Dan The builder

Indie maker since 2020. Moved to iOS in 2024.
$0 → $1k in 18 months, then back to $0 in one night.
robot-terminated in one night
Now Broke..

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

This week Apple told me my developer account is being terminated for "dishonest or fraudulent activity."

I'm a solo developer. Over the last year and a half I've built a small set of apps, 8 of them live today. Real people use them every day. No ad tricks, no fake reviews, no hidden features, no scams.

Here's what Apple actually pointed to:

Almost a year ago, one of my apps was rejected over its name. Apple didn't like a word in it. I changed the name, Apple reviewed it again, and approved it. Later Apple approved an update to the same app. For the next 9 months I didn't touch it.

Then, out of nowhere, a notice: my "submissions repeatedly violated the guidelines in an attempt to evade the review process." That's the whole explanation. A template. No new issue, no warning, no question first.

What happens next is brutal:
- All my earnings are frozen, including from apps that never had a single problem.
- If I open a new account, Apple says that one can be terminated too.
- The only way to respond is a web form with a 2,000-character limit.
- After you submit, you get an automated "we received your appeal" and then silence. No timeline. No person.

I did everything they ask. I accepted the removal of the apps they flagged. I shut down their servers the same day. I paused all submissions. I sent a full appeal on day one.

Rejections are normal. Every developer gets them. You fix the issue, resubmit, and Apple approves it. That's how the system is supposed to work. I never expected that being rejected, fixing it, and being approved would come back a year later as "fraud."

"Fraudulent" is a heavy word to put on a one-person business, with no specifics and no conversation.

If you're an indie dev, save your rejection messages and screenshots. You may need them a year later.

If anyone at Apple Developer Relations sees this, I'd welcome a call.

#iOSDev #IndieDev #AppStore

@adamlyttleapps @AppleSupport @tim_cook

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@willgzn Mine is a company account, not an individual one. So this isn't limited to individual developers.

I don't have enough data to say whether Apple is targeting one more than the other, but company accounts clearly aren't immune to termination either.

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

This week Apple told me my developer account is being terminated for "dishonest or fraudulent activity."

I'm a solo developer. Over the last year and a half I've built a small set of apps, 8 of them live today. Real people use them every day. No ad tricks, no fake reviews, no hidden features, no scams.

Here's what Apple actually pointed to:

Almost a year ago, one of my apps was rejected over its name. Apple didn't like a word in it. I changed the name, Apple reviewed it again, and approved it. Later Apple approved an update to the same app. For the next 9 months I didn't touch it.

Then, out of nowhere, a notice: my "submissions repeatedly violated the guidelines in an attempt to evade the review process." That's the whole explanation. A template. No new issue, no warning, no question first.

What happens next is brutal:
- All my earnings are frozen, including from apps that never had a single problem.
- If I open a new account, Apple says that one can be terminated too.
- The only way to respond is a web form with a 2,000-character limit.
- After you submit, you get an automated "we received your appeal" and then silence. No timeline. No person.

I did everything they ask. I accepted the removal of the apps they flagged. I shut down their servers the same day. I paused all submissions. I sent a full appeal on day one.

Rejections are normal. Every developer gets them. You fix the issue, resubmit, and Apple approves it. That's how the system is supposed to work. I never expected that being rejected, fixing it, and being approved would come back a year later as "fraud."

"Fraudulent" is a heavy word to put on a one-person business, with no specifics and no conversation.

If you're an indie dev, save your rejection messages and screenshots. You may need them a year later.

If anyone at Apple Developer Relations sees this, I'd welcome a call.

#iOSDev #IndieDev #AppStore

@adamlyttleapps @AppleSupport @tim_cook

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Apple just sent me this.

Auto-terminated my entire developer account.
No warning. No call. No human.
18 months of work gone.
Only income.
Tier-3 country.
Broke.

All because of old rejections from 8 months ago.
Anyone else getting these automated 3.2(f) bans?
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook @AppleSupport @Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Transparency matters, I agree. But so does due process.

In my case, Apple terminated my entire account after a new app rejection, then flagged older apps that had been live for months without issues.

No clear explanation, no direct human contact, just termination.

Developers should share the facts, but Apple should also provide a fair chance to respond before destroying someone's business.
here's my full story :
https://t.co/ICPMgHOCUy

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

This week Apple told me my developer account is being terminated for "dishonest or fraudulent activity."

I'm a solo developer. Over the last year and a half I've built a small set of apps, 8 of them live today. Real people use them every day. No ad tricks, no fake reviews, no hidden features, no scams.

