MSE News: Games firms told to clean up their act over costly kids' apps 30 January 2014 at 10:13AM in Mobiles 3 replies 1.1K views

Former_MSE_Helen

"The Office of Fair Trading has told games producers they've got until 1 April to comply with new rules published today..."

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Games firms told to clean up their act over costly kids' apps



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Herbalus

I'd like to be proved wrong, but I'm not sure this is going to go far enough.

Firms must be upfront about any costs associated with a game.

I haven't yet played a game where I didn't know what the costs were: the problem is small children not realising that they're spending real money, or not having a problem with it.

Payments should not be taken unless authorised, which means the payment account holder, such as a parent, has to give his or her express, informed consent.

If this is by password, then this won't stop the children who know the passwords. And I can't see them requesting confirmation of payment details because they are stored in the App store, not the individual game.

The best way is to unlink your card from your itunes account.

davethorp

Our kids have iPods and an iPad. We have NEVER had an issue with unwanted purchases.

Of course we use the features provided on those devices in the restrictions settings to disable in app purchases and completely disable the iTunes and App Stores. If the kids want to buy something to put on their devices they have no choice but to go through us

consumers_revenge

Very slightly of topic but very much the same vain..

Son wanted to join a site called roblox....free to join it says. OK

Then to do literally anything thing requires virtual money. And the cost to buy this virtual money is quite frankly staggering..

IMHO KEEP WELL AWAY!