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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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Call customer care and tell them you have a purchase block on your account, they will submit a request to the offline team and they will send you an email in 24 hours that its corrected.
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I have been through this multiple times. First time at apple store, didn't do anything, just went home and placed the order online the next day and it went through.
The second time I was in a hurry and trying to make a purchase. I texted support and they said they could push it through and they did. I asked if there was some problem wit the gift card I used or something, the agent said no it was just an automated fraud detection system and that it gives false positives all the time.
It works be frustrating when someone cannot use it as expected.
It seems like some people are getting auto flagged for potential fraud or abnormal behavior. It's likely whatever system Apple uses to detect fraud or abnormal behavior is aggressive to not let much slip by (reduce false negatives). This usually means the downside is more false positives.
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The PSA still applies since this was such a grueling experience. Apple reps were clueless, inconsiderate and acting under a vile of security. They provided no reason, timelines or updates on the issue at all and the whole process was extremely opaque. It's up to people to decide if the small savings in gift cards is worth the trouble.
I have $138 left on my Apple balance from gift card purchases. What I mean, is that I will use that balance to pay for iCloud storage ($2.99 monthly fee for family plan) which would be normally charged to my CC. It will last me for 4 years or so. But I am done with Apple hardware purchases using Apple balance due to all time wasting that goes along with that.
BTW I got Apple Watch Ultra for $590 before taxes ($719 (price match), minus 18% off savings on GC purchases), $210 down from $800 MSRP.
However, personally for me, $210 and at least 2-3 hours of phone hassle is NOT worth it. You also have to time price match, they will not honor it if your payment was declined and price has changed since then. That is why I am done with it.
Let's see them give customers that kind of attitude face to face