How do i redeem an itunes gift card?

ajbell

I got a £15 iTunes gift voucher for Christmas but am having trouble spending it.
I would like to download the 1080p version of Riddick but it keeps asking me to create an account. I don't want to do this as it asks for a lot of personal information that apple really don't need to know. I am never going to give apple my credit card details and why do they need this when I just want to download a film using a voucher?, why do they need to know where I live.


Is there any way I can just put in the gift card number and download the film.

matttye

You can create an Apple ID without setting up a credit card. You don't need to give them debit or credit card details, but you do need to create an Apple ID to purchase from the iTunes store.

This is not least because content sold in the store is region specific, and they need to know your region to know which content you can buy.

ajbell

it won't let me leave the credit card details blank

matttye

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

Jivesinger

matttye wrote: »

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

... so to create an Apple account without a credit card nowadays, you have to download a random free app?! :wall:

Can't speak for the OP, but I would *never* have guessed that one! It used to be much simpler!

matttye

Jivesinger wrote: »

... so to create an Apple account without a credit card nowadays, you have to download a random free app?! :wall:

Can't speak for the OP, but I would *never* have guessed that one! It used to be much simpler!

Yeah I can't remember having to do that either. I'm sure creating an account and adding a credit/debit card used to be separate processes.

jhe

I created an apple account Christmas Day for my oh,Did not register any bank details, same as when I opened my own apple account earlier last year,

Mr_Toad

A friend of mine has the same problem.

She was given an iTunes voucher. She has an Apple account and has registered a credit card against that account and has used it to buy music in the past.

One evening she decided to buy an album she'd heard and liked. She selected the album and clicked buy and it was immediately charged to her credit card. :mad:

I was with her when she did it and at no point was she given the option to use the iTunes voucher. I would have at least expected iTunes to ask if you wanted to use the voucher or the credit card to pay but it didn't.

I'm completely in the dark here as I've never had a voucher and the only things I've bought from Apple is software for my iMac using the card registered to my account.

I would have thought iTunes would operate something like PayPal does, using any credit in your account, or in Apple's case the voucher, before taking money from your card.

She's now very wary about buying anything else in case the same thing happens.

So, what's the process to ensure the voucher is used rather than the card?

Just to add an afterthought.

I have a feeling that she'd already registered the voucher and her iTunes account was showing the £25 as a credit but I'll have to check that.

mummyroysof3

I haven't had to add a card and neither has both my parents when they both set up separate apple accounts before Christmas...very strange

matttye

Mr_Toad wrote: »

A friend of mine has the same problem.

She was given an iTunes voucher. She has an Apple account and has registered a credit card against that account and has used it to buy music in the past.

One evening she decided to buy an album she'd heard and liked. She selected the album and clicked buy and it was immediately charged to her credit card. :mad:

I was with her when she did it and at no point was she given the option to use the iTunes voucher. I would have at least expected iTunes to ask if you wanted to use the voucher or the credit card to pay but it didn't.

I'm completely in the dark here as I've never had a voucher and the only things I've bought from Apple is software for my iMac using the card registered to my account.

I would have thought iTunes would operate something like PayPal does, using any credit in your account, or in Apple's case the voucher, before taking money from your card.

She's now very wary about buying anything else in case the same thing happens.

So, what's the process to ensure the voucher is used rather than the card?

Just to add an afterthought.

I have a feeling that she'd already registered the voucher and her iTunes account was showing the £25 as a credit but I'll have to check that.

Yeah the big question is whether or not she redeemed the voucher before purchasing something.

Humphrey10

Mr_Toad wrote: »

So, what's the process to ensure the voucher is used rather than the card?

It's really not very complicated. If you want to use the iTunes voucher, then redeem it. If you don't redeem it, of course whatever payment method you currently have on your account will be charged.

If your friend is worried that she might forget to redeem an iTunes voucher again, she can remove her payment (debit/credit card) details from her iTunes account - I do this anyway, incase my account is hacked or something.