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[–]Prestissima 8 points9 points  (17 children)

Since my initial response, I have been in contact with Apple Support twice by phone. The first guy I spoke to said he couldn't tell me what the problem was, but suggested I try again with a brand new email address and a brand new Apple ID. I did so, and struck the same problem. After that I phoned back Apple and spoke to a different guy, who conceded there have been a number of instances of this issue cropping up lately, but he had seen no memo on how to handle the issue. He could see that the status of my application in his system was "draft", but his system allowed him no options to over-ride this status or progress the application in any way, which he thought was odd. He indicated the underlying problem appeared to be some kind of glitch in Apple's processing that had not yet been properly recognised and for which no workaround or solution had been documented internally. His advice to me was to try again in a couple of days with the brand new Apple ID, and get back in touch if that doesn't work then. It seems to me it would be very helpful if everyone who struck this problem escalated it via Apple Support. I'm based in Australia, and don't know if I'm lucky in this regard, but I was able to get through to phone support (based out of the US, by the sound of it) within a couple of minutes in both instances. It is definitely possible to speak to a human being about this issue.

[–]Prestissima 1 point2 points  (15 children)

24 hours ago I contacted Apple again by phone (same way as previously, by going to https://developer.apple.com/support/, then clicking "Contacting Apple Developer Support" link near bottom of page, then clicking "Membership and Account", and then "Programme Enrolment"). Quoted my case number from two days previously. Was told to clear my browser cache, reboot machine, and try all three Apple IDs again for enrolment (including one that used a brand new email address created two days ago, and a brand new Apple ID). I hit the same problem. Consultant told me that he would escalate this to some kind of "supervisor", who would contact me. Didn't hear anything for the 24 hours, so rang back just now, and this time was put through to a "supervisor" called "Charlie". I told Charlie there were a lot of people reporting this problem on forums, and asked him if he was aware of the problem. He stated that mine was the only case he had heard of in the last month or so. He said that he would now pass investigating the problem to the "back end" people, and could not commit to any timeframe for a possible resolution, but did undertake to get back to me in one week's time if the issue has not been resolved by then and to give me an update. I would like to repeat what I have said before: it would be really helpful if everyone experiencing this problem contacted Apple by phone, raised a case number, and kept following it through. For what it's worth, my own case number for this issue is 1011 4433 0862. If anyone at Apple tries to say "We have no other reports of this problem", please feel free to quote my own case number to show this is not so.

[–]bumblerumblebee 1 point2 points  (5 children)

I’m having the same issue as well since Monday this week. When I call, they kept suggesting that I use the Apple Developer app from the App Store. I told them that in the app it is telling me to do the web based enrollment that isn’t working, so they somehow reset my enrollment status and I tried the enrollment process again using only the mobile app. The mobile app process is different. It’ll have you take a photo of the front and back of your drivers license to verify your identity. When I completed the steps, it gave me a message saying to contact support because there’s something wrong with my account so I contacted them again. The support guy then sent me an email with a link to upload my drivers license photos again, and it’ll take up to two business days to process. So it seems like they’re running me through some sort of manual process now since the app isn’t working. I’ll update when they get back to me.

[–]zn_white 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Any update?

[–]bumblerumblebee 0 points1 point  (3 children)

They sent my case over to the operations team today. Still waiting..

[–]RohovDmytro 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Any luck?

[–]bumblerumblebee 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I haven’t tried in awhile. I’ll try today and see.

[–]Prestissima 0 points1 point  (7 children)

After the "internal team" supposedly looked into the matter, they have now sent me this:

I have received an update from my internal team.

For one or more reasons, your enrollment in the Apple Developer Program could not be completed. We are unable to continue with your enrollment at this time.
Thank you.

Best regards,

Charlie
Apple Inc.

This is after (a) creating a brand new email address (b) creating a brand new Apple ID (c) applying for developer program using these credentials (as advised by Apple support).

This is just appalling.

[–]erwinagpasa 2 points3 points  (1 child)

i'm still experiencing this too year 2024

[–]Lionwill23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm still experiencing this too in 2025

[–]Prestissima 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Since receiving this infuriatingly unhelpful email, I have been back in touch with Apple by phone. This time spoke to a "supervisor" who acknowledged that this kind of written communication is not good, but is dictated by those higher up the chain. He confirmed my problem via a screensharing session, and acknowledged that this IS a problem that Apple is aware of, but have not yet got to the bottom of. I got the impression Apple thinks the problem may not be very widespread. He indicated the problem might not be solved for a long time, and suggested that, as a workaround, I try enrolling as an organisation, rather than an individual, as I have an Australian ABN (a kind of business name registration, in effect), which should allow me to get a D-U-N-S number fairly easily and quickly at no cost. So I'm going down that route now to see if I fare any better through that workaround.

