Grindr - In App Purchase activation failures

How is Grindr and Apple getting away with charging a user for an app purchase when the activation fails? You essentially are paying for something that you’re not getting. Anytime you buy one of these in app purchase, you really don’t know if you’re gonna get it or not. I’ve even used my Apple iPhone and screen recorded and sent the results of the fails and the positive activations to the Apple help helpdesk and still nothing. They say that their automated system once it declines you the second time and the answer is final. There’s nothing you can do. How is that legal? Shouldn’t the FTC be taking a look at this? Also, how does Apple come to this final denial decision when it’s not even their app and they’re probably not conferring with Grindr anyway?

Posted on Oct 11, 2025 10:23 PM

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Posted on Oct 11, 2025 11:28 PM

Have you contacted Grindr? It appears that the message is coming from the Grindr app and they recommend to remove any VPN if you have one installed. Grindr is also able to give you a free promo code that can be used for any purchase that has not been reflected in their app.


In addition, you can write a review for the app in the App Store to let others know of your experience if Grindr does not resolve the problem for you.


In most cases, all transactions in the App Store are final and there is no conferring with the developer. At times Apple may provide a compassionate refund, but it should never be expected. You can still report a quality problem for any app in the App Store and if it is found to not follow the App Submission guidelines it will be removed from the store with enough complaints. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com and use one of the options that best describes the problem with the app whether you want to report it as a scam or quality issue.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 11, 2025 11:28 PM in response to Alaskaguy907

Have you contacted Grindr? It appears that the message is coming from the Grindr app and they recommend to remove any VPN if you have one installed. Grindr is also able to give you a free promo code that can be used for any purchase that has not been reflected in their app.


In addition, you can write a review for the app in the App Store to let others know of your experience if Grindr does not resolve the problem for you.


In most cases, all transactions in the App Store are final and there is no conferring with the developer. At times Apple may provide a compassionate refund, but it should never be expected. You can still report a quality problem for any app in the App Store and if it is found to not follow the App Submission guidelines it will be removed from the store with enough complaints. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com and use one of the options that best describes the problem with the app whether you want to report it as a scam or quality issue.

Nov 8, 2025 2:38 PM in response to Alaskaguy907

Alaskaguy907 wrote:

Here's the update: Grindr has come back acknowledging the software glitch and confirmed that what I've dealt with is indeed something affecting users. Let's see what happens now.

That is good news and actually better than what is seen from other Developers where they simply claim it is not their fault so must be something wrong with Apple. Ironically it is their responsibility to provide an app that is bug free on all devices they claim to support, and Apple is not going to do that for them.


I did see there was a Grindr update 3 days ago in the App Store, so make sure you are using that latest version, and if that one does not resolve you problem hopefully you will see another update soon.

Grindr - In App Purchase activation failures

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