Here's what Apple actually pointed to:

Almost a year ago, one of my apps was rejected over its name. Apple didn't like a word in it. I changed the name, Apple reviewed it again, and approved it. Later Apple approved an update to the same app. For the next 9 months I didn't touch it.

Then, out of nowhere, a notice: my "submissions repeatedly violated the guidelines in an attempt to evade the review process." That's the whole explanation. A template. No new issue, no warning, no question first.

What happens next is brutal:
- All my earnings are frozen, including from apps that never had a single problem.
- If I open a new account, Apple says that one can be terminated too.
- The only way to respond is a web form with a 2,000-character limit.
- After you submit, you get an automated "we received your appeal" and then silence. No timeline. No person.

I did everything they ask. I accepted the removal of the apps they flagged. I shut down their servers the same day. I paused all submissions. I sent a full appeal on day one.

Rejections are normal. Every developer gets them. You fix the issue, resubmit, and Apple approves it. That's how the system is supposed to work. I never expected that being rejected, fixing it, and being approved would come back a year later as "fraud."

"Fraudulent" is a heavy word to put on a one-person business, with no specifics and no conversation.

If you're an indie dev, save your rejection messages and screenshots. You may need them a year later.

If anyone at Apple Developer Relations sees this, I'd welcome a call.

#iOSDev #IndieDev #AppStore

@adamlyttleapps @AppleSupport @tim_cook

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@charbs_io check my story and judge if its fair or not

https://t.co/NbaC0aljzx

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

This week Apple told me my developer account is being terminated for "dishonest or fraudulent activity."

I'm a solo developer. Over the last year and a half I've built a small set of apps, 8 of them live today. Real people use them every day. No ad tricks, no fake reviews, no hidden features, no scams.

Here's what Apple actually pointed to:

Almost a year ago, one of my apps was rejected over its name. Apple didn't like a word in it. I changed the name, Apple reviewed it again, and approved it. Later Apple approved an update to the same app. For the next 9 months I didn't touch it.

Then, out of nowhere, a notice: my "submissions repeatedly violated the guidelines in an attempt to evade the review process." That's the whole explanation. A template. No new issue, no warning, no question first.

What happens next is brutal:
- All my earnings are frozen, including from apps that never had a single problem.
- If I open a new account, Apple says that one can be terminated too.
- The only way to respond is a web form with a 2,000-character limit.
- After you submit, you get an automated "we received your appeal" and then silence. No timeline. No person.

I did everything they ask. I accepted the removal of the apps they flagged. I shut down their servers the same day. I paused all submissions. I sent a full appeal on day one.

Rejections are normal. Every developer gets them. You fix the issue, resubmit, and Apple approves it. That's how the system is supposed to work. I never expected that being rejected, fixing it, and being approved would come back a year later as "fraud."

"Fraudulent" is a heavy word to put on a one-person business, with no specifics and no conversation.

If you're an indie dev, save your rejection messages and screenshots. You may need them a year later.

If anyone at Apple Developer Relations sees this, I'd welcome a call.

#iOSDev #IndieDev #AppStore

@adamlyttleapps @AppleSupport @tim_cook

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@epifanov no no at all

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Apple just sent me this.

Auto-terminated my entire developer account.
No warning. No call. No human.
18 months of work gone.
Only income.
Tier-3 country.
Broke.

All because of old rejections from 8 months ago.
Anyone else getting these automated 3.2(f) bans?
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook @AppleSupport @Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Not every developer Apple terminates is a bad actor. Stop assuming they all deserve it.

My account was terminated through what appeared to be an automated review process, with no warning and no direct human contact to discuss my case.

My apps had no misleading free trials, hidden fees, aggressive paywalls, reviews, or trademark issues. Just simple products I worked hard to build.

I'm not saying every terminated developer is innocent, but Apple can make mistakes too.

When an entire developer account can be terminated without a opportunity to speak to a human, that's a serious problem.

We're not asking for special treatment. We're asking for transparency, human review...

It's easy to defend the system until you're the one affected by it.

[Dan Kulkov @DanKulkov]

this is just getting insane

> apple implements a system that flags account based on # of rejections

> and instead of communicating this to developers and saying "from now on, here are the new rules"

> they mass-terminate every developer FOR PREVIOUS REJECTIONS

had a problem 6 months ago?

congratulations, you are scheduled for termination

this is not fair

i am afraid to update apps because of this

i don't want to try new appstore feature because i am afraid this will backfire in 6 months

and to all who is mocking Stacy and others

are you sure you won't be the next one?

you are the good guy who followed all the rules and won't get punished?

don't be delusional

the new system terminates accounts just for the sake of termination

you are the margin of the margin of error

it will delete your account and nobody will blink an eye

we need a NORMAL system that respects both apple store and apple developers

1. each account gets 3 strikes before getting terminated
2. don't punish accounts for "rejections" that happened before the new system
3. explain clearly how many rejections is too much. have some warnings for app
4. use soft-restrictions (no new apps for 3 months, etc) if you think account is pushing the limits

i hope Stacy and others will get their accounts back

we obviously need rules to avoid vibe-slopping hell in AppStore

but this is just account carpet bombing

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@stacy_siz lol

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

- Apple review process:
Step 1: Reject the app
Step 2: Reject the fix
Step 3: Terminate the account
Step 4: “We value the developer community”

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Apple just sent me this.

