Why does the app store want me to give a credit card number to get a free app?

Hello; I've never used my apple account to purchase one thing, yet while I'm signed in to the app store, and I try to down load one of the free apps, I am asked to provide a credit card number. So my question is why must I give such info.? After all, I am not making a monetary purchase. Please explain, for I am confused. If one is required regardless, well , I guess I need to close my apple account, for I disagree with the practice.

I suppose you could think of it as establishing a formal account for general and future use. What usually happens is that your card is tested by charging a nominal amount to it (which is refunded within a day or two). Once that is established you will find a 'None' option will appear when you want to download a free app which indicates no payment.
All purchases made will be recorded on your purchase list whether paid for or not.
There is also a system to purchase without a credit card. See ...
Creating an iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store account without a credit card

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Why do I need to give my credit card details to get a free app?

I just want a free app from Twitter, but cannot seem to download it without giving my card details. Is this correct?

Hello pamelafromCornwall,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
As the article below states you do need to have payment information on file if you have already created an Apple ID and are using the iTunes Store or App Store for the first time. If you want to remove your payment information afterwards, you can follow the steps in the article below to do so.
Create an iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store account without a credit card or other payment method
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534
Take care,
Alex H.

App Store forces me to verify my credit card every time I download an app.

Hello, whenever I download an app, it asked me to verify my Purchase settings. It does this EVERY time I download an app, and I'm not kidding. I don't usually download an app, usually 4-5 times a week. I am tired of of entering in my password twice and getting those annoying emails that alert me every time I do it, even if I didn't change anything. If this was to prevent people from downloading paid apps, then if they could enter the password the first time, couldn't they just enter it again and say done? Also, they would be able to see someone's credit card (if they had one), then they could possible change other stuff to it.
So is there any way I could make this happen less often? Thanks for you help.

Have you been successful each time?
What type of payment method do you have in your account?
Contact iTunes by:
Contact iTunes

HT5622 Why do i need to put in a card number or credit card number to update a free app.?

It will not let me download or update a free app with out putting in a card. At first it let me naow its acting up.!

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

TS3274 Do I really need to put my debit card information to get a free app ? Why ?

Do I really need to put my debit or credit card information to get a FREE app ? Why ?

You can try removing the card in your account information, but if that credit card expired before you removed it, you might be stuck now,
Settings>Store (or iTunes & App Stores in iOS 6)>Apple ID. Tap your ID. Then tap View Apple ID. Enter your password. Tap the arrow next to Payment Information and select None if it is available in your settings. See if that will work for you.
If iTunes doesn't accept that or if you didn't have None in the options, you are stuck until you enter e new card.

HT5622 why does the wrong apple id come up on my iphone when I try to use apple app store? how do I change it to the correct apple id?

Why does the wrong apple id come up on my iphone when i try to use apple app store? How do I change it to the correct apple id?

Settings > iTunes and App Store > Apple ID = Sign Out... Then Sign In using the preferred Apple ID.
It should be Noted that anything Downloaded with a Particular Apple ID is tied to that Apple ID and Cannot be Merged or Transferred to a Different Apple ID

Why does the Apple store carry iKlear cleaning solution in stores?

I noticed that the manual with my MacBook Pro just recommends dampening the cloth with water in order to clean the screen. Then why does the Apple store and website promote iKlear cleaning solution for the screen (rhetorical question) ? Is this product safe or not for cleaning the screen? Thanks.

They carry it because they're a store, and like any store, anything that boost the margins is great to have on the shelf. It's the same reason any store sells really expensive accessories.
I've always used water as the manual recommends. But iKlear is safe and I'm not necessarily against it. It may be good for unusual or stubborn stains that water can't dissolve. But for everyday cleaning, the question is whether you would prefer to clean your screen for free, or by paying for an expensive chemical.
I've never bought a screen protector for my iPhone either, and it's been totally fine.

HT4528 Why each time I try to download a FREE app from my app store, it prompts me to enter credit card information?

Why each time I try to download a "FREE" app from my app store it prompts me to enter credit card information?

Just create an AppleID account without putting in credit card information.
Then proceed to download the free app.
It will ask you to put in AppleID info but it won't charge you as there is no creditcard connected to the account and zero balance.

I created an Apple ID and it tells me it has not been used in the itunes store and he asked me a credit card but I do not want

I created an Apple ID and it tells me it has not been used in the itunes store and he asked me a credit card but I do not want

what you should do if you dont want to use a credit card is to buy an itunes card and that will allow you to bypass using your credit card

I need help! I have iPad mini and I can't use App Store. It always asking my credit card lnformation to download, but the apps I will download are free. I don't know how it will work again.

