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Global Living and iTunes/App Store

J

jsamuels

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 16, 2008
358
321
Roma
I moved from the US about 16 months ago. All was well with my various Store accounts as I was setup in the US region and maintained a US bank account/card. I was also locked in to the US region as I had an iTunes Match account and apparently you cannot change regions while an account is active. Time passed and I reside abroad and no longer use US banks/cards. When my iTunes Match came up for renewal I changed regions. Big problem as I can no longer access US store purchases and cannot temporarily switch regions to download due to the Match account. Compounding, some of my favorite apps are not available in my new region. What to do?

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
As a "crazy" customer roaming between three regions using single account, I never touch iTunes Match.
Your best bet is to completely disable your Match subscription through any way possible. Once it is canceled, you could have another chance to do account switching.
I assume you know all information listed in this article.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201389

PS: if the region you go supports iTunes Gift Card, you can also use gift card to purchase items rather than seeking for credit card, which is often impossible if you don't live in that region.
 
Hi,I moved from US several years ago,but I kept US apple account even I don't have US CC anymore.
I'm using gift certificate to buy apps in Us store.I don't buy music,occasionally I rent some movie though.I got non US apple ID also with CC attached.
Here's my question.I'd like to try itunes match. Obviously I'm unable to use my US account,so l use my non US account for itunes match,find my iphone and few others icloud services a I'll keep updating my apps thru my US account,because I don't want to pay for them again.Hopefully it'll work.
Anybody with similar experience or any good do's and don'ts advice?
 
spajky69 said:
Hi,I moved from US several years ago,but I kept US apple account even I don't have US CC anymore.
I'm using gift certificate to buy apps in Us store.I don't buy music,occasionally I rent some movie though.I got non US apple ID also with CC attached.
Here's my question.I'd like to try itunes match. Obviously I'm unable to use my US account,so l use my non US account for itunes match,find my iphone and few others icloud services a I'll keep updating my apps thru my US account,because I don't want to pay for them again.Hopefully it'll work.
Anybody with similar experience or any good do's and don'ts advice?
Click to expand...
If you want to try iTunes Match, you should carefully read Apple payment policy to confirm if you need to be charged immediately or at the end of subscription. I highly doubt they will charge immediately. And since you have multiple account, what you have done is great, which ties most Apple services on one account. I have only one account so I would never have chance to try iTunes Match.
 
I think its better than to subscribe all services in iTunes using one account. I'm not based in U.S either but there are ways for you to purchase a pre-paid credit card to link to your account. Afterwhich you just keep adding iTunes credit through gift cards etc. iTunes match will always deduct from your iTunes credit (if any) first then your credit card on file.
 
Ice-Cube said:
I think its better than to subscribe all services in iTunes using one account. I'm not based in U.S either but there are ways for you to purchase a pre-paid credit card to link to your account. Afterwhich you just keep adding iTunes credit through gift cards etc. iTunes match will always deduct from your iTunes credit (if any) first then your credit card on file.
Click to expand...

OK,that's raise the question what about address on pre-paid CC? I've tried to use my non US CC with my US apple ID a apple won't let me.
I can't even use my paypal account,because CC link to my paypal is non US now.(Netflix doesn't care however,and l'm paying for US netflix services with my non us american express -) ).
Another thing,fees for pre-paid CC could raise itunes match price 100%,l'm not sure,if it's worth it.
 
Thanks for the info. I was stupid in renewing as it is my understanding that I have no option other than to wait until the Match account expires in 10 months. What a mess.
 
spajky69 said:
OK,that's raise the question what about address on pre-paid CC? I've tried to use my non US CC with my US apple ID a apple won't let me.
I can't even use my paypal account,because CC link to my paypal is non US now.(Netflix doesn't care however,and l'm paying for US netflix services with my non us american express -) ).
Another thing,fees for pre-paid CC could raise itunes match price 100%,l'm not sure,if it's worth it.
Click to expand...

When you use a pre-paid U.S. CC, you can input any address you like. Mine is a starbucks outlet at beverly hills.
 
Ice-Cube said:
When you use a pre-paid U.S. CC, you can input any address you like. Mine is a starbucks outlet at beverly hills.
Click to expand...
You remind me that I use the address of a school for my Japanese Store address.
Apple does not verify it, which is much better.
 
OK ladies and gentlemen.I got virtual visa CC thru entropay. I've entered even same info,that I've used for my itunes account. However,when I entered card info to itunes,respond from itunes was:" Your credit card information does not match your bank's records.Please enter a U.S. credit card and matching billing address."I used card for different online payment just check it and it went thru.So it works.Any suggestions?
 
spajky69 said:
OK ladies and gentlemen.I got virtual visa CC thru entropay. I've entered even same info,that I've used for my itunes account. However,when I entered card info to itunes,respond from itunes was:" Your credit card information does not match your bank's records.Please enter a U.S. credit card and matching billing address."I used card for different online payment just check it and it went thru.So it works.Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
For virtual CC provider, I am afraid it cannot provide necessary information on CC to let iTunes store believe this is a valid CC.

You may try to use a debit card but not credit card to sign up. Mine is a debit card, so even I use a completely different address in different store, Apple doesn't care.
 
