Claiming back cost of in-app purchases
Discussion
After a number of calls and a visit by my wife to the bank today following a call from them querying a large number of iTunes purchases, our initial assumptions of fraudulent use have now been replaced by the knowledge that my 8 year old son has inadvertently spent over £3,200 in 2 months on in-app purchases on the ipad 
Completely our fault for not switching it off and restricting what he could do, before anybody thinks I'm suggesting otherwise or trying to place blame elsewhere.
However, I've been on the phone to Apple Support this evening and they are putting in a claim for a refund on my behalf - partial, full or nothing - the guy I spoke to couldn't give any indication either way.
I've kind of written it off in my own head, as I don't see why they should refund it, I just wondered if anybody had heard of similar claims being entered and the likelihood of success.
Thanks.
Completely our fault for not switching it off and restricting what he could do, before anybody thinks I'm suggesting otherwise or trying to place blame elsewhere.
However, I've been on the phone to Apple Support this evening and they are putting in a claim for a refund on my behalf - partial, full or nothing - the guy I spoke to couldn't give any indication either way.
I've kind of written it off in my own head, as I don't see why they should refund it, I just wondered if anybody had heard of similar claims being entered and the likelihood of success.
Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback, yes it's a huge amount. We initially thought it was about £1,600-2k when speaking to the bank, but there are still payments coming through for the last few days. I sat and added up 12 pages of transactions tonight and felt sicker and sicker as the total went up!
It isn't just one app unfortunately there's 3 or 4 that he's done it on. The worst by far though is Clash of Clans which has an option to spend £69.99 on gems. He spent over £200 yesterday!
My annoyance at Apple is the default setting that means if I go ahead and authorise a purchase for him, he could then spend the next 15 minutes purchasing without needing to enter that password again. I didn't know that until tonight.
However that's a minor irritation compared to how pissed off at myself I am for letting him have my password and making the mistake of thinking that an 8 year old knows what every tap on a screen means.
I've also realised tonight that all emails from Apple for purchases go to an email address I never bloody check, which now has 156 unread emails in it all from Apple - idiot!
It isn't just one app unfortunately there's 3 or 4 that he's done it on. The worst by far though is Clash of Clans which has an option to spend £69.99 on gems. He spent over £200 yesterday!
My annoyance at Apple is the default setting that means if I go ahead and authorise a purchase for him, he could then spend the next 15 minutes purchasing without needing to enter that password again. I didn't know that until tonight.
However that's a minor irritation compared to how pissed off at myself I am for letting him have my password and making the mistake of thinking that an 8 year old knows what every tap on a screen means.
I've also realised tonight that all emails from Apple for purchases go to an email address I never bloody check, which now has 156 unread emails in it all from Apple - idiot!
antspants said:
I've also realised tonight that all emails from Apple for purchases go to an email address I never bloody check, which now has 156 unread emails in it all from Apple - idiot!
I think a lot of people keep a 'spam' email address for sign ups, hotels, can we just have an address etc.Quite similar story:
A good friend was billed £1300 that his kid racked up on his xbox.
Similar situation: emails went to a unused email address, trusted kid with account that had a credit card attached.
Microsoft refunded the last transaction only. 16p. Other than that his bank and Microsoft were of no help. 1 of them even suggested taking out a family fraud case which surprised me.
Sorry. Hopefully Apple's customer service is better.
A good friend was billed £1300 that his kid racked up on his xbox.
Similar situation: emails went to a unused email address, trusted kid with account that had a credit card attached.
Microsoft refunded the last transaction only. 16p. Other than that his bank and Microsoft were of no help. 1 of them even suggested taking out a family fraud case which surprised me.
Sorry. Hopefully Apple's customer service is better.
Here's an idea.
Get the kid a bike or some football boots. Then it won't be a pathetic introvert with no idea how to socialise and an utter incomprehension of meaningful relationships.
I have never understood giving kids that age technology. Usually stems from an unwillingness to engage with it themselves so they'd rather palm it off onto anything else.
Get the kid a bike or some football boots. Then it won't be a pathetic introvert with no idea how to socialise and an utter incomprehension of meaningful relationships.
I have never understood giving kids that age technology. Usually stems from an unwillingness to engage with it themselves so they'd rather palm it off onto anything else.
Given your response it is highly likely you had computers as a youth and now resent the fact that you sit alone every evening eating takeaway and masturbating over the keyboard.
Randomthoughts said:
Here's an idea.
Get the kid a bike or some football boots. Then it won't be a pathetic introvert with no idea how to socialise and an utter incomprehension of meaningful relationships.
I have never understood giving kids that age technology. Usually stems from an unwillingness to engage with it themselves so they'd rather palm it off onto anything else.
Get the kid a bike or some football boots. Then it won't be a pathetic introvert with no idea how to socialise and an utter incomprehension of meaningful relationships.
I have never understood giving kids that age technology. Usually stems from an unwillingness to engage with it themselves so they'd rather palm it off onto anything else.
Zato said:
Given your response it is highly likely you had computers as a youth and now resent the fact that you sit alone every evening eating takeaway and masturbating over the keyboard.
I did have a computer as a youth, however the use of it was mildly policed and I was never just sat down in front of it and told to keep myself occupied. Also, by the age of 8 I understood what money was and what it's value is (probably because I wasn't given a tenner to shut up and told to Foxtrot Oscar, like tenners are nothing) and I'd never have thought of spending someone else's money on things that never existed. I used to spend an hour a day at the weekends playing Command and Conquer and that was my lot, other than homework.I now have a family and a life, can socialise and a firm grasp of the real world. A lot more than can be said for the current crop of socially inept Gameboy/DS/iPad knuckle-draggers.
Randomthoughts said:
I now have a family and a life, can socialise and a firm grasp of the real world. A lot more than can be said for the current crop of socially inept Gameboy/DS/iPad knuckle-draggers.
OP - let us know how you get on, always been fascinated by this. I wonder also what the app makers see of this sort of scenario. Presumably Apple claw back some cash from them as well? Or do Apple take it on the chin?
It would be cynical of me to suggest that the developers make it easy to run up these bills on the hope people do so..
It would not be difficult for Apple to implement a cap on the account which identifies unusually high spends and stops them until further notice. I think the same about phone networks when they allow a user to run up several thousands of pounds on a bill - the odd refund is probably hugely offset by those that 'take it on the chin' as a lesson learned.
Randomthoughts said:
Zato said:
Given your response it is highly likely you had computers as a youth and now resent the fact that you sit alone every evening eating takeaway and masturbating over the keyboard.
I did have a computer as a youth, however the use of it was mildly policed and I was never just sat down in front of it and told to keep myself occupied. Also, by the age of 8 I understood what money was and what it's value is (probably because I wasn't given a tenner to shut up and told to Foxtrot Oscar, like tenners are nothing) and I'd never have thought of spending someone else's money on things that never existed. I used to spend an hour a day at the weekends playing Command and Conquer and that was my lot, other than homework.I now have a family and a life, can socialise and a firm grasp of the real world. A lot more than can be said for the current crop of socially inept Gameboy/DS/iPad knuckle-draggers.
Mr Gearchange said:
Strangely none of that formative experience equipped you with the knowledge that its best to keep these thoughts to yourself. You know - so you don't sound like a pompous and sanctimonious arse on a public website.
Everyone else seems keen to feel sorry for the OP's failings. I'm merely pointing out that it's through their own doing.You can think whatever you like, but you can be sure my offspring won't be unsure of the value of money and they'll certainly not be unsupervised on the internet/console/computermabob/whatever. They'll be told to get their arse outside to find some real friends.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff