Need help - iTunes let me buy $38.00 of stuff w/ no money!

Question

Okay, last night I was buying songs and apps. I bought $38.0o total of songs and apps, now I can't buy anything because iTunes says that I owe $38.00! How could it let me buy that stuff with no credit card info? Please help!
Thanks....

Answer 1

From my own experience, some time ago I had created an iTunes account with no intention of purchasing anything from the iTunes store, and so did not register a payment method with Apple. Fast forward a few months, and I wanted to try it out and rent a movie after browsing through the store. iTunes prompted me to add a payment method, and so I did and lived happily ever after.
A little while ago, I wanted to purchase something else, and having been months since my last purchase, I was not sure what card I had on file. I assumed that iTunes would pre-authorize the purchase against my card and so I downloaded away. A day or so after that, I received an e-mail invoice that indicated a negative balance. Sure enough, I had not updated my card information and iTunes was trying to bill a card that had expired.
So, in short, it does not appear that iTunes Store verifies funds in the account prior to authorizing the account to purchase whatever item. If the payment method is declined, it appears that there is a block placed on the account until the outstanding balance is restored to zero. I do not believe that you are allowed to initiate a purchase without some kind of payment method registered with iTunes Store.
In conclusion, I'm wondering why you were purchasing so many music items and apps when you knew that you did not have the money to pay for it? I would recommend you re-register a valid credit/debit card and pay your balance.