Mobile bill shock through kids in-app purchases

Former_MSE_Becca

"Two boys racked up a mega £3,200 mobile bill playing a seemingly innocent game on an iPhone belonging to their dad, who is an England international rugby star..."

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How to avoid app charge hell, after kids spend £3,200 on dad's iPhone



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Erinnire

My 5 year old recently spent £64.99 on in app purchases much to my horror turns out this isn't the first time either smaller amounts have been coming out for months. I thought that I had turned the in apps purchases off on the iPad but it wasn't as the settings are really confusing! It's definitely turned off now though!

BitterAndTwisted

Not in the same vein at all. But my idiot half-sister allowed her 3-year old to play with her iPhone, possibly some game or other. It transpired that said child managed to get into her Amazon account and order a book, possibly one of those recommendation-thingys. I was horrified. Idiot half-sister thought it was funny..

fluffnutter

Saw a similar story on the consumer rights board in the last few months.

pigpen

I don't see how they can buy stuff, you are asked for your password even if you have asked it to remember the details you still have to put in a password for both Itunes and amazon, i use both, a lot and my children have never got past the password.

The ads on the free childrens apps pee me off though, they are rarely age appropriate which of course means I have to complain

fluffnutter

pigpen wrote: »

I don't see how they can buy stuff, you are asked for your password even if you have asked it to remember the details you still have to put in a password for both Itunes and amazon, i use both, a lot and my children have never got past the password.

The ads on the free childrens apps pee me off though, they are rarely age appropriate which of course means I have to complain

Apparently there's a 15 minute window after signing up to a game or whatever wherein purchases can be made without the need for the password to be re-entered. Hence if you hand your phone or tablet straight to your kid after downloading the app they've got 15 minutes to go crazy!

Plus some parents share their passwords...

barbarawright

pigpen wrote: »

I don't see how they can buy stuff, you are asked for your password even if you have asked it to remember the details you still have to put in a password for both Itunes and amazon, i use both, a lot and my children have never got past the password.

The ads on the free childrens apps pee me off though, they are rarely age appropriate which of course means I have to complain

You can buy kindle books without entering your password.

alias*alibi

My daughter bought in-app purchases for bluddy paws on tiny pet on her iPod. It's linked to my iTunes account and normally get the receipts. However I noticed £80+ taken from my bank account from iTunes. I thought my itunes account had been hacked until i found the receipt in my junk inbox. Big lesson learnt; password changed and in-app purchases disabled!!

themull1

Friends son whose 8 got an iphone for christmas, and ran up a bill for £170.!!

[Deleted User]

Anyone who doesn't disable in-app purchases is a crazy fool. I've watched my 3 year old try to buy expensive pointless add-ons for games; it's rather scary

LE3

My friend has had huge app bills run up every month by her 7 yr old grandson because she lets him play on her phone ... The kid has a DS, why does he need to play on the phone too??