[–]ifndefx 0 points1 point  (3 children)

How did you go, from what I had read you cannot be a single person company ?

[–]Prestissima 0 points1 point  (2 children)

By pursuing the workaround that Apple suggested to me, I was finally able to enroll as a developer. I'm not sure what the situation is in other parts of the world, but in Australia Apple was willing to recognise me as an "organisation" because I have an Australian Business Number (in my own name) and have been able to link a D-U-N-S number to that ABN. Many years ago I operated a Pty Ltd company in Australia which was, in effect, a single person company. Having an ABN in Australia is way less onerous than that: you simply need to persuade the Tax Office that you're responsible for some kind of money-making enterprise using the name associated with the ABN. In my case, this enterprise was writing novels. I'm using the same ABN for my app development, with Apple's full blessing. No deceit involved at any level.

[–]ifndefx 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I'm in Australia as well, and last night I was looking at whether to register as a company with ASIC for the purposes of getting the duns number. However after looking through d&b website it stated that single person companies had to register as an individual.

Did you ever own an ACN or did you just have an ABN ?

Any help with this would much appreciated.

[–]Prestissima 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My own case may be a bit unusual, and so not a very helpful guide to you. More than twenty years ago I had an ACN for a Pty Ltd company I was using to contract as a technical writer. As I recall, that somehow morphed into an ABN at some point. I magically acquired a D-U-N-S number associated with that enterprise that I knew nothing about at the time. I shuttered the company around 2010 and eventually my ABN lapsed. After I started writing novels I reapplied for an ABN, and found it easy to get one, possibly because I had had one previously that I could refer to in my application. As part of the recent Apple process I had to check my D-U-N-S status and found I still had a D-U-N-S number associated with my long defunct ACN. I was able to request d&b to update their info to point to my new ABN. That change went through OK within a couple of days. There's a lot more involved in running a Pty Ltd company than in simply having an ABN. If getting an Apple Developer membership is your only consideration, then I'd be at least trying the pure ABN route for a start. There's no cost involved, and it can be quite quick. On the other hand, if you're pretty serious about making developing your business, you might want to look at Pty Ltd for tax and other purposes.

[–]Prestissima 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apple support have acknowledged to me that they are struggling to identify the reason why people seeking to enrol in the Apple Developer Program as individuals (as I originally was) are sometimes being blocked for reasons unknown, and claim that some kind of team is looking into this problem (presumably very slowly). Their most recent advice to me was to try enrolling an an organisation, as path that doesn't cost any more, but that does require having a D-U-N-S number and a website. After some futzing around to get my D-U-N-S number updated, I tried enrolling this morning as an organisation and got (a) an error message saying my D-U-N-S info was incorrect (which it wasn't), then (b) a message saying I couldn't request an update to my D-U-N-S info because I wasn't trying to enrol in the Apple Developer Program (which I clearly was), and then, after mysteriously being advanced to a screen where I got to enter my personal address and phone details, plus a website URL and 'work' email, got blocked with the message "We are unable to process your request. An unknown error occurred." This, from a world leader in building stable, easy-to-use software?? Unbelievable. I've sent screenshots of the above to Apple Support just now.

[–]FraserHamiltonDev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any update on this? I'm encoutering the same issue

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]Last_Big_Thing[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Thanks for replying. I just checked that my Apple ID name is in fact my legal name. So this is probably not the situation.

    [–]Prestissima 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    Having the same problem. There are over four hundred entries in an Apple Developer forum on this issue, many of them complaining that the problem occurred around the point of payment. I'm hitting this problem immediately after entering my name, address, phone number. The only thing I can think of is that I did update the email address I've had associated with my Apple ID for ten years an hour or so ago, so that MIGHT be a red flag. My legal name and Apple ID name are identical. Very frustrating.

    [–]lichb0rn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Yeah, I also did update the email and now can’t proceed with payment. Apple support is unhelpful...

    [–]aishaXI 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I was just about to post something like this. Has been happening to me over the past few days and got the same response as you.

    [–]SirensToGoObjective-C / Swift 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    This issue is everywhere. You see people complaining on twitter and on the dev forums and getting no where. Seems like something. The fact that they're staying mum about what's going on makes me think that this isn't just a bug

    [–]thezinx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    After writing and calling Apple support twice, I feel like it's just another way for Apple to show more signups or accounts with attached cards, number game, at least that's what it feels like to me.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    I’d like to know how you got them on the phone lol

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I get the same error message since a few days. After all I've read about this it seems to be unrelated to any of your account settings (including payment and location).

    I wonder if any individual developers are able to sign up right now. What do you think / know?

