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How to get your money back when Apple says "Not eligible for a refund"
Short answer: if Apple says your purchase is not eligible for a refund, go to the company you paid with. With PayPal, open Activity, find Apple Services, click Resolution Center, choose to continue filing with PayPal and upload your proof. With a credit card, call the card company. Be aware that Apple may block the card or your App Store access.
It could be a game, software, a subscription, anything. I tried to get refunds from Apple many times and they always told me the same thing: not eligible for a refund. Here is how I got my money back and what you can try.
The problem: "Not eligible for a refund"
Whatever you buy through Apple, software, games or anything you can imagine, the answer I kept getting was the same: they are not going to refund you anything. I have been having this type of issue for almost a year.
At least here in the US, you can't buy the software directly from the manufacturer; you have to go through the App Store, and there is no other way to arrange a refund. If you have a Mac, like in my case, you can usually go to the manufacturer's website and skip Apple.
Option 1: call your credit card company
If you paid with a credit card, you can call the credit card company. That is what I did with my previous purchases, and I think I was able to get the money back (I did not check the credit card again to confirm).
Option 2: open a claim in the PayPal Resolution Center
Now I pay with PayPal, and PayPal is easier to deal with because you don't have to call anybody:
- In PayPal, go to Activity.
- Type the seller, in this case Apple Services, and click the transaction.
- Go to the bottom and click Resolution Center.
- Choose Continue filing with PayPal.
- Upload a file as proof: for example the text of your conversation with Apple, or an audio recording (on an iPhone you can record the audio).
- Click Continue. Read everything carefully as you go through each step.
The risks: blocked card and blocked App Store access
Here is my experience. When I disputed with a credit card, I was told I could not use that credit card anymore, so you will have to get another one. With PayPal, so far I never had any issue.
Another risk: about six months before this video, Apple blocked my access to the App Store and I couldn't download anything, even software I had already paid for. They say that if you open a refund claim with your credit card, they may block your account permanently. If that happens, I think you can take them to court, because if you paid for the software you should be able to download it at any time.
Other options
As users we don't have many options. You can stop buying software from Apple, or, on a Mac, buy directly from the manufacturer's website. Another idea I mention in the video is using a virtual credit card service, so that if one card number gets blocked you can create another one.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do when Apple says "Not eligible for a refund"?
Go through the payment provider: open a claim in the PayPal Resolution Center if you paid with PayPal, or call your credit card company if you paid by card.
How do I open a PayPal claim for an Apple purchase?
In PayPal go to Activity, search for Apple Services, open the transaction, click Resolution Center at the bottom, choose Continue filing with PayPal, upload your proof and click Continue.
What proof can I upload?
A file such as the text conversation you had with Apple, or an audio recording of the conversation.
Are there risks to disputing an Apple charge?
Yes. In my case the credit card could no longer be used with Apple, and at one point Apple blocked my App Store access, even for software I had already paid for.