- Apple no longer accepts debit and credit payments for subscriptions and app purchases.
- This change comes as a result of the new auto-debit rules imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Users who already have a card added as a payment method to their accounts are also not able to make any fresh payments through the Apple ID.
Apple doesn’t accept card payments for subscriptions and app purchases using Apple ID in India any more. This has stopped users from using their credit or debit card to buy apps from the App Store, get subscriptions to iCloud+, Apple Music or purchase media content from Apple TV. The change comes as a result of the new auto-debit rules imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that came into effect last year. These are disrupting recurring online transactions. Apple’s support page that lists the available payment methods in each country it operates shows the Cupertino giant only supports net banking, UPI and Apple ID balance as the three options to receive payments.
Apple users have taken to Twitter to complain about the elimination of credit and debit card options from the payment methods Apple accepts in India for purchases using Apple ID. Users who already have a card added as a payment method to their accounts are also not able to make any fresh payments through the Apple ID.
Wow
— Akshay Kanade (@akkatweets) May 3, 2022
So apple just removes cards from list of supported payment methods pic.twitter.com/zPe8BsmstJ
Apple stops accepting credit/debit card payments
When users are trying to add or make payments through cards, Apple is throwing an error message saying “This card type is no longer supported.”
Apple’s support page that lists the available payment methods in each country it operates shows the Cupertino giant only supports net banking, UPI and Apple ID balance as the three options to receive payments. Apparently, the change took place in April according to the support page.
“Regulatory requirements in India apply to the processing of recurring transactions. If you hold an Indian debit or credit card and you have a subscription, these changes impact your transactions. Some transactions might be declined by banks and card issuers,” said the support page in an update. This change is also pushing the iPhone maker to accept transactions through UPI and net banking.
For those unaware, the new rule requires merchants like Apple to set up an e-mandate for customer cards. On the other hand, customers also need to use two-factor authentication and set up a fresh e-mandate for recurring payments. Customers need to give their consent each time they need to pay a subsequent payment of Rs 5,000 above. The system processing with the given requirements is yet to be updated to a large extent.
Besides Apple, Google was also impacted due to the RBI update. Customers are facing trouble in making recurring payments and purchases via their cards on Google Play and YouTube. Netflix introduced UPI Autopay support for recurring payments on its platform.