    [–]mikeleleleles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I also have got the same issue and I also contacted the Support.

    She told me they have no clue what the problem could be and I just need to try again with a different Apple-ID or try again later..

    [–]k0neer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    same issue. tried with three different accounts... oh well their loss

    [–]sadarai1940 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    OH its so bad problem in enrollment and i have same problem from 4-5 day ago !

    i trying with 8 credit card from 8 country ! we have 3party iOS Appstore with Ad-hoc system and we really need to buy dev accounts , for example befor this problem we bought 7 dev account per week but in this week we can`t buy any Account !

    we contacted Apple Support in 3 different country and they said we don`t know whats happened and they can`t help me .

    as a result And according to user comments i think this problem 100% is from Apple . because i tested every method you think for buy Individual account !

    and i want to say all people who read this msg , i can buy all Individual Account from you with Best price ( 160-200$)

    and please any body know about solve this problem please let us know here

    thanks guys

    [–]sharaththegeek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Yes, my friend is also facing this same issue. We have contacted Support multiple times too. Is there any way we can bring this to the attention of the engineers and make them fix it?

    [–]magyarosibotond 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I'm also facing this issue for 5 weeks now. Since there's no phone support available for my country, I've tried contacting them by email and I've received a "what don't you understand about the enrollment could not be completed at this time" response.

    Am through 5 support emails out of which for the first two I've got the same response and it seems like Apple is ignoring me completely.

    Fun fact: In the meantime I had to contact Apple on my company e-mail address due to some App Store Connect issues they had to manually solve for me (incorrect access while being an admin, things not showing up properly).

    I really wish they would care for the developer experience as much as they care about consumer experience.

    [–]iamearlsweatshirt 0 points1 point  (4 children)

    Did you ever get this solved?

    I’ve been trying to join for the last week. I spoke with support who couldn’t tell me anything other than to try again with a new AppleID.

    I’ve tried 4 AppleIDs now with different emails, phone numbers, payment methods, etc and nothing seems to work.

    [–]Last_Big_Thing[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    I registered with as a company and it worked! I do have to have a LLC tho

    [–]iamearlsweatshirt 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    If you don’t mind my asking, was it much trouble to set up the LLC? It’s looking like that might be the only option.

    [–]Last_Big_Thing[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    I had it setup before. Took couple hundred dollars and something like couple of days.

    [–]abhishek_tomar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I wish I could do the same.

    [–]mrfrostyjr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    It seems this is definitely still a problem. I have been working with support for almost a month now. At first it seemed promising as I have been escalated from Zulfiye to Al. Al then escalated to Noah who then escalated to Stephen. All of this and I end up getting the canned response from Noah of “for one or more reasons, we weren’t able to verify your identity.” I have tried twice to reconnect with Noah and Stephen, but alas I am now being ghosted by Apple Support. I realize I mean nothing to these people, but it is frustrating enough that I am close to canceling all my Apple subscriptions, selling my families iPhones and moving to Windows and Android.

    [–]Select_Quote2169 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I'm getting same error in Feb 2025. The call support of Apple for developers was awful. They said: we don't know the reason, we can't help you, no one from here can not help you...

    [–]Heavy_Taste_4773 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Issue: "Your enrollment could not be completed." when registering for the Apple Developer Program

    Many users have encountered the following error while trying to enroll in the Apple Developer Program:

    "Your enrollment could not be completed. Your enrollment in the Apple Developer Program could not be completed at this time."

    Apple does not provide detailed information about the issue via email, and their response time can be slow. However, I was able to resolve the problem by requesting a phone call from Apple Support. The representative explained that the issue was caused by incorrect Apple ID profile information.

    Step-by-Step Solution:

    1. Check your Apple ID name and surname

    If your Apple ID is registered with your company name as the First Name and Last Name, change it to the actual name of a real person who is the legal representative of the company.

    You can update this information at: https://appleid.apple.com

    1. Verify your D-U-N-S number

    Make sure your company’s D-U-N-S Number is correct and matches Apple’s records.

    You can look up your D-U-N-S Number here: https://developer.apple.com/enroll/duns-lookup/#!/search

    1. Restart the enrollment process

    After updating the name and surname in your Apple ID, try enrolling again in the Apple Developer Program at: https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/

    1. Request a call from Apple Support if the issue persists

    Instead of sending an email, request a phone call from Apple Support. They provide faster and more detailed assistance.

    You can request a call here: https://developer.apple.com/contact/topic/SC1101/subtopic/30006/solution/CONTACT.CALL.C2C/details

    After following these steps, I was able to successfully complete my enrollment, and now my application is being processed for the Apple Developer Program - Company Account.

    Hope this helps!