Amazon has to reimburse consumers for kid purchases

[Deleted]

www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/27/amazon-pay-consumers-in-app-purchases-children

Mixed emotions on this one. 

Shouldn't parents be more aware of what their kids are doing/purchasing? 

[val2525]

The agency has accused the online retailer of failing to make proper disclosures to parents regarding purchases made by their children while using apps such as Pet Shop Story.


I think there's more to the story than what the article reported. Google the app in question, it appears you have to spend real $ to get head in the game (unless you're very patient). It's a kid attractive game. It's possible Amazon made it too easy for kids to actually buy without parent intervention. But then, I'm with you - parents should be more aware of what kids are doing on electronics.

[mupcycledcouture]

Several years ago, my daughter (who was about 4) was playing an AP on my iPhone. Back when they first came out. Next thing I knew, she had purchased $100 in Smurfberries. It was TOO easy to make in AP purchases. She didnt know, it just asked her if she wanted Smurfberries of course she said yes! I didnt know that the AP even gave her the option.

AS a result, iTunes made it much harder for in AP purchases and Apple put a setting on the phones to stop this.

My point here is, no way Amazon didnt know this was coming as it had already happened to Apple. They should have preemptively allowed controls for this.

On another note, my good friend had her 9 year old do something similar recently, except her bill was $1200. Those APS sometimes dont make it clear that they are charging you money. They ask if you want something, you say yes, you get it and the next thing you know have a huge bill!

[Deleted]

Interesting. I wonder if they designed it that way to make it easier for kids to spend money. You think they'd know it would come back to bite them.

[deltas*delights]

Michael bought something ofr $29.99 on my android for some game. I had to unlink my account. I'm glad it was just $30 b/c $100 was an option!

[mupcycledcouture]

Apr 29, 2016 23:39:27 GMT @dantes said:

Interesting. I wonder if they designed it that way to make it easier for kids to spend money. You think they'd know it would come back to bite them.

I think that is exactly what they do. Make it really easy for people to spend money they dont realize they are spending. 

On the iPhone, I now have a password for all purchases so it goes through a 2 password process. First the iTunes password for the purchase, then a second password to allow the in-ap purchase. 

How many millions of parents had a kid who made a $5 or $10 or $30 purchase and chalked it up to a lesson and paid it? The companies walk away from that purchase all that much richer. 

[mupcycledcouture]

I also have to mention that I now have to go and figure out parental controls on the Amazon Ap Store. My 12 year old downloaded free aps on her Kindle last night that were something that should only be for adults.

Not the stores fault and I have an email set up for all purchases so I knew as soon as she did it. But it does go to show you that sometimes kids do slip things by.

I did have to have a talk with her about her curiosity about boys though.....

Sometimes being a parent sucks.

[chapeaunoir]

Reading the title I had a vision of people getting refunds for kids they had purchased on Amazon.

[mupcycledcouture]

There are days I wish I could get refunds for my kids, as I am sure all parents feel. but they are rare.

[Deleted]

Hmmm, I wonder if this would apply to seniors as well... My mother in law has the beginnings of dementia and plays games on a Kindle Fire her daughter loaned her. The games asked if she wanted to reload, she hit yes, and $300 later SIL is stuck. Much too easy to say yes and be charged $$$ without needing a password as a safety control.