facebook ingame purchase!!! what the hell is that??

grumbler

Common sense?

sitcom321

ladymagpie wrote: »

sitcom321 wrote: »

And this is definitely on the actual phone bill, not on an iTunes/AppStore receipt?

definitely on the o2 phone bill,

Tony5101

grumbler wrote: »

Common sense?

Common sense for what??

The payment method on Facebook is a conscious choice that the user has to make, with paying by mobile being one of the options given, if you are using your mobile and have the number registered with FB.

https://www.facebook.com/help/226504034029906

Just because you might not want it or like it, doesn't mean that the statements of "most people don't want it", or the statement being feebly endorsed by "common sense" are correct.

The "common sense" is giving people choice.

POPCORN

Hi

On facebook, all the games like candy crush, when you run out of lives you can buy them, that's what in game purchases are.

Silk

sitcom321 wrote: »

the account is registered to her dad
no idea what games she plays, she says she just downloads free apps on iphone.
she is responsbible for the money she spends we were merely trying to find out if anyone could shed any light on it before we contacted o2 as she has no idea what facebook ingame purchases are

Have a read of the page relating to game purchases....
http://www.facebook.com/help/178782558921789

If she logs in to her Facebook account she will be able to see what purchases have been made etc etc

peachyprice

NFH wrote: »

How can Facebook (or one of its apps) bill directly to the mobile account of the inserted SIM card?

Even if this has been facilitated through some new billing channel, it should not be allowed, because mobile networks should be allowed only to invoice for mobile telecommunications costs (e.g. calls, texts and data usage), and not for third party services.

You've been able to pay through your sim for years for all sorts of services. I regularly pay for payg satnav through my sim, you can buy games that are billed to your sim and as OP has found in-game purchases can be billed to a sim.

NFH wrote: »

If consumers wish to pay in this way, they should specifically opt in to have the facility. Most consumers don't want it.

When you request the service you are told it will be billed through your sim and there is usually another payment method available if you decline, such as credit card/paypal. You aren't charged without notification.

Nothing usual in this at all.

peachyprice

POPCORN wrote: »

Hi

On facebook, all the games like candy crush, when you run out of lives you can buy them, that's what in game purchases are.

This exactly.

These games have limited lives, when they run out you can either wait or pay for more, they also have boosters available that you pay for and levels that you can only access by playing daily tasks until they are unlocked or, you guessed it, paying to unlock.

What games does your daughter play OP?

grumbler

Tony5101 wrote: »

Common sense for what??

The payment method on Facebook....

You know well that it's not Facebook only.

Charging via a mobile bill is currently the most uncontrollable, unprotected and abused way of taking money. Premium texts sent to random numbers is the best, but not the only example. Why is it that easier than taking money randomly from bank accounts and credit/debit cards?

This probably explains why networks charge up to 50% for collecting the money and why companies are happy to pay that much for this 'service'.

macman

sitcom321 wrote: »

my daughter has an o2 contract which is £30 per month she has just got a bill for over £100 which she doesn't understand when she has looked online at the online bill it is showing over £60 of facebook ingame purchases, she says she has never ever bought anything from facebook. has anyone else had anything like this or can they shed any light on what it might be. copy of itemised purchase below some are nearly £10


20 Dec 13FacebookIn Game Purchases9.580 23 Dec 13FacebookIn Game Purchases4.000 24 Dec 13FacebookIn Game Purchases4.000 02 Jan 14FacebookIn Game Purchases9.580 02 Jan 14FacebookIn Game Purchases9.580 02 Jan 14FacebookIn Game Purchases4.000 04 Jan 14FacebookIn Game Purchases9.580 05 Jan 14FacebookIn Game Purchases9.580 12 Jan 14FacebookIn Game Purchases4.000

Not unless she's 18 she doesn't. You have a contract with O2 and you allow her to use the phone. The account is yours and your responsibility alone. If she's using your Facebook a/c then she is presumably 12 or under, since the minimum age is 13.
So pleading to the network that this was done unwittingly by your child is unlikely to result in them voiding or reducing this debt.

Tony5101

grumbler wrote: »

You know well that it's not Facebook only.

Charging via a mobile bill is currently the most uncontrollable, unprotected and abused way of taking money. Premium texts sent to random numbers is the best, but not the only example. Why is it that easier than taking money randomly from bank accounts and credit/debit cards?

This probably explains why networks charge up to 50% for collecting the money and why companies are happy to pay that much for this 'service'.

This thread has got absolutely nothing at all to do with premium texts. Don't try to justify your comments by muddying the waters, and confusing 2 totally seperate issues.
The OP is talking about in app game purchases on facebook, not the receipt of premium texts. These in app purchases are made by consciously clicking on the payment method, as demonstrated via the links that both myself and Silk have provided. Theres nothing underhand going on, nothing sly, nothing spurious. The amount for the in app purchase isnt being surcharged due to the payment type, and theres no network collusion.
This is just another plain and simple payment choice.