Today I use mostly US store for icloud,find my phone and apps purchases,but I have few apps,that are not aviable in US store,so for updates I just switch stores without problem.
Let's say,that I'll switch my icloud usage to non us account,set up itunes match but I'll keep getting apps from US strore.
I don't mind little hassle switching among stores.
Did anybody tried it similar way?
 
spajky69 said:
Today I use mostly US store for icloud,find my phone and apps purchases,but I have few apps,that are not aviable in US store,so for updates I just switch stores without problem.
Let's say,that I'll switch my icloud usage to non us account,set up itunes match but I'll keep getting apps from US strore.
I don't mind little hassle switching among stores.
Did anybody tried it similar way?
Click to expand...
If you subscribe iTunes match and congratulations. Your account will be locked in that region, in at least one year.

Don't use any types of subscription if you want to keep all apps up to date.

Mine is more complex than yours, since I have iTunes store purchases in two different stores, and apps downloaded from three different stores.

Apple has an article telling you the prerequisite if you tent to change the store. You can google it.
 
Shirasaki said:
If you subscribe iTunes match and congratulations. Your account will be locked in that region, in at least one year.

Don't use any types of subscription if you want to keep all apps up to date.

Mine is more complex than yours, since I have iTunes store purchases in two different stores, and apps downloaded from three different stores.

Apple has an article telling you the prerequisite if you tent to change the store. You can google it.
Click to expand...

Great,so it looks like google play is the way (it's even rhyming :)) for global person to share audio among devices.

Hold on,what do you mean by " your account"??Devices or my name@something.com?
Because I use 2 accounts,with different email address and different info for us and non us store.
 
spajky69 said:
Great,so it looks like google play is the way (it's even rhyming :)) for global person to share audio among devices.
Click to expand...
But google has been blocked by Chinese government, and I need to travel to China in a regular basis.
Otherwise I think I would use google and Android rather than apple and iOS.
 
spajky69 said:
Great,so it looks like google play is the way (it's even rhyming :)) for global person to share audio among devices.

Hold on,what do you mean by " your account"??Devices or my name@something.com?
Because I use 2 accounts,with different email address and different info for us and non us store.
Click to expand...
Oh. Seems that I need to reply again.

And you say you manage two different accounts for app downloading and icloud services. I use one account for everything, apps, music, TV shows, movie. So I need to stay away from those subs.

And what I say "your account" in previous post solely means your Apple ID, the account belonging to you not me. ;)
 
Shirasaki said:
Oh. Seems that I need to reply again.

And you say you manage two different accounts for app downloading and icloud services. I use one account for everything, apps, music, TV shows, movie. So I need to stay away from those subs.

And what I say "your account" in previous post solely means your Apple ID, the account belonging to you not me. ;)
Click to expand...


OK I got us apple id,that doesn't even bear my name,just nick name ;).I've opened it years ago,when itunes started. I've never bought music,but I have lot of paid apps and games a I've paid for them thru gift certificates.
I use us id for icloud certain services also.
Non us apple id I have only for few apps,that are not listed in us apple store.None of them is paid app.
I'm able to switch between us an non us store without problem,only I have to log out from apple id one and log in to another.
Question is,will I be able to do this,if I'l purchase itunes match thru non us apple id?
I can switch my icloud services I to non us apple id,but I don't want to lose my apps purchases in us store and ability ti upgrade them.
 
spajky69 said:
OK I got us apple id,that doesn't even bear my name,just nick name ;).I've opened it years ago,when itunes started. I've never bought music,but I have lot of paid apps and games a I've paid for them thru gift certificates.
I use us id for icloud certain services also.
Non us apple id I have only for few apps,that are not listed in us apple store.None of them is paid app.
I'm able to switch between us an non us store without problem,only I have to log out from apple id one and log in to another.
Question is,will I be able to do this,if I'l purchase itunes match thru non us apple id?
I can switch my icloud services I to non us apple id,but I don't want to lose my apps purchases in us store and ability ti upgrade them.
Click to expand...
Then in your case, you can either choose your non US ID to go an iCloud service you want, or you can use your US ID to do so. There may be one prerequisite: your ID should have a valid CC on file.

If you want to update apps, simply sign out and sign in to your another account, and update, and sign back in. There is one thing I am not so clear is: if your iCloud service will be affected.

For Match service, my advice is use your account with valid CC on file, or if possible, use valid DC (debit card) to pay for it.

Good Match-ing. :p
 
spajky69 said:
Well,looks like problem is solved.Solution?Bye,bye money for apple.Bye,bye itunes match and yearly subscription.Looks like google play is the answer.Why?
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/06/dear-apple-you-need-to-treat-multi-country-itunes-users-like-fi/

"If you're an iTunes Match user in one country, you are not allowed to switch to another country's store -- even if you had an existing account in that store."
Click to expand...
Glad to see you find a perfect store for world user. I have no choice but you have.
I have been told something, says: "having the ability to choose is a beautiful thing in the world."
 
Nope, I was in the same boat. I emailed to Apple support and they canceled my Match account and also refunded my for not used period of the Match subscription. They done that very quickly, like in less than three hours.

jsamuels said:
Thanks for the info. I was stupid in renewing as it is my understanding that I have no option other than to wait until the Match account expires in 10 months. What a mess.
Click to expand...
 
sguser said:
Nope, I was in the same boat. I emailed to Apple support and they canceled my Match account and also refunded my for not used period of the Match subscription. They done that very quickly, like in less than three hours.
Click to expand...

You are correct i wrote tech support and the account was cancelled and i received a refund. Thank you.
 
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