You might find unexpected items on your card statement for itunes.com/bill, apple.com/bill, or even APL*iTunes. Take a look at your Apple ID purchase history to find out what the charges are for and to request a refund.
Sometimes these are one-off payments to Apple you can’t explain. Other times, you may discover you’ve been paying $0.99 a month for six months straight.
Whatever the situation, find out what’s going on and fix it below.
No Time? Check out our video tips on getting rid of these unknown charges!
Why do I have an unexpected Apple or iTunes bill?
Apple charges the card linked to your Apple ID account whenever you make a purchase in iTunes or the App Store. Apple also uses your linked card to pay for subscription services, like:
iCloud Storage
Apple Music
Apple TV+
or Apple Arcade.
Find out which card is linked to your Apple ID account by going to Payment & Shipping from the Apple ID settings on your device.
Select Payment & Shipping from the Apple ID settings.
Any itunes.com/bill, apple.com/bill, or APL*iTunes charges you receive can be explained by one of these four options.
Option 1. You made a purchase using your Apple ID
Most cases fall into this category. It’s easy to forget about purchases you made a few weeks ago that hadn’t been charged yet. Sometimes this happens for pre-ordered items, but it can happen with regular purchases as well.
It’s also common to not recognize a payment because Apple grouped it together with multiple other purchases. The amount charged also changes if you partially paid for items with Apple ID credit.
Finally, don’t forget about your subscriptions. Lots of people accidentally sign up for iCloud Storage or forget to cancel their Apple Music trial and end up paying for the service each month.
Check your active subscriptions from the Apple ID settings.
Option 2. Someone in your Family Sharing group made a purchase
If you’re the Organizer of a Family Sharing group, you may get charged for purchases other people in your family make. Speak to the members of your family to ask if they can identify the itunes.com/bill, apple.com/bill, or APL*iTunes charges.
Option 3. Someone else made a purchase using your Apple ID
Anyone with your Apple ID password can make purchases in iTunes or the App Store. This might be someone you shared your password with or a stranger who hacked into your account.
Whatever they purchase remains linked to your Apple ID account, but that doesn’t stop them from racking up charges on your card statement. Find out how to report unauthorized purchases to Apple if this happens.
Option 4. Someone else made a purchase using your card
It’s possible you’ve fallen victim to fraud or identity theft. Anybody with your card details can add it to their own Apple ID account or make unrelated charges to your card posing as Apple.
If you suspect your card details were compromised, speak to your bank about canceling the card as well as any unexpected charges.
Someone else can make purchases if they have your card details.
Don’t jump to this conclusion without checking your Apple ID invoices and purchase history first.
How do I check my Apple ID invoices and purchase history?
If you see unexpected charges from itunes.com/bill, apple.com/bill, or APL*iTunes you should search through your emails for a relevant invoice.
Apple sends an invoice for every card payment they take. Open your email inbox for the address linked to your Apple ID account, then search for “Apple invoice”.
This should turn up any Apple invoices you didn’t already delete.
Each invoice breaks down your charges from Apple.
If you can’t find the right invoice, look through the purchase history directly on your Apple ID account. Remember, Apple may group purchases together, so it might not be immediately obvious what the charges are for.
Also be aware that your purchase history doesn’t show any purchases made by your Family Sharing group, even if the payment came off your card. To see those payments, ask the respective Family Sharing members to sign in.
View your purchase history on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iTunes & App Store.
Tap your Apple ID account and select View Apple ID.
If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to sign in.
Scroll down and tap on Purchase History.
Select any purchase to Resend the email invoice.
Tap an item to resend the invoice.
View your purchase history on a computer:
Open Apple Music or iTunes on your computer.
From the menu bar, select to Accounts > View My Account.
If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to sign in.
Scroll down and click See All in the Purchase History section.
Click the Order ID next to a purchase to Resend the email invoice.
Click See All to view your purchase history.
When you find the invoice you’re looking for, click the Report a Problem button in it to speak to Apple directly.
How do I cancel unexpected bills or charges from Apple?
If someone made an unauthorized purchase from your Apple ID account, you should change the password immediately to stop them from making more purchases.
Sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com to discuss unexpected itunes.com/bill, apple.com/bill, or APL*iTunes charges with Apple and request a refund. If you still can’t find the help you need, contact Apple support directly.
Dan writes tutorials and troubleshooting guides to help people make the most of their technology. Before becoming a writer, he earned a BSc in Sound Technology, supervised repairs at an Apple Store, and even taught English in China.
I have had several charges that were unauthorized and had to spend a lot if my time to correct. I had to dispute some charges and replace my credit card.
