App Store in app purchases

Libertine12

I am desperately hoping that someone can help/give me some advice regarding in app purchases with Apple. 

I’m afraid I’ve become one of those stories that you read about in the newspaper in that we recently had our nephew stay with us (he’s 7) for 2 weeks and we were allowing him to play games on our IPad (we have no kids so there weren’t any parental controls or locks on it). Long story short, I only realised when my bank statement can through yesterday that my nephew has spent £2800 on in app purchases over the two weeks he was with us. 

I have contacted Apple and explained the situation and am waiting for a reply. Does anyone have any similar experience with such an issue? If so what is the likelihood that Apple will refund these purchases? 

I’m tearing my hair out and it is causing a huge family issue as my brother is arguing that we should have had a password on the account and that my nephew did not realise he was spending real money and is refusing to reimburse me if Apple do not refund me.

jon81uk

If you haven't already done so then follow this process to request a refund for the purchases Request a refund for apps or content you've bought from Apple – Apple Support (UK)

Follow these steps to always need the password for purchases on the iPad so it doesn't happen again 
Require a password for App Store and iTunes purchases – Apple Support (UK)

Sorry I don't have any advice on how to get back that much, I've only done it for a single small purchase of a few pounds when I personally bought by mistake.

Aylesbury_Duck

Good luck with the refund request.

I'm not impressed with your brother's attitude.  You look after his son for two weeks and he just washes his hands of an unfortunate consequence?  Where's the responsible parenting?

Bradden

It's not so much irresponsible parenting in my view... even if you don't have children it's sensible to use the security functions on a mobile phone case it's ever stolen. The OP chose to not use them.. I suspect the parents think that was unwise. 

mattyprice4004

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Good luck with the refund request.

I'm not impressed with your brother's attitude.  You look after his son for two weeks and he just washes his hands of an unfortunate consequence?  Where's the responsible parenting?

To be fair the brother wasn't there, it wasn't his iPad to set up security on and presumably he didn't install the apps - so not really his fault. 
It comes down to the OP to make sure payments etc are secure, not the kid or the kid's Dad. 
There should indeed be a password or other security set up, and there's no one else to blame for that really. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Bradden said:

It's not so much irresponsible parenting in my view... even if you don't have children it's sensible to use the security functions on a mobile phone case it's ever stolen. The OP chose to not use them.. I suspect the parents think that was unwise. 

mattyprice4004 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Good luck with the refund request.

I'm not impressed with your brother's attitude.  You look after his son for two weeks and he just washes his hands of an unfortunate consequence?  Where's the responsible parenting?

To be fair the brother wasn't there, it wasn't his iPad to set up security on and presumably he didn't install the apps - so not really his fault. 
It comes down to the OP to make sure payments etc are secure, not the kid or the kid's Dad. 
There should indeed be a password or other security set up, and there's no one else to blame for that really. 

To be clear, I'm not saying OP is blameless or that the brother is to blame, just that the brother's attitude seems poor.  I'd have thought he'd have taken his son to task and explained what's happened to him (he may have done so), and offered to help OP try and secure the refund or even offered a contribution if the money can't be recovered.  It sounds like he's just shrugged his shoulders and said "your problem", which comes across as ungrateful after his son was looked after for two weeks.

born_again

Libertine12 said:

I am desperately hoping that someone can help/give me some advice regarding in app purchases with Apple. 

I’m afraid I’ve become one of those stories that you read about in the newspaper in that we recently had our nephew stay with us (he’s 7) for 2 weeks and we were allowing him to play games on our IPad (we have no kids so there weren’t any parental controls or locks on it). Long story short, I only realised when my bank statement can through yesterday that my nephew has spent £2800 on in app purchases over the two weeks he was with us. 

I have contacted Apple and explained the situation and am waiting for a reply. Does anyone have any similar experience with such an issue? If so what is the likelihood that Apple will refund these purchases? 

I’m tearing my hair out and it is causing a huge family issue as my brother is arguing that we should have had a password on the account and that my nephew did not realise he was spending real money and is refusing to reimburse me if Apple do not refund me.

With any luck they will refund the full amount. I have seen this done. Spoken to enough parents who have had this happen. Will come back in individual payments just the same as they went out. So you will need to check them off 👍

TBH. Even with no family it is better to have password etc in place. In case someone else uses it. But your brother sounds like he needs to take some responsibility for their child & have a word with them.. Even though it is not their fault. 

sheramber

A 7 year old should be supervised when using the internet- especially where there is the ability to buy things.

Bradden

I'm not an apple user but I'm suprised you didn't get multiple emails confirming payments had been taken. I'm pretty sure I do on my Android.. do apple to send emails when payments are made?

Fosterdog

Bradden said:

I'm not an apple user but I'm suprised you didn't get multiple emails confirming payments had been taken. I'm pretty sure I do on my Android.. do apple to send emails when payments are made?

I'm an apple user and I get an email for every single purchase that goes through my apple account, sometimes it can be up to 24 hours for it to come through but I always get one.

Abbafan1972

Yes you would get emails from Apple confirming each payment. 

Also, does the OP not use internet banking? I do and get instant notifications on my phone of transactions as they happen, no waiting for a monthly statement to come through, that’s something my Parents in their 70’s do, lol. That way you would have had a chance to put a stop to it before any more went out. 

Regardless of whether have kids or not, you do still need security on your Apple account to prevent anything like this happening. 

Good luck.