Auto-terminated my entire developer account.
No warning. No call. No human.
18 months of work gone.
Only income.
Tier-3 country.
Broke.

All because of old rejections from 8 months ago.
Anyone else getting these automated 3.2(f) bans?
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook @AppleSupport @Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Not everyone is comfortable sharing their identity online. Some developers just want to build cool products while keeping their personal lives private. That shouldn't make them any less deserving of support.

I'm not asking for special treatment. You're welcome to look into my developer account and judge whether my case deserves support based on the facts, not my follower count or personal brand.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate your attention.

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

this is start to get our of hands
like cmon
@AppleSupport

YOU SHOULD DO A VIDEO ABOUT THIS MATTER @adamlyttleapps

[Tom F @Tom4icecram]

Every day more and more developers are losing their accounts and lifes work. Apple almost never gives accounts back or tries to work things out with the developer..... This is crazy!!! @Apple

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@adamlyttleapps @Tom4icecram @AppleSupport @adamlyttleapps im happy to share everything with you and see if i did anything wrong and can help other developers to avoid it

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

indeed

[roman.bun @romanbunn]

seeing so many app rejections and developer account termination stories this week.

honestly, it’s making me think it’s time to start building a saas project. relying entirely on the app store feels risky.

fellow indie devs, do you have a plan B?

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@AlexBrutality_

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

i will not stop talking about this matter because its not fair for our community

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

No one’s safe. Apple can just shut down your entire developer account with no warning, no call, nothing. They don’t even have a real person look at it.

I woke up and everything was gone. For the last two years my whole life, my career, everything I was building was tied to that account. One day it was there, the next it was deleted. Now I’m broke and unemployed.

All I want is to actually talk to a human. If I did something wrong, just tell me what it was. Don’t just send an automated message. Appealing feels pointless I’ve heard the chance of getting it back is like 5%.

I’ve been locked in my room for two days. I don’t know what to do anymore.

This isn’t fair.
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook
@AppleSupport
@Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@AlexBrutality_ @veyc_ @MaxHirsch13

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@romanbunn nothing i appeal we wait

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@KwohJoel normal apps like every indie developer make

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

No one’s safe. Apple can just shut down your entire developer account with no warning, no call, nothing. They don’t even have a real person look at it.

I woke up and everything was gone. For the last two years my whole life, my career, everything I was building was tied to that account. One day it was there, the next it was deleted. Now I’m broke and unemployed.

All I want is to actually talk to a human. If I did something wrong, just tell me what it was. Don’t just send an automated message. Appealing feels pointless I’ve heard the chance of getting it back is like 5%.

I’ve been locked in my room for two days. I don’t know what to do anymore.

This isn’t fair.
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook
@AppleSupport
@Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Apple just sent me this.

Auto-terminated my entire developer account.
No warning. No call. No human.
18 months of work gone.
Only income.
Tier-3 country.
Broke.

All because of old rejections from 8 months ago.
Anyone else getting these automated 3.2(f) bans?
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook @AppleSupport @Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@veyc_ @MaxHirsch13 he's a retard

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

no one is safe

[Ivan @ivan_trj]

Getting banned over an update more than 6 months ago?

Nobody is safe..

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

@toshfortheworld @PointBlueTech nahh

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

For those saying this was about copycats or shady tactics , it wasn’t.

I submitted a new app. It got rejected.
Then Apple looked at older apps that had been live for nearly a year with no issues, and terminated my entire account.
Apple can enforce the rules.
But one rejection shouldn’t wipe out years of clean work and someone’s only income.

I hope you guys never have to face this kind of unfair treatment.

[Dan The builder @thebuildersince]

Apple just sent me this.

Auto-terminated my entire developer account.
No warning. No call. No human.
18 months of work gone.
Only income.
Tier-3 country.
Broke.

All because of old rejections from 8 months ago.
Anyone else getting these automated 3.2(f) bans?
#terminator #apple
@tim_cook @AppleSupport @Apple
#IndieDev #buildinpublic