I lost trust in this system because there are several apps that do not show that they are subscriptions and if you down load them it sets up automatic charges to subscribe.
I want better control over my purchases.
Same thing happening to me. I have no Apple products and no Apple account. On my January credit card statement there was a payment (at the 11th the month) of £4.99 going to Apple.com/bill. I contacted the bank who cancelled my card sent me a new one and refunded the £4.99. Then ot February 25th and also March 25th more withdrawals of £4.99 went out from my new card without my authorisation. The bank says some online payment system I’d made before the January withdrawal must have been compromised and someone else has got hold of my original card details to set up a subscription. Apparently Apple can request from the credit card company that subscription payments continue to be taken using my new credit card even thoough they don’t have the new details! This seems incredible consideing that othe companies – Amazon, my house insurance etc. – require details of replacement cards to be given to them before payment can be approved. The bank has bloked further payments from my account – am really hoping that it will stop any more of these payments going out.
i was plugging in my phone last night and i accidently purchased a $99.99 package on one of my games, i never buy any and want to cancel that ordered please help me.
Can someone Please help me I am going through a crisis right now I have on authorized purchases on my account that I did not purchase through Apple can someone please tell me how to get a refund I just change my password I was doing some research and that’s what I was told to do
I keep getting a recurring bill on my debit card of $24.59. If I don’t put money in my card of course it doesn’t take it but as soon as I do it snatches it off my card. I have canceled every subscription I have and I shouldn’t be getting this . I also had a charge of 2.99 and 7.48 that I have no idea what it is. I would love to have this stopped, I have repeatedly asked, and it was charged today to my card because I used it to download a free app.
To change the payment method for iCloud Storage, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod:
If you use iOS 12.2 or later, update payment methods from Settings > Apple ID > Payment & Shipping
OR
Open the Settings app
Tap your name and choose iTunes & App Store
Tap your Apple ID, then tap View Apple ID
Tap Manage Payments or Payment Information
Update your payment methods
For calling Apple Support, use this information and locate your country or region.
You
On March 24 th I rented the movie Harriet and had trouble getting it to play, finally got it to play, but I the process I got charged twice for same movie!
For the second time someone is charging games to my apple account. How do
we stop this ? How can I stop it permanently? Hate this! They bought a subscription so every month I have to go thru a wasted day chasing
We suggest you change the setting on your account to always require your authorization for purchases (your password.)
If you are in a family sharing plan, the family organizer must do this.
If you have Touch ID or Face ID turned on for purchases, turn this off first in Face ID (Touch ID) & Password settings.
Go to Settings > Apple ID > iTunes & App Store. Tap Password Settings. Under Purchases and In-App Purchases, choose Always Require. Every time you make a purchase, you’ll be asked to enter your password, even if you’re signed in with your Apple ID. Under Free Downloads, toggle on Require Password
Then turn on Ask to Buy. Again, this must be done by the Family Organizer
Go to Settings > Apple ID > Family Sharing.
Tap a family member’s name
Tap Ask to Buy
Once you enable these settings, the family organizer or parent will need to approve or decline all payments.
Review current subscriptions for your family
Tap Settings > Apple ID > Family Sharing
Under Shared Features, tap Purchase Sharing
Make sure that Share My Purchases is turned on
Review the information
I was billed $.99 twice in January for my extra iCloud storage — January 16 and January 30. When I checked my iPhone it only showed that I was billed once. Is there an explanation for this?
Try using the website instead of a device. Go to Apple’s Report a Problem site, sign in with your Apple ID and password, and then scroll through the list of apps.
I am being billed $ .99 on a former credit card. Apple.Com/bill bills me on a card that I do not now use. Rather, I would like the bill sent to my new card. How do I change my credit card billing information?
Open the Settings app
Tap your name, then tap iTunes & App Store
Tap your Apple ID
Choose View Apple ID
Tap Manage Payments (For older iOS, tap Payment Information)
Update your payment methods
If you are part of a Family Sharing plan, the family organizer controls a single shared payment method for everyone in that family.
Robert Hunter says
I have had several charges that were unauthorized and had to spend a lot if my time to correct. I had to dispute some charges and replace my credit card.
I lost trust in this system because there are several apps that do not show that they are subscriptions and if you down load them it sets up automatic charges to subscribe.
I want better control over my purchases.
Vanessa Goh says
What if i don’t even own any apple device, have no apple ID and yet still being charged 5 transactions of the same amount?
