Apple makes it extremely difficult to cancel an iTunes account

[coupdetat]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share my recent sour experience with Apple.

I have two iTunes accounts, one that is over 5 years old which is defunct, and a second up-to-date one. Back in 2010 the defunct account was hacked and $30 in unauthorized purchases was made. I changed my password and got my money back from Apple at that time.

About a week ago, I got an email that a free app download had been made on the defunct account, originating from China. This second hacking was the last straw. I emailed Apple to cancel the account.

I stated very clearly that I wished to cancel the account. However, the representative merely told me how to change my password. Next, I called Apple. The representative took nearly 40 minutes, asking me multiple authorization questions, and telling me at least 3 times that I would lose my account info. She also read me multiple long-winded statements stating the same thing. I consented to it.

At that time she said she needed to contact the iTunes team which would need to separately verify account by emailing me for authorization questions, again reading me meaningless statements (yes I'm aware that my account will be inaccessible as I AM canceling it).

The iTunes email never came. I'm currently on hold with Apple waiting AGAIN to cancel this account.

I'm very unhappy with Apple account security--two hackings of the same account!!? Google and Microsoft have never had my data compromised. I'm also very unhappy with the account cancellation process which has been unnecessarily onerous, compared to simple online interfaces that other companies use. It has been far more difficult to cancel my iTunes account than it has ever been to cancel even credit cards or close my student loan account.

Apple, I really like your products, but please change this!!

 

[itickings]

I emailed Apple to cancel the account.

I stated very clearly that I wished to cancel the account. However, the representative merely told me how to change my password.

Nice. Would have been quite irritating if Apple shut down for example my account because of a spoofed e-mail.

Next, I called Apple. The representative took nearly 40 minutes, asking me multiple authorization questions, and telling me at least 3 times that I would lose my account info. She also read me multiple long-winded statements stating the same thing. I consented to it.

At that time she said she needed to contact the iTunes team which would need to separately verify account by emailing me for authorization questions, again reading me meaningless statements (yes I'm aware that my account will be inaccessible as I AM canceling it).

In principle - great to make sure the customer actually is the customer, and understands what cancelling the account will result in. 40 minutes sounds excessive though, not going to speculate about that without anything to go on. Simply not reasonable time.

I'm very unhappy with Apple account security--two hackings of the same account!!? Google and Microsoft have never had my data compromised.

Just curious - how do you know they haven't?

Google had my data compromised, didn't tell me about it and are refusing to fix the leak. (They had a bug in their code, it has been fixed for new accounts but already compromised ones still suffer...)

 

[theSully]

It's such a pain because it is such a rare request.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

It's such a pain because it is such a rare request.

It's also irreversible, and eliminates the option of re-downloading content purchased under that account. Better to simply switch it to two-factor authentication, that will make "hacking" the account virtually impossible.

 

[macalec]

I did not even know that they offered to close peoples itunes accounts down!

 

[theSully]

It's also irreversible, and eliminates the option of re-downloading content purchased under that account. Better to simply switch it to two-factor authentication, that will make "hacking" the account virtually impossible.

Or just change the apple id and work off of gift cards.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I did not even know that they offered to close peoples itunes accounts down!

They don't "offer", in fact they discourage it rather vociferously as described by the OP.

 

[hexonxonx]

Canceling an account would also make it impossible to authorize your account to be able to continue using your apps and any movies/TV shows purchased in iTunes. These and other reasons are why they don't close accounts. Sometimes they disable an account which allows one to still use your purchases, but you can no longer download past purchases if you ever lose any.

 

[justperry]

Change the password similar to this:

1B%o@#C/[8K}Gh)-V3Xz_"lc&}]M%D2g

or something similar and nobody can crack that code, well not with 100's of computers cracking the code for 1 year long.

I actually had one similar to the above, 30 characters long but I soon found out it is way too difficult to use.

 

[itickings]

Change the password similar to this:

1B%o@#C/[8K}Gh)-V3Xz_"lc&}]M%D2g

or something similar and nobody can crack that code, well not with 100's of computers cracking the code for 1 year long.

I actually had one similar to the above, 30 characters long but I soon found out it is way too difficult to use.

That's what 1Password and the likes are for.

Granted, would take a lot of annoying unlock-copy-paste-clear all the time. A more memorable alternative would be correct horse battery staple. Or perhaps why not use 12345, because nobody would ever use that one even for their luggage so it should be pretty secure.

 

[justperry]

That's what 1Password and the likes are for.

Granted, would take a lot of annoying unlock-copy-paste-clear all the time. A more memorable alternative would be correct horse battery staple. Or perhaps why not use 12345, because nobody would ever use that one even for their luggage so it should be pretty secure.

1Password is not free, in OS X not needed as well since keychain will do the job, BUT, it password Apps do not always work and if they don't you need to remember that long password.
Also, on iPhone it is more annoying, your password is not remembered so if you want to download something you have to enter that long password.

But, that was not what I was talking about, I was thinking about the OP old account, just make a real long one similar to the one mentioned in my former post, if you do this I think you really don't have to be worried about it will be cracked "ever".