I need help!
I have iPad mini and I can't use App Store.
It always asking my credit card lnformation to download, but the apps I will download are free.
I don't know how it will work again.
Help me please!
Thank you.

You need to have a payment method on file. If the apps are free you will not be charged anything. Either enter your credit card information or purchase and enter an iTunes gift card.

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You might be able to re-enable it via this page : http://appleid.apple.com, then 'reset your password'
You might then need to log out of your account on any iOS devices that you have by tapping on your id in Settings > iTunes & App Store (Settings > Store on iOS 5 and below) and then log back in so as to 'refresh' the account on them
If that doesn't fix it then you might need to contact iTunes Support : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page

Why am I being asked for my credit card details to upgrade a Free app??

Why am I being asked for my credit card details to upgrade a Free app??

Howdy GaryFC,
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities.
If you have a payment source associated with your Apple ID, it needs to be a vaild form of payment. To troubleshoot issues with your payment type being declined, please follow the steps below.
In most cases, this issue is caused by a formatting error in the billing address that you have provided. You can correct the issue by verifying that the information you have provided is correct, or by changing the format of your address to match the format that your credit card company has on file.
You can verify and/or modify your billing address by following these instructions:
Open iTunes. If you are signed in to iTunes, skip to step 4.
Note: Verify that you are signed in to the correct iTunes account. If you are unsure which account you're signed into, choose Store > Sign Out and proceed to step 2.
Choose Store > Sign In.
Enter your account name and password, then click the Sign In button.
Choose Store > View My Account.
Click the Edit Payment Information button.
In the Payment Method section, choose None.
Click the Done button at the bottom of the page.
Click the Edit Payment Information button again.
Enter your billing address exactly as it appears on your credit card statement.
Select your credit card type in the Payment Method section.
Enter your credit card information, your card's security code, and the expiration date.
Click the Done button at the bottom of the page.
If the issue persists, contact your credit card company and verify that they and any company they use to process credit card authorizations have the correct information on file.
iTunes Store: My credit card's security code or zip code does not match my bank's records - Apple Support
Take care,
Alex H.

HT2534 hi i am interested in how to buy an app in app store if i dont have us credit card. when i try to buy an app it says to fill in bil;ling information and when i full my card specs. it says that its incorrect. so what can i do to buy an app? plz help

hi i am interested in how to buy an app in app store if i dont have us credit card. when i try to buy an app it says to fill in billing information and when i fill my card specs. it says that its incorrect. so what can i do to buy an app? plz help really important cant buy anything : (
p.s. sorry for bad english

If you are not in the US with a US billing address and payment method then you can't buy items from the US store - you need to be in a country to use its store.
Does your credit card work with your own country's store ? For it have a chance of being accepted the credit card then needs to be registered to exactly the same name and address (including format and spacing etc) that you have on your iTunes account, and to have been issued by a bank in the country where you and your iTunes account are.
What's the actual error message that you are getting ?

Hello please hepl me in my problem in apple id, i cannot connect to my ipad mini in itune store and app store because they find me a credit card but i dont have credit card. what can i do now? i need an answer for this problem. thank you

hello please help me in my problem in apple id, i cannot connect to my ipad mini in itune store and app store because they find me a credit card but i dont have credit card. what can i do now? i need an answer for this problem. thank you

I would suggest that you buy a visa or mastercard gift card and put a few dollars on it and use it to access the store. Just add money to it before you want to buy something from the store and it will act like a normal credit card for you.

When i try to download a "free" app for my ipod touch, it wants credit card billing info? a "free"" app is just that isn't it? How do I resolve this guys/gals? any advice?

when i try to download a "free" app for my ipod touch, it wants credit card billing info? a "free"" app is just that isn't it? How do I resolve this guys/gals? any advice? P.S. I don't use credit cards.

You normally need to provide some sort of payment method (in part as proof of residence in the country) before you can get even the free apps. It is possible to set up a new iTunes Store account just for free apps, but you have to create a new Apple ID; you cannot use an existing one. If you want to do that, take a look here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534
Read the steps carefully as the order in which you follow them is critical. Note again that you can do this only when creating a new Apple ID. You cannot use an existing ID.
You will of course not be able to get anything other than the free content without entering in some sort of payment method (credit card, prepaid iTunes card, gift certificate, etc.)
Regards.

Why does the app store want me to give a credit card number to get a free app?

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