MSE News: Apple to refund US kids' iPad and iPhone app cash – but what about UK famil

rockin_plumber

I can't believe MSE are still reporting this!

Over and over again!


The only losers here are the people who actually bothered to set up the apple devices so their children can't spend money without them knowing.


My 9 year old son knows the password to our iTunes account, no credit card linked, just topped up with vouchers.
He asks even if it's just to download a free game!
He knows if he spends without asking his iPod touch will be on eBay quicker than he can say "I'm sorry"


All that will happen after these refunds are given out is the price of the apps will increase!


Winners - irresponsible parents.
Losers - anyone else who bothered to set up the devices securely.

Aquamania

Apple to refund US kids' iPad and iPhone app cash – but what about UK families?

We've asked Apple if it will be making these billing changes for customers outside the US, but we're yet to receive a response.

We're not known as Rip Off Britain for nothing

LustForLeith

I had an issue where my son was dowloading in app purchases without my knwoledge. it only came to light when I receved an enquiry from a company that a bill hadn't been paid and the reason was my son had accidently been downloading items for apps he already had without realising there was a cost invovled!

It wans't his fault, more mine as I should have got it set up properly. To be honest I didn't realise that he wouldn't need a password for in app purchases and he wouldn't need the credit cards details either. lesson learned.

Apple were more than helpful. When I called them not only did they refund the monies that had come off my card without me asking but the also offered to refund his itunes credit that he'd used. I accepted their offer of them kindly refunding my card but I let them keep the itunes credit. if I was to learn a lesson so was my son!

JayGeeDee

I can see I',m going to get no sympathy on this thread but I can take it...

Our youngest son ramped up £1200 of in app purchases on the Simpson's Tapped Out game in a few days. We only became aware when we got an anti fraud call from the bank.

He has his own iPad that he bought with money given by relatives a a gift.

I set him up an iTunes account with no payment details attached so he could download free apps etc.

Our eldest son used the iPad to download some music for the youngest, he was authorised to enter credit card details to buy the music but unfortunately forgot to remove these details when he had finished, thus leaving the purchasing "door open."

Apple were sympathetic but totally refused to refund any money despite me pointing out that a company of their size should have some sort of warning mechanism in place when users of a kid's game are spending £69.99 a time on virtual doughnuts.

As reported elsewhere there are many problems with emotional blackmail used on the kids.

We don't consider ourselves to be bad parents, this was simply an accident. Read more here inapppurchasewarning dot com.

LustforLeith: how did you contact them to get the monies refunded?

lawlorlane

My Story - 3 years ago we bought my sob an Ipod for his 12th Birthday. At the 'enter card details' the 'skip' button was so tiny we missed it. I entered my card details assuming there would be a 'enter security code/password at point of purchase.
My son ran up £220 of purchases over 2 days, Apple sent emails after 2 days of purchase. I checked them and was gob smacked. At the time of downloading he was showing me how he could order games for free - no password or code prompting needed. Anyway, I spoke to Apple, explained the situation and they never once blamed me, they accepted the skip button was too small and had said they would look into it. They offered a refund straight away and removed the games the next day.
Now there is a prompting for password at point of purchase so it shouldn't be too easy to make this mistake but can sympathise with those that find themselves in this situation!!

Johnmcl7

It's mentioned but not particularly well highlighted that the reason Apple were ordered to provide the refunds was specifically due to the 15 minute window after a password had been entered that would allow purchases to be made without the password being entered again. It's not just that the refund was ordered because parents were being completely careless, I think it's understandable that people assumed if they password protected app purchases that it would prompt for a password each time as initially there was no notification or options with this 15 minute windows, it's certainly a lot more responsible than many who never set any security options and were hammered with in app purchases.

Premium rate phone numbers is not an accurate analogy because they are capped at relatively low rate so to rack up a big bill the child would need to be on the phone for a long time which would be obvious. The cost of some of the in-app purchases is completely ridiculous and vastly disproportionate against the actual content received, it's possible at the tap of a button to pay out $99 which can easily be done repeatedly in a small amount of time.

I'm not in any claiming people aren't to blame as well as I am surprised how reckless some people are with their debit/credit cards, even though no-one else has access to my phone/Xbox/PS3 etc. I never use debit/credit cards with these systems as I don't want the risk of having them attached. There's plenty of information out there on best practices plus I've been asked by parents who are rightly cautious how to set up systems for their kids. However I still don't think that excuses the highly questionable behaviour by some of the software companies.

John

LondonDiva

JayGeeDee wrote: »

...Our youngest son ramped up £1200 of in app purchases on the Simpson's Tapped Out game in a few days. We only became aware when we got an anti fraud call from the bank

...

Our eldest son used the iPad to download some music for the youngest, he was authorised to enter credit card details to buy the music but unfortunately forgot to remove these details when he had finished, thus leaving the purchasing "door open."

... this was simply an accident.

SO if you used an internet cafe and forgot to log out after using your credit information, you would expect either the credit card company or the internet cafe to refund any money spent inappropriately?

Pamelamac

My eight yr old accidently bought in-app purchases, on an ipod touch he inherited from his older sister, they were really just click here links, he had no idea they cost "real" money as sometimes it is "virtual" coins. I wrote to itunes and they refunded almost £3, he'd spent almost £8. They also gave me instructions on how to restrict app purchases. It should not be necessary to link registration of an account to a card or voucher to get it up and running...then if they click on a link, with charges, it will come up with "no funds available".

ginajp

Does anyone know if there's any comeback from the original article? Do iTunes have to refund? My sister's child just ran up £1000 on an app, and he gave the password to his neighbour who ran up £2500 on my sister's account! (I know, I know!). Obviously she needs to really sort out her kid's access to these apps but in the meantime does anyone know if she has any hope of getting any of the money back? Thanks.

ste_wilko

ginajp wrote: »

Does anyone know if there's any comeback from the original article? Do iTunes have to refund? My sister's child just ran up £1000 on an app, and he gave the password to his neighbour who ran up £2500 on my sister's account! (I know, I know!). Obviously she needs to really sort out her kid's access to these apps but in the meantime does anyone know if she has any hope of getting any of the money back? Thanks.

I'd say that personally she isn't entitled to anything! The T&C's clearly state that the password should be kept secret and not given out to anyone. If she has given the password to her child then it is her fault and she should pay up. As it has been stated previously iPhones and iPads are not toys. People need to learn this, they are very expensive pieces of equipment