How to install free apps without a credit card?

I'm setting up a friend's new iPad2, she wants iPlayer, Facebook, etc, but the app store is telling me I need to input credit card information before it'll let me download any free apps. I don't have the card details and am annoyed I should even need them. I've had a google, lots of people complaining but I've not yet found a solution. There is no option to select 'none' when asked for a payment method. I've tried creating a new apple id in the iTunes store, but that's even worse - 3 mandatory questions such as 'where was your first job', where you can't set your own questions - and still the requirement to enter credit card info.

I don't have iTunes installed on my PC and nor will I be installing it, so can't get the apps there. The BBC site sends me to the app store for downloads. The iPad has the newest firmware and is not jailbroken.

I'm sure there's a really simple solution I'm missing, please don't say ask the owner for her CC details.

There is a way to do it (I did it to set up a US account). Unfotunately it involves iTunes. Does your friend not have a PC with iTunes installed?

Anyway here is a guide if it is of any use.
Create an iTunes Account without a credit card - How-To Geek

AFAIK accounts have always been tied to a credit card to stop spammers.

Originally Posted by Superhero Tony

There is a way to do it (I did it to set up a US account). Unfotunately it involves iTunes. Does your friend not have a PC with iTunes installed?

Anyway here is a guide if it is of any use.
Create an iTunes Account without a credit card - How-To Geek

I used this method recently for a friends iphone.

I also used google to get that page, and it took seconds.

Originally Posted by Superhero Tony

There is a way to do it (I did it to set up a US account). Unfotunately it involves iTunes. Does your friend not have a PC with iTunes installed?

No. The whole point of buying the iPad was that she has difficulty with computers, hence her giving it to me to set up. I expect there's little choice though, if she wants to be able to transfer photos on/off the device, etc.

Originally Posted by chewy

AFAIK accounts have always been tied to a credit card to stop spammers.

I don't believe I had to enter credit card info when setting up an apple id for my 5.0.1 iPhone recently.

Originally Posted by fulltilt

I don't believe I had to enter credit card info when setting up an apple id for my 5.0.1 iPhone recently.

Apple ID and an itunes account aren't the same thing. If you want any dealings with itunes, even just getting album artwork, you'll need and itunes account. You have to do the same shit with credit cards to use Playsation network to, I don't agree with it, but that's the way it is.

Originally Posted by Danny_Two

Apple ID and an itunes account aren't the same thing.

I know, I was talking about an apple id, which requires CC info if you want to install a free app from the store. I'd already seen suggestion that creating an iTunes account (which requires an apple id) could offer an option to choose 'none' as a payment option, but that's not true if doing it from the iPad itself. As I said in the OP, I'm not installing iTunes on my PC so unfortunately the 'easily googleable' link is no use unless I make a special trip to the owner's to continue setup there.

If you want any dealings with itunes, even just getting album artwork, you'll need and itunes account.

The owner's a pensioner, in her case iTunes will likely only ever be needed for transferring content to/from the iPad, and maybe not even then. She just wants to be able to read email, check facebook, watch iplayer, etc. Similar could be said for kids or people without a credit card.

good guide. thanks.

Interesting read, the chap who just bought a batch of pool ipads at work has just noticed this problem.