Apple Offers Refund After British Boy Spends $2500 on In-App Purchases in 15 Minutes

[turtlez]

hmmm an internet device in the hands of a child. I guess they didn't know there are things on the internet not suitable for a child.

not suitable in the eyes of elders and law but a painful want at any age

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It's not society's fault, it's not Apple's fault, it's the Parents fault.
For F***s sake... Parents need to take responsibility for their children's actions. Especially a 5 Year-old's actions.

The App developer can charge what they want for their in app purchases... if people buy them and the company makes money, people stay employed.. which is good in these economic times.

Apple did a NICE thing by refunding the $$.... Maybe it was the RIGHT thing to do... but they certainly didn't have to do it.

Society isn't the responsible one here... Mom & Dad are !

I agree but I think Apple refunded because if the family made it public that Apple were not doing anything about it, it would be only too easy to start yet another angst against the top dog. People in the wrong and with negative ways of thinking are much louder than people in the right. Hence the world in its current state.

 

[TimothyB]

I know about freemium games and the ridiculously expensive in-app purchases, yet it still seems unbelievable when I see it.

How on earth would a parent, probably with no time to play games, read forums, ever know about in-app purchases and that they could ever be that expensive!

If I were in their shoes, requiring a password for a free game is already enough parental controls to make sure the child doesn't download something with inappropriate content, since I'd be there to enter it. So there's no need to explore parental controls beyond that. If I did and even noticed the in-app purchase feature, I would never expect in a million years that a game that's free for young kids could have in-app purchases for something so trivial and more expensive than any full price game that usually has more justification. $30-$100 just to purchase in game currency just to buy a single character, build something faster, weapon packs, that's just insane.

So I find it hard to blame parents to know about this for games labeled as free for kid. You can't expect the average joe to know this type of system exists now. Even if you did, you'd think purchases would be $10-20 max and unlock everything. Who in their right mind would ever pay in a single click $100 that could be used up in the game in just a few minutes. Hard to justify, let alone $2500. Seems at that point, there should be a subscription model for these games to justify costs that equate to long term play, value, and future development.

My girlfriend has been playing the MLP free game. She never purchased anything on it. But I've seen the prices, the costs to unlock everything, and the fact that it's impossible to complete the game's story without purchasing more than a console game. Seems ridiculous for a simple game to pay so much. I also constantly read reviews on Android where after an update the game resets and everything is lost. Imagine actually spending $300 on purpose, then in a blink of an eye it's all gone with no recourse.

Also, what if the parents owned up and paid the $2500, some games are discontinued and require a server. You'd have nothing to show for all that money you spent after that.

 

[lwapps]

In-app purchases are the one single worst thing to happen to iOS. That's why we have those ****ing freemium games and apps. Jesus ...

The freemium model is awful for consumers. What I really miss from games is the epic series and story lines we're used to from consoles. The closest thing we can get on the iOS app store is Angry Birds, and that doesn't really have a story line.

 

[turtlez]

They should restrict in App purchases more if targeted at kids. Apple guides heavily what Devs can and can't do already and clearly no 5 year old is going to have the money to afford that amount of stuff. Perhaps some 'cap spend' option or just no in App purchases for under 10s games or something.

The thing is you can only pay by credit card and you know what that means. Adult. I am sure if Apple invented a Kid's pocket money card app, a lot of developers would include it.

 

[HenryDJP]

Parents should take responsibility for the kids - but that doesn't mean it should be open season for businesses to lay booby traps to screw money out of any parent who blinks. Make no mistake - some of these games are designed with the explicit purpose of exploiting the gullible. Kids don't have good judgement - that's why we don't let them drive cars, vote, drink beer, gamble... and some of these games are designed to have the addictiveness of gambling.

...and why shouldn't Apple refund the money? There are no physical goods or services involved, and any entitlements purchased can be revoked, so nobody has actually lost out unless you are seriously suggesting that this kid benefitted to the tune of $2500 in 15 minutes. Perhaps they should just reply "Ha ha! Finders keepers losers weepers!!!"? That would go down well.

Booby traps? Perhaps so, but anyone can charge anything they so desire for what they are selling. It's up to the customer to buy into it. Remember, people do have a choice and nobody is forced into buying or downloading anything on iOS. In regards to these "Booby Traps", if you really think about it, the entire world is designed that way. When you buy something (especially in the tech world) you get a limited warranty of 3 years at the most. Parts of that product are built cheaply and designed to break to either get the customer to come back and pay for an overinflated priced repair or buy a new product. Many companies pray on our fear that something we buy will break too soon so they are more than happy to sell us an extended warranty. Everybody is "booby trapped". Don't blame the developer for wanting to make a lot of money. It still required a download to step into the developer's booby trap.

As far as the game being revoked. I don't think you're correct on that one. I had identity theft and someone hacked my iTunes account, download $150 worth of video games. I contacted Apple and they refunded me after investigation. Those games are still on my account and downloadable.

 

[HallStevenson]

A few years ago, my son handed me his iPod touch and asked if I could install a free game for him (he needed me to input the password). I did...

