Apple Now Letting Developers Know When Customers Request In-App Refunds to Prevent Scams

[Katy Newbold]

That's hardly Apple's fault. In app purchases that resolve around items are invariably hard to dispute.

Sorry to say but this is more down to you not locking the device down than it is Apple's fault.

They provide processes to prevent this for a reason.

Prevent in-app purchases from the App Store

You can use Screen Time to prevent unintentional or unauthorized purchases from the App Store and other Apple services. You can require a password for purchases, prevent certain types of purchases, or disable purchasing completely.

support.apple.com

yes i have had the device for seven days had it set up for a child, it asked for my password for a purchase, i didn’t realize it wouldn’t ask again for 15 minutes. i go to the bathroom and come back to my bank account drained. you would think a company as big as apple, that i have been loyal to for years, would do the decent thing and refund at the very least a portion, but no i get to say sorry there’s no electric kids but hey! we have pokecoins for dinner!

 

[TiggrToo]

yes i have had the device for seven days had it set up for a child, it asked for my password for a purchase, i didn’t realize it wouldn’t ask again for 15 minutes. i go to the bathroom and come back to my bank account drained. you would think a company as big as apple, that i have been loyal to for years, would do the decent thing and refund at the very least a portion, but no i get to say sorry there’s no electric kids but hey! we have pokecoins for dinner!

You may still be able to get a refund, but it's neither going to be quick nor easy. And sadly this means that you'll be out the cash until it is resolved (if ever).

In the meantime follow the instructions to require a password for every purchase, not the more lax one you selected.

 

[cmaier]

my son charged 360 dollars, all the money i have, in pokecoins friday. i don’t care if they revoke his items or delete his whole account i just need that money for bills due in two days but apple refuses

That’s terrible. But if he received the pokecoins, I don’t see what apple can do about it. How was he able to buy them without your password?

 

[Katy Newbold]

You may still be able to get a refund, but it's neither going to be quick nor easy. And sadly this means that you'll be out the cash until it is resolved (if ever).

In the meantime follow the instructions to require a password for every purchase, not the more lax one you selected.

I’ve already updated all the settings, but since i’m on day seven out of the 14 i’m allowed to return items to att I’m thinking of just returning his tablet along with my phone. i've used apple since the first iphone came out, maybe it’s time to switch.

That’s terrible. But if he received the pokecoins, I don’t see what apple can do about it. How was he able to buy them without your password?

I set the tablet up for him, his age, he is in my family. I didn’t realize if i entered my password he could go crazy for 15 minutes after. I know, I should have looked more into the purchasing settings now. i assumed since it was set up for a 6 year old more protection would be automAtic. He hasn’t been allowed back on to play and never used the majority of the coins. i don’t know whether to delete his whole account at this point.

 

[Expos of 1969]

So what’s your stance on lottery tickets?

I don't know how it works in Tennessee, but where I live one cannot use a credit card to purchase lottery tickets so that provides a bit of safety in limiting impulsive / addictive spending on Lady Luck.

 

[Expos of 1969]

yes i have had the device for seven days had it set up for a child, it asked for my password for a purchase, i didn’t realize it wouldn’t ask again for 15 minutes. i go to the bathroom and come back to my bank account drained. you would think a company as big as apple, that i have been loyal to for years, would do the decent thing and refund at the very least a portion, but no i get to say sorry there’s no electric kids but hey! we have pokecoins for dinner!

I’ve already updated all the settings, but since i’m on day seven out of the 14 i’m allowed to return items to att I’m thinking of just returning his tablet along with my phone. i've used apple since the first iphone came out, maybe it’s time to switch.

I don't want to be mean, but something is not right here. You had a total of $360 in the bank yet 7 days ago you purchased or contracted for a new iPad for a child and an iPhone for yourself from ATT. Now that the $360 is gone you cannot pay bills and buy food. Perhaps your current situation could not support two new Apple products. I hope things work out for you.

 

[TiggrToo]

yes i have had the device for seven days had it set up for a child, it asked for my password for a purchase, i didn’t realize it wouldn’t ask again for 15 minutes. i go to the bathroom and come back to my bank account drained. you would think a company as big as apple, that i have been loyal to for years, would do the decent thing and refund at the very least a portion, but no i get to say sorry there’s no electric kids but hey! we have pokecoins for dinner!

Anyone who has but $360 in the bank should not be buying anything that's not life sustaining.

Back when I was a kid we were the only family with a B&W TV (TV license was significantly cheaper) and a monophonic record player - everyone of my peers parents on Colour TVs with remote controls and Music Centres.

When you don't have, you have to learn to live without.