My bank stopped my card and disputed,but apple.com only reversed 3 out of the 5 trsactions, the other 2 are still sitting in my account.
p.millican says
Same thing happening to me. I have no Apple products and no Apple account. On my January credit card statement there was a payment (at the 11th the month) of £4.99 going to Apple.com/bill. I contacted the bank who cancelled my card sent me a new one and refunded the £4.99. Then ot February 25th and also March 25th more withdrawals of £4.99 went out from my new card without my authorisation. The bank says some online payment system I’d made before the January withdrawal must have been compromised and someone else has got hold of my original card details to set up a subscription. Apparently Apple can request from the credit card company that subscription payments continue to be taken using my new credit card even thoough they don’t have the new details! This seems incredible consideing that othe companies – Amazon, my house insurance etc. – require details of replacement cards to be given to them before payment can be approved. The bank has bloked further payments from my account – am really hoping that it will stop any more of these payments going out.
Judy Walton says
There is a 38.24 charge on my credit card for Apple Music that’s unauthorized would like a refund immediately
Patricia del Real says
i was plugging in my phone last night and i accidently purchased a $99.99 package on one of my games, i never buy any and want to cancel that ordered please help me.
Shanda says
Can someone Please help me I am going through a crisis right now I have on authorized purchases on my account that I did not purchase through Apple can someone please tell me how to get a refund I just change my password I was doing some research and that’s what I was told to do
Cathy Pettit says
I keep getting a recurring bill on my debit card of $24.59. If I don’t put money in my card of course it doesn’t take it but as soon as I do it snatches it off my card. I have canceled every subscription I have and I shouldn’t be getting this . I also had a charge of 2.99 and 7.48 that I have no idea what it is. I would love to have this stopped, I have repeatedly asked, and it was charged today to my card because I used it to download a free app.
Ellen Elliott says
I need help changing my credit card information for my iCloud picture storage. How can I get someone from Apple Support to please call?
Ellen
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Ellen,
To change the payment method for iCloud Storage, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod:
If you use iOS 12.2 or later, update payment methods from Settings > Apple ID > Payment & Shipping
OR
Open the Settings app
Tap your name and choose iTunes & App Store
Tap your Apple ID, then tap View Apple ID
Tap Manage Payments or Payment Information
Update your payment methods
For calling Apple Support, use this information and locate your country or region.
Billy says
You
On March 24 th I rented the movie Harriet and had trouble getting it to play, finally got it to play, but I the process I got charged twice for same movie!
Faye Pugh says
For the second time someone is charging games to my apple account. How do
we stop this ? How can I stop it permanently? Hate this! They bought a subscription so every month I have to go thru a wasted day chasing
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Faye,
We suggest you change the setting on your account to always require your authorization for purchases (your password.)
If you are in a family sharing plan, the family organizer must do this.
If you have Touch ID or Face ID turned on for purchases, turn this off first in Face ID (Touch ID) & Password settings.
Go to Settings > Apple ID > iTunes & App Store. Tap Password Settings. Under Purchases and In-App Purchases, choose Always Require. Every time you make a purchase, you’ll be asked to enter your password, even if you’re signed in with your Apple ID. Under Free Downloads, toggle on Require Password
Then turn on Ask to Buy. Again, this must be done by the Family Organizer
Go to Settings > Apple ID > Family Sharing.
Tap a family member’s name
Tap Ask to Buy
Once you enable these settings, the family organizer or parent will need to approve or decline all payments.
Review current subscriptions for your family
Tap Settings > Apple ID > Family Sharing
Under Shared Features, tap Purchase Sharing
Make sure that Share My Purchases is turned on
Review the information
jeanmayer says
I was billed $.99 twice in January for my extra iCloud storage — January 16 and January 30. When I checked my iPhone it only showed that I was billed once. Is there an explanation for this?
soledad says
Hi
I can not get access to purchases hx of apple itunes, I want to see detail or explanations for unwanted charges
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Soledad,
Try using the website instead of a device. Go to Apple’s Report a Problem site, sign in with your Apple ID and password, and then scroll through the list of apps.
Robert Flaten says
I purchased an app for 19.00 but was charge 31.00 and never got it. Then later, I was again charged 41.00!
Apple needs to do a better job by checking out its billing. It’s happened before too.
Kenneth Mechling says
I am being billed $ .99 on a former credit card. Apple.Com/bill bills me on a card that I do not now use. Rather, I would like the bill sent to my new card. How do I change my credit card billing information?
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Kenneth,
Open the Settings app
Tap your name, then tap iTunes & App Store
Tap your Apple ID
Choose View Apple ID
Tap Manage Payments (For older iOS, tap Payment Information)
Update your payment methods
If you are part of a Family Sharing plan, the family organizer controls a single shared payment method for everyone in that family.