He found out that the iPod caches the password and he was able to buy 3-4 apps. I didn't find out for 2-3 days when I got an email receipt for purchases. In our case, it was under $20 total. I still contacted Apple to a) complain how it stores the password and b) to remove the apps and refund the charges. They did refund the charges but said they wouldn't remove them (although I could and did).

 

[tongxinshe]

As a parent, it is hard to judge another parent. Daddy could have been home alone and needed to take a crap for all I know (didn't read completely, so it might be mentioned)...

15 minutes is a short time and kids can do a lot of damage...

That said, knowing how it works, I would probably have allowe the download, then signed off my iTunes account and then give the iPad to my son. Not everyone has in depth knowledge of how iOS works.

I think Apple showed good faith, although they didn't have too. I personally would like to see a check box to indicate I want the account unlocked for a short time after entering my password.

With an iPhone, you could buy an app, then forget your phone somewhere, so this could still happen without getting "bad parenting" comments.

As a parent of a 5-year-old child at home, you are not allowed to forget such things. It's like saying that since there haven't been any gun shots for a while, so you forget you are on a active battlefield.

 

[vampyr]

In-app purchases are the one single worst thing to happen to iOS. That's why we have those ****ing freemium games and apps. Jesus ...

Couldn't agree more!!!!

Why Apple even ALLOWS these types of game is beyond me.
I've seen some games that trick you in trying to buy paid content by either making the game impossible to play without buying something in-game, or making the paid content looks like in-game money. The ONLY way I was able to find out that it was NOT in-game money was when it popped up with my login screen.

Apple needs to make a separate screen that says "Are you sure you want to purchase in-game content?" And then have a Yes or a No button... the Yes button then takes you to your password entry screen, the No button simply takes you back to the game.

 

[turtlez]

This exact same thing happened with my 5 year old son a few weeks ago. It was to a much lesser extent though. He spent $40 on an in-app purchase. Our credit card was immediately refunded. From that point on, we have removed our credit card information from our iTunes account. If we ever need to purchase anything, it will be with iTunes gift cards. I realize you can turn off in-app purchases in settings, but now I'm paranoid.

That is a really good thing to do actually. I always remove credit card info from amazon after each purchase. Credit cards are far too vulnerable to have laying around on the internet and then when they are you have to constantly think of what you have where. Easier/safer to remove it when finished using it.

 

[iPusch]

Does anyone know if MacRumors is an american or english web page?
(US or UK?)
I always get confused by that^^ cause they sometimes publish stuff around 3 - 5 in the morning, people are supposed to sleep then

 

[turtlez]

As a parent of a 5-year-old child at home, you are not allowed to forget such things. It's like saying that since there haven't been any gun shots for a while, so you forget you are on a active battlefield.

good analogy

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Does anyone know if MacRumors is an american or english web page?
(US or UK?)
I always get confused by that^^ cause they sometimes publish stuff around 3 - 5 in the morning, people are supposed to sleep then

MR have several writers from different countries

 

[flat five]

It's not society's fault, it's not Apple's fault, it's the Parents fault.
For F***s sake... Parents need to take responsibility for their children's actions. Especially a 5 Year-old's actions.

that's the easy way out.. i'm sorry but it is..

truth is, you are part of this society therefore it is also your responsibility.. but you don't want that responsibility so you simply blame 'the parents' (and coincidentally, defend the corporations)

in case you haven't noticed, a mom & dad aren't the sole people responsible for raising a child.. and if they were, (i.e.- the 3 of them live in isolation) chances are the child (and them) will die..

that's one of the major benefits of living in a society.. we are a community and we help each other out.. and we look over the backs of our neighbors and when we see someone being taken advantage of, we stand up for them and they would do the same for us.. this benefits all of us..

but when you lose the ability to recognize your duty and/or simply shrug off your responsibility.. we all lose..
and we are all losing..

 

[samcraig]

good analogy

Not really.

 

[OllyW]

Does anyone know if MacRumors is an american or english web page?
(US or UK?)
I always get confused by that^^ cause they sometimes publish stuff around 3 - 5 in the morning, people are supposed to sleep then

The name of the site is a bit of a giveaway.

Here's the link to the British site.

www.macrumours.co.uk

 

[dai.hop]

I guarantee you the password request referred to in the article was for the in-app purchase and not the app download.

I think parents are lying to get their money back. Shame on them.

 

[DillWaters]

Happened to me with my kid, and I'm extremely tech savvy. In my family, we have several iPads, and my 6 year-old daughter asked for a free game. I tried to download it to her iPad, but it wouldn't run it because she has a first generation model.

I downloaded it to my iPad and handed it over. I have hers locked down completely, but mine? Not so much. Since the password was cached for 15 minutes from the "purchase" of the free game, she was able to buy $150 of in-app purchases in the game -- in two purchases of $100 and $50 -- shortly thereafter.

This was a Disney fairy game, btw. Why they even offer $100 in-app purchases is ridiculous. I have since locked down my own iPad too, but now I have to enter my password just to update my apps. Hassle: yes.

Apple promptly refunded my $150, btw.

