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Apple Blocks Developer from App Store

10 points by asnyder 16y ago

cscotta 16y ago
What surprises me here is the Apple spokewoman's suggestion that "users whose accounts had been misused dispute the charges with their card companies" rather than initiating action against Mr. Nguyen and issuing refunds at his expense. Apple's developer agreement requires that developers refund the total price of the app, despite the fact that Apple only pays out 70% in the first place (details: http://news.cnet.com/apple-refund-clause-bad-for-developers http://news.cnet.com/apple-refund-clause-bad-for-developers). The company makes it painfully clear that application developers are entirely liable in the event of customer complaints. It strikes me as unusual that the company would urge customers to request a chargeback, which would be filed against Apple at significant cost, as all billing runs through iTunes. Can anyone offer an explanation for this?
- biafra 16y ago
  Maybe those chargebacks are cheaper than having someone at Apple dealing with this? And its an established process for customers. They more likely know how to deal with their credit card company than with Apple.
siculars 16y ago
We all knew this was coming. Nevertheless, when asked, Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman recommended: "...that users whose accounts had been misused dispute the charges with their card companies..." Aha. So Apple's technology is misused and the onus to fix any monetary liabilities lies with the consumer. Nice. This kinda dovetails with the whole the-feds-need-to-enact-civil-digital-protection-laws that blanket protect people from this kinda crap regardless of what any one companies ToS may or may not say.
- tomjen3 16y ago
  Actually it is a retarded idea from Apples point of view: Chargesbacks comes with a pretty high fee, which Apple will have to pay. The would be better of refounding the customers money, as the would be entitled to keep their 30% and the developer would have to foot the bill.
jeb 16y ago
It appears that the way this is working is that iTunes acccounts are being sold in vietnam or china, these devs are purchasing these accounts and buying a bunch of their apps. So the devs don't seem to be the hackers.

10 points by asnyder 16y ago

What surprises me here is the Apple spokewoman's suggestion that "users whose accounts had been misused dispute the charges with their card companies" rather than initiating action against Mr. Nguyen and issuing refunds at his expense. Apple's developer agreement requires that developers refund the total price of the app, despite the fact that Apple only pays out 70% in the first place (details: http://news.cnet.com/apple-refund-clause-bad-for-developers http://news.cnet.com/apple-refund-clause-bad-for-developers). The company makes it painfully clear that application developers are entirely liable in the event of customer complaints. It strikes me as unusual that the company would urge customers to request a chargeback, which would be filed against Apple at significant cost, as all billing runs through iTunes. Can anyone offer an explanation for this?

biafra 16y ago
Maybe those chargebacks are cheaper than having someone at Apple dealing with this? And its an established process for customers. They more likely know how to deal with their credit card company than with Apple.

siculars 16y ago

We all knew this was coming. Nevertheless, when asked, Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman recommended: "...that users whose accounts had been misused dispute the charges with their card companies..." Aha. So Apple's technology is misused and the onus to fix any monetary liabilities lies with the consumer. Nice. This kinda dovetails with the whole the-feds-need-to-enact-civil-digital-protection-laws that blanket protect people from this kinda crap regardless of what any one companies ToS may or may not say.

tomjen3 16y ago
Actually it is a retarded idea from Apples point of view: Chargesbacks comes with a pretty high fee, which Apple will have to pay. The would be better of refounding the customers money, as the would be entitled to keep their 30% and the developer would have to foot the bill.

jeb 16y ago

It appears that the way this is working is that iTunes acccounts are being sold in vietnam or china, these devs are purchasing these accounts and buying a bunch of their apps. So the devs don't seem to be the hackers.