Given the enormity of the financial meltdown in Greece, not being able to make iCloud or iTunes purchases is rather a long way down the list of the country’s problems – but for those with data stored on iCloud, not being able to renew a subscription could put that data at risk.
For those outside Europe who may not have seen too much news coverage, a combination of a long history of low levels of tax collection and the global financial crash has left Greece unable to pay its international debts. To prevent a collapse of the Greek banking system, the government has put strict controls in place, including maximum cash withdrawals of €60 ($66) a day – and a complete ban on overseas payments or transfers.
As payments from Greek subscribers are processed outside the country, this means that Apple cannot legally accept payments from anyone with a Greek account. One Bloomberg staffer learnt about this very directly when they received an email from Apple telling them their iCloud renewal had failed.
“On June 30, we tried to charge your account for your iCloud space of 20GB, but there is a problem with your payment details,” said one e-mail received by Bloomberg News staff based in Athens. “If we don’t manage to renew your subscription, your account will be downgraded to the free 5GB space program.”
Via Business Insider
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We cannot even download apps that have already been purchased
Adding iTunes credit to the account via gift vouchers would be the way to work around this. Apple will charge credit before your card.
Come on Apple. Give it them for free for a year. Their suffering enough. Would it really be that much of a big deal?
That’s what happens when you’re paid bonus for showing up to work…
I have no idea what you mean.
a smug but very uneducated comment. It would be bitter on my behalf to say “typical US citizen ignorance”. It sure is very easy to judge everything from a distance.
How Goldman Sachs, a US company, helped Greece mask its dept.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/greek-debt-crisis-how-goldman-sachs-helped-greece-to-mask-its-true-debt-a-676634.html
My iCloud membership has been renewed a month ago, so I have no problem with that one. Because Greek credit cards cannot be used in international transactions, the app/itunes store will not allow any download (not even free apps), as it says “there is a problem with your payment method.” Not even already purchased apps can be downloaded and of course no apple music free trial.
That’s false. You obviously do not know your way around iOS.
Which part of it? When a credit card is not valid you cannot purchase any apps not even download your already purchased ones.
This does not mean they would lose their data. Just they won’t be able to add new files, only delete existing ones until there is 5GB of data.
Greek should wake up. Don’t you want to accept regulations? Well, then f*** o**.
* Greece. Guys, edit function? Anyone? Hello?
Unfortunately – Greece is only the first! Too many nations living on their past glories and building more and more debt – with nothing to back it up.
Uncle Sam – You watching this development closely? It may come to pass here someday in the near future!
You just know that the Greece are already economize on the way that Brussels wants for the past 5 years. Because it’s just got worse, the Greece said ‘f** o** Brussels’ and i understand this.
The people that need medicine, cannot buy them because of Brussels and the Netherlands allows big Greece company’s to evade the Greece tax system.
af course… the Greece have meed big misstakes to, but so long other EU country’s and some other country’s allow big Greece company’s to evade the Greece system… the Greece will keep the same problems.
They know EU will pour money, our money, to their country of people who had for example much much higher retirement payments than we have, were taking this payments for dead people, many of holiday resorts not paying tax (the country is a mess) and so on. Now in referendum they refused to make changes that would help them slowly over the years to get past this just because they do not want to live like many other countries in EU. They should take responsibility for their mistakes. They should be kicked out of eurozone and EU altogether. Then they will realise what did they decide for. They won’t even have what they could have. However, I think EU is that st*pid they will pour more from our money to the Greece.
Donny, you are right… Miroslav, these changes won’t solve the problem! Greece lost 25% GDP which made the debt even bigger (as it is estimated as percentage of GDP). Greeks are seeking changes and are ASKING for them, but for the changes that will fix the roots of the problem! Do you really believe that increasing VAT at 23(!!!)% will help an economy grow?? They said no to recession, there is no room for that anymore in the Greek economy… By reducing the pensions for people that earn 300(!!) euro per month will fix the problem? Greeks suggested increasing tax on wealthy companies and individuals… IMF said no… Greeks then said no… Fair and square! I don’t know where you are from or what is your source that you use to update yourself on this one, but you are wrong… Every person in this world should be proud for what Greeks did yesterday… They voted no despite creditors/EU blackmailing then and threading for “punishment ” …
We have 22% tax and pensions for people are 300 Euro. I see no problem with that. Why would I have to support someone from our money when it’s even worse here? They need to be shut down! And they need to make order in their whole system. Like those huge holidays resorts not paying tax for example.
“a combination of a long history of low levels of tax collection and the global financial crash” Yes has nothing to do with the entitlement that European nations have these days with demanding Free everything from their governments.
Guys, Piraeus credit / debit cards works.
no, they don’t… not even the virtual prepaid one
This is what happens when we run out of other peoples’ money.
The worst bit is that we can’t even update/download already purchased apps, free or not.
Given that the iTunes/App Store now REQUIRES a credit card, it sees none it can withdraw money from, it prompts us to update our data (which we can’t at the moment) and we’re stuck in an endless loop :(