Do I have a leg to stand on with Apple?? :-(

epskie

Hello All,

I have just checked my Internet banking and apple iTunes have taken £70.11 out of my account! I have looked at my emails and sure enough the receipt is there for an 'in-app purchase' within a Moshi Monsters app. Upon interrogation of my 6 year old he has admitted that he knows my password and input it whilst playing on the MM app.

Needless to say I am furious but will Apple even entertain me when I call them? Surely 'in-app purchases' to the tune of £70 should not be available within a children's app? Any advice would be most appreciated.

Humphrey10

epskie wrote: »

Needless to say I am furious but will Apple even entertain me when I call them? Surely 'in-app purchases' to the tune of £70 should not be available within a children's app? Any advice would be most appreciated.

He is only 6, you shouldn't be furious with him.
I'm sure you don't mean you are furious with Apple, as it's not their fault at all - you gave your password and iDevice to a six year old, and didn't turn off in app purchases.

Why shouldn't £70 IAP be available in a children's app? Some parents have a lot of disposable income. There are many ways to prevent the IAP from being bought - don't tell the child the password, turn off IAP, don't have payment information on the iTunes account.

However if you ask Apple politely, they might refund the money. They do sometimes (quite often?).

coolcait

I think you're missing the point by asking "Surely 'in-app purchases' to the tune of £70 should not be available within a children's app?"

Clearly it is available.

This would not be an issue for you if you had a secure password, because no one could then mis-use your account. Or if your child hadn't mis-used your account.

It's an expensive lesson for you. But don't misdirect your ire at Apple for offering the app.

claire16c

Maybe there is no limit on the purchases because they are a business and not a parent?

It might be an app for kids but normally it would be the parents paying for it.

bluenoseam

claire16c wrote: »

Maybe there is no limit on the purchases because they are a business and not a parent?

It might be an app for kids but normally it would be the parents paying for it.

No, it's probably because they're a business who expect parents to be a little more inventive & better with their passwords than having something a 6 year old knows. I'm not trying to flame the OP, but if your 6 year old can figure out your password so can every criminal going - that's not Apples problem, that's not Moshi Monsters' problem, it's your problem.

epskie

Well he is very clever, in my opinion :-) Thanks for the replies, I'll try to call Apple tomorrow.

Molly41

Honestly?
It is your responsibility to make sure you protect your device. It is your problem not Apple. Im am reliably informed that in settings you can turn off in-app purchases. Perhaps you should do that before hassling Apple. Your problem not theirs:mad:

robpw2

why do parents give children devices where they can quite easily run up bills .... the ipad is not a toy and children shouldnt be using it ,

prowla

I think that in-app purchases are a total rip-off, and Apple should provide a means of limiting the amounts.

That said, passwords need to be properly protected, and kids don't really have the concept that money represents your hard work.

jbainbridge

You had my sympathy up to the point where your 6 year old had your password.

Kayalana99

My 4 year old niece actally knows how to use youtube because I keep giving her my lappie...its actally quite cute.

Apart from the orginal writing 'peppa pig' in the top box (im trying to teach her to do that as well haha but my laptop keeps cutting out whilst typing its hard enough teaching her without it going wrong ) she can now click the links to next video..scroll down...etc

They are so clever now days with these things!!

You have my total sympathy and I hope apple see it your way...but live and learn if they don't I guess as they are a business at end day