Even today, earning a very comfortable 6 figure salary and with no debt I still hum and haw over spending $0.99 on an app.

I do not understand parents today buying their kids gadgets and services simply because.

 

[cmaier]

You guys are getting pretty judgmental. She made a mistake. She probably doesn’t deserve a refund from Apple. But no need to pick on her parenting skills.

 

[Katy Newbold]

Anyone who has but $360 in the bank should not be buying anything that's not life sustaining.

Back when I was a kid we were the only family with a B&W TV (TV license was significantly cheaper) and a monophonic record player - everyone of my peers parents on Colour TVs with remote controls and Music Centres.

When you don't have, you have to learn to live without.

Even today, earning a very comfortable 6 figure salary and with no debt I still hum and haw over spending $0.99 on an app.

I do not understand parents today buying their kids gadgets and services simply because.

my son goes to his fathers where there is no phone or way to contact him. his father is slightly less than responsible, the only way i would feel comfortable sending my son there, and the only was he agreed not to cry for me the whole time he was there was to make sure he was able to call me and his sisters. and no i do not want him to hate his father or anything like that i encourage him to go have fun there and tell him it makes me happy when he is having fun with his dad. i needed a new phone and getting one on an installment agreement with a contract seemed reasonably priced. I have a job offer that is signed and accepted with amazon but i am waiting for a day one appointment to open up so i can start. i’m
sorry i don’t make 6 figures, have more than 360 in the bank, or am perfect like so many others. I do what i can. 360 dollars is one weeks pay in many jobs it’s ridiculous.

 

[cmaier]

my son goes to his fathers where there is no phone or way to contact him. his father is slightly less than responsible, the only way i would feel comfortable sending my son there, and the only was he agreed not to cry for me the whole time he was there was to make sure he was able to call me and his sisters. and no i do not want him to hate his father or anything like that i encourage him to go have fun there and tell him it makes me happy when he is having fun with his dad. i needed a new phone and getting one on an installment agreement with a contract seemed reasonably priced. I have a job offer that is signed and accepted with amazon but i am waiting for a day one appointment to open up so i can start. i’m
sorry i don’t make 6 figures, have more than 360 in the bank, or am perfect like so many others. I do what i can. 360 dollars is one weeks pay in many jobs it’s ridiculous.

I’m sorry all the perfect people in this forum are giving you such a hard time.

 

[Katy Newbold]

I don't want to be mean, but something is not right here. You had a total of $360 in the bank yet 7 days ago you purchased or contracted for a new iPad for a child and an iPhone for yourself from ATT. Now that the $360 is gone you cannot pay bills and buy food. Perhaps your current situation could not support two new Apple products. I hope things work out for you.

i have a signed job offer with amazon. i am waiting for my day 1. obviously i had more money in the bank at the time of purchase. i have bills and do whatever i can to earn money here or there. 360 dollars is a lot of money. it would have been enough to keep the bills paid til i start.

 

[Expos of 1969]

i have a signed job offer with amazon. i am waiting for my day 1. obviously i has more money in the bank at the time of purchase. i have bills and do whatever i can to earn money here or there. 360 dollars is a lot of money. either would have been enough to keep the bills paid til i start.

I apologise if my comment was unfair. I hope things work out with Amazon.

 

[Katy Newbold]

I’m sorry all the perfect people in this forum are giving you such a hard time.

the phone i purchased and set
up manually requires my face id and double click of the side button for every purchase with no 15 min window. the tablet i set up for a six year old however requires a one time password for fifteen minutes of purchases.
[automerge]1593461624[/automerge]

thank you. i know i messed up but the phone i purchased and set
up manually requires my face id and double click of the side button for every purchase with no 15 min window. the tablet i set up for a six year old however requires a one time password for fifteen minutes of purchases.

 

[sundialsoft]

The real scam is all these apps that obfuscate the amount of money being spent through things like gems, coins, space bucks, etc. There should be a hard limit on how much money can be thrown at an app in a given time period. I do not believe it is morally ethical to use psychological tricks to addict people with lower intelligence or addictive personalities into giving you thousands of dollars per year for a stupid little game that delivers nothing of substantial value and keeps poor people poor. These are essentially digital drugs and it upsets me that Apple not only lets this slide, but seems to actively encourage it. This is one of those things we're going to look back on in 20 years and wonder how it was even legal.

So true. I was playing a game with IAPs and doing very well early on then I just became small-fry as people around me spent enough money to buy a car. It's morally wrong to have a game which people pour their cash in to in an endless quest to be biggest and best. I only ever buy one off purchase games and apps now.