 

[Michael Goff]

I guarantee you the password request referred to in the article was for the in-app purchase and not the app download.

I think parents are lying to get their money back. Shame on them.

So you assume the parents are lying based on...

Go ahead, I'd like to know the basis for assuming what you're assuming.

 

[globalist]

This is really a question of security design.

In any kind of software it is good practice to use reasonable defaults instead of requiring the user to configure everything up front. Apple knows this and practice it extensively in their OSes. In fact, Apple has a security feature in OS X 10.8 that bans installing software from unregistered developers - by default.

In the case of in-app purchases Apple has inexplicably decided that the best default behavior is to allow a 15 minute window after the app has been downloaded where in-app purchases do not require a password.

This is just bad design from a security point of view, if not borderline malicious.

QFT. Coulld it be Apple initially intended to exclude IAPs from the 15-minute window but then somehow "forgot" about it?

And the question also is: What the heck is this news story about, then??

 

[globalist]

Don't you have to enter a password to purchase in-app things?

Not if you're within the 15-minute window, in spite of what the Apple spokespeople would have you believe.

 

[tongxinshe]

That's actually a horrible thing to even joke about. And about a 5 year old. Distasteful.

It's so easy for so many people here to judge on parenting without considering for a second that this isn't even about parenting or at least very well might not be.

As I wrote earlier - most people here know the ins and outs of iOS and about parental controls. Not everyone explores all the settings and features on their phone/iPad. Should they - you can argue either way. But then you could also argue that things like this should default to OFF not ON - making the choice pro-active.

If you are not comfortable with your ability using the technology to do your parenting job, do it the hard way -- manually, sitting and watching, and maybe much more importantly, teaching in the pace a child could grasp.

One thing a lot of western parents should keep in mind is that raising a child is the parent's responsibility, don't try to shift too much of it to the society.

 

[charlituna]

Something is wrong with society if a 5-year-old child is able to spend $2500 in a few minutes.

Yeah it's called his parents not paying attention

Is a rated 9+ game which calls into question if it is appropriate for a 5 year old. And it says 'top in app purchases' so if they had bothered to look at the information they would have seen there was a possible issue. No one was likely watching him as all parents should when their children, especially very little ones, are on computers and the Internet. And they never bothered, it seems to learn how to use their devices to turn on the restrictions that have been there since like 4.3 if not earlier. Despite tons of press over the IAP and kids issue since 4.3, if not earlier

Nothing about this, at this point, is Apple's fault and they yet they were nice enough to do this refund. But that won't stop many from painting this as more 'Apple is evil' nonsense

 

[twigman08]

I quit reading when I read "...and he typed his password in for him."

Your fault. That right there means you didn't pay attention to your kid. I'm sure they're the type of parents that say "aww he's just a kid!"

I don't have a problem really with a 5 year old playing with an iPad (as long as it is not their own iPad), as you should introduce kids to technology fast now plus even Apple has iPads out at the Apple Store that they let the little ones play with. My two year old niece can unlock an iPhone and knows exactly where HER folder with HER games are at. Though anytime we allow her to play with an iPhone we have parental controls turned on so she can't make these mistakes.

I might not be a parent and I'm sure my way of thinking may change a little bit when I have a kid, though I believe parents should be held responsible for their kids actions when it is something that their parent could had easily prevented.

Though a big thank you to Apple for doing this. They didn't have too do this. They could had said "your mistake" and left it be like just about any other company would have done. Though I'm sure this will somehow be spun to say how evil Apple is.

 

[SmileyBlast!]

$2500 in in-app purchases for free?

My god. I can't even imagine how many people are going to try and take advantage this.

Well you had to win a court case against Apple lawyers first.
No easy task.

 

[shadowhawk2020]

Happened to me with my kid, and I'm extremely tech savvy. In my family, we have several iPads, and my 6 year-old daughter asked for a free game. I tried to download it to her iPad, but it wouldn't run it because she has a first generation model.

I downloaded it to my iPad and handed it over. I have hers locked down completely, but mine? Not so much. Since the password was cached for 15 minutes from the "purchase" of the free game, she was able to buy $150 of in-app purchases in the game -- in two purchases of $100 and $50 -- shortly thereafter.

This was a Disney fairy game, btw. Why they even offer $100 in-app purchases is ridiculous. I have since locked down my own iPad too, but now I have to enter my password just to update my apps. Hassle: yes.

Apple promptly refunded my $150, btw.

Because of this story I locked down my iPad after watching my daughter play that same game.

 

[samcraig]

If you are not comfortable with your ability using the technology to do your parenting job, do it the hard way -- manually, sitting and watching, and maybe much more importantly, teaching in the pace a child could grasp.

One thing a lot of western parents should keep in mind is that raising a child is the parent's responsibility, don't try to shift too much of it to the society.

Wow does this have nothing to do with my post that you're quoting.

And again - remove children from the equation here. You should have to CHOOSE to a purchase by default. Apple's settings are backwards. You can argue that you don't think it's backwards. It's a better "fight."

And what this is really about. The fact that it's "easily" exploited by children and/or unsuspecting adults is a symptom - not the problem.