Consumer Rights on Duplicate Apple Subscription Services specially Apple One/iCloud+ subs

Barnsley_Paul

For months I’ve been paying family subscriptions on my account for both Apple One Premium and iCloud+ 2TB storage which is on my partners account but invoiced to and paid by me. 

For those that don’t know Apple One Premium allows subscribed services to be paid for by the lead and shared across the family so everyone benefits. However, my partner had an existing 2TB iCloud+ subscription which she was invoiced for at £8.99 per month. So for months (probs years) we’ve been paying for that service that is already included in Apple One Premium. 

I’ve submitted a refund request for 2 months payments but it will not let me request refunds on older invoices. I had no idea that subscribing to a better more comprehensive family wide service would lead to dual invoicing and I believe firmly that all historic iCloud+ payments should be refunded also. 

It should be made more clear when subscribing to Apple One that all subscriptions for duplicated services need cancelling separately. I don’t believe I was adequately made aware of this or I would have done it. 

Anyone come across this and can share advice on how to pursue? I’ve requested via Apple and they are only willing to refund 2 months worth. I have subsequently submitted a complaint via a feedback form on the iTunes feedback page but unsure if this was the correct mechanism and whether they’re likely to be understanding of the issue. I reckon there’s £100s of pounds of dual invoicing for the same service. 

QrizB

The Apple One Premium is in your name, but the iCloud+ was in your partner's name?

I don't see Apple having done anything wrong here (and I'm as keen on making them the villain as anyone is).

Barnsley_Paul

Yes that’s correct. The service Apple One includes exactly the same service that my partner is subscribed separately for, but as we’re in the same family network all invoices are paid for by me, so she never saw any payments leave her account. I believed that signing up would lead to termination of any duplicated services across our family network, but it clearly didn’t. 

sheramber

Barnsley_Paul said:

Yes that’s correct. The service Apple One includes exactly the same service that my partner is subscribed separately for, but as we’re in the same family network all invoices are paid for by me, so she never saw any payments leave her account. I believed that signing up would lead to termination of any duplicated services across our family network, but it clearly didn’t. 

What led you to believe a an account in a different name  would be recognised by Apple as a duplicate service?

Jane  Bloggs  isn’t necessarily in the sane family as John Bloggs

Do Apple state that a duplicate count will automatically be cancelled?

flaneurs_lobster

Can't see any fault in Apple's stance here. It's not their job to ensure that you are not duplicating services - you might have perfectly legitimate reasons for having those two separate subscriptions.

Try a bit of grovelling if you like, emphasise being ignorant of such things and maybe ask for the refund to be given as credit against future services?

Barnsley_Paul

flaneurs_lobster said:

Can't see any fault in Apple's stance here. It's not their job to ensure that you are not duplicating services - you might have perfectly legitimate reasons for having those two separate subscriptions.

Try a bit of grovelling if you like, emphasise being ignorant of such things and maybe ask for the refund to be given as credit against future services?

I think you’re right, politely requesting a refund due to ignorance is my best option. I don’t actually think Apple have done anything contrary to their terms, other than perhaps not make it clear that all subscriptions that would be duplicated across accounts should be checked and cancelled. I don’t think they do this are are happy to collect the same payment twice until you cotton on

In my case it’s been quite lucrative for them! 

Aylesbury_Duck

The other lesson here is to check your bank statements more regularly.   You initially expected Apple to notice an unnecessary duplication of services, but why has it taken you months (probably years) to notice two lots of payments leaving your account?

A regular check of bank statements is a good idea.  It's so easy for things like this to go unnoticed or for direct debits or standing orders to be going out long after you no longer need the subscription or service.  When I moved to my present house, I was receiving magazine subscriptions for the old occupants for months, and they paid for various lock, boiler and pest insurances for over two years!