used to purchase Apple devices using my Apple account balance that I slowed accumulated over time using Apple/Itunes gift cards that were at sale at various places (Target, Chase UR, etc).
But today when I tried to purchase a Macbook air 15-inch from Apple.com, the site said that my payment could not be authorized. Called Apple support and they mentioned that this has been happening for a while now (purchases with Apple account balances) and that they would transfer me to the security review team. After a total of 1 hour and 3 transfers, they asked me to wait for 24 hours while they try to sort out this issue and I should place the order then.
What's really scary is that they did not seem to be concerned about me not being able to access my funds at all. The reason I loaded my gift cards onto my Apple account was because of all the problems we noticed with Apple Gift Cards being wiped clean after a while (especially ones that were purchased at Target). But now it seems like there is no safety for Apple gift cards whether they are loaded onto the account or not.
Take my experience as a PSA - the hoops that we need to jump through and the overall risk is not worth the small savings on gift card deals.
But today when I tried to purchase a Macbook air 15-inch from Apple.com, the site said that my payment could not be authorized. Called Apple support and they mentioned that this has been happening for a while now (purchases with Apple account balances) and that they would transfer me to the security review team. After a total of 1 hour and 3 transfers, they asked me to wait for 24 hours while they try to sort out this issue and I should place the order then.
What's really scary is that they did not seem to be concerned about me not being able to access my funds at all. The reason I loaded my gift cards onto my Apple account was because of all the problems we noticed with Apple Gift Cards being wiped clean after a while (especially ones that were purchased at Target). But now it seems like there is no safety for Apple gift cards whether they are loaded onto the account or not.
Take my experience as a PSA - the hoops that we need to jump through and the overall risk is not worth the small savings on gift card deals.
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But today when I tried to purchase a Macbook air 15-inch from Apple.com, the site said that my payment could not be authorized. Called Apple support and they mentioned that this has been happening for a while now (purchases with Apple account balances) and that they would transfer me to the security review team. After a total of 1 hour and 3 transfers, they asked me to wait for 24 hours while they try to sort out this issue and I should place the order then.
What's really scary is that they did not seem to be concerned about me not being able to access my funds at all. The reason I loaded my gift cards onto my Apple account was because of all the problems we noticed with Apple Gift Cards being wiped clean after a while (especially ones that were purchased at Target). But now it seems like there is no safety for Apple gift cards whether they are loaded onto the account or not.
Take my experience as a PSA - the hoops that we need to jump through and the overall risk is not worth the small savings on gift card deals.
My balance pays two separate monthly bills each month, no issues accessing it that way. It's more likely it's using the funds to purchase via the website. How long have the funds been on on the account? A short turnaround could easily flag fraud, that's how scammers are liquidating cards they get from their IRS scams quickly.
Anyway, I just put a different credit card on the account and use that as my primary and then I was able to use my Apple balance. I figure this out on my own and not the Apple customer service.
But.... since then and the issues talking to clueless customer service, yeah I'm not loading up my Apple account anymore with money even if it's discounted gift cards it's just not worth the trouble
Discounted gift card deals often way better than cashback
I got $600 apple gift cards for bout $486 last time there was slickdeal.
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I got $600 gift cards for bout $486 dolla last time there was slickdeal.
You'd have to run the math on the interest free financing (which I can't be bothered to do)
Because I got 15% off the cards…on top of the 2% CC points
Thanks for the PSA. I was gonna run the 15% game again today, but l'll pass now. Hope I won't have issues getting iPhone 15 this fall.
I dont finance gift card purchases... or buy apple products on a financing plan.
Unless its a car or home, If i cant afford to pay it off the same month im buying it, I cant afford it.
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They advertised that I could purchase an Xbox directly from them using gift cards so I bought $600 worth from Costco to get a discount but then after I redeemed them on Microsoft's account they locked my account down and basically accused me of potential fraud. It took me 3-4 days, and around 3 hours of phone calls and chats in order for them to let me use my legally purchase gift cards to get an Xbox. Totally not worth it and I'll never do that again.