[robocaptain]

I have an elderly family member with this exact problem. Even with constant reminding, it is an uphill battle. I suspect it is a combination of addiction but also "dark patterns" that essentially trick folks into spending money.

One thing that helped is switching the family member to a True Link card: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Link

While not perfect, it does root out the obvious scammers and does make it much easier to push back and cancel those reccuring subscriptions that "some how" keep getting activated.

I have no affiliation with True Link, but posting it in hopes it can help someone with a similar problem.

Edit: Just now realized True Link has a YC affiliation, so maybe this is more on topic than I thought.

[koolba]

Why not just remove the payment card from their account? You don't need to have a card on file to install free apps and if you have no intention of buying anything, there's no reason to have one on file at all.

[ido]

I believe this is the situation on android but that on ios you need a card either way to download from the app store?

Or at least this used to be the situation.

[koolba]

> I believe this is the situation on android but that on ios you need a card either way to download from the app store?

> Or at least this used to be the situation.

Nope and I've never had one attached so it's definitely not a new thing either.

They do have a bit of a dark pattern to trick you into adding one when you first set up an Apple ID. IIRC, when you pick your credit card type (AmEx, VISA, etc) you can pick "No Credit Card" to skip it.

[kefka]

Yeah. I work in tech, and this has tripped me up many a time.

Apple is extremely negligent about demanding a credit card, when I only want "free applications". Worse yet, with their app-storification of OSX, it's absolutely horrendous. And of course, only "richies" use OSX and Apple (enter here various websites that charge more for Mac users based upon browser ident strings).

[wodenokoto]

On iOS there is a supported, official, but completely non-obvious way to create a card-less account.

(While logged out, buy a free app, when told you need an account, click to create one from this dialogue. This allows for the option for a card-less account)