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If You Give Your Kid Access to a Credit Card, Make Sure You Understand In-App Purchases
A dad in Canada is furious after discovering his son racked up thousands of dollars on an Xbox game. It’s another reminder for parents about the potential pitfalls of in-app and in-game purchases, especially when kids are involved. This time, a 17-year-old from Ontario ended up spending an astonishing amount—almost $8,000—on FIFA, a popular soccer video game.
The boy’s father, Mike Thompson, was taken aback when he received the hefty credit card bill. His son had a credit card for emergencies, but he mistakenly used it to make countless transactions on the game, thinking he was just paying a one-time fee. Unfortunately, every time he logged in, he was hit with charges. The total? A staggering $7,625.88, which neither the gaming company nor the credit card provider is willing to reverse. Mike tried to appeal to Xbox, highlighting that his son is a minor, but so far, he hasn’t received a response. “It’s really disheartening,” he told a local news outlet. “He had no idea he was being charged for every single action he took in the game.”
In-app and in-game purchases have sparked a lot of debates among parents lately. According to Sarah Jenkins, the director of a consumer advocacy group in Ottawa, accidental purchases have become a common issue and are racking up significant bills. In the U.S., some parents have even lodged complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, labeling these purchases as “deceptive.”
This isn’t a new issue; many families have been caught off guard by similar situations. Just recently, another father made headlines when his child spent nearly $6,000 on Jurassic World through an iPhone. In both instances, parental oversight was lacking, and sadly, gaming companies often don’t take responsibility for these mishaps.
If you give your child access to your credit card and let them play games unsupervised, you’re setting yourself up for trouble. This is why parental controls, password protections, and notifications for purchases exist—they’re there to help you monitor your accounts and keep an eye on transactions. It’s crucial for parents to familiarize themselves with how in-app purchases function and to set up the necessary safeguards before letting their kids dive into the gaming world. Nobody wants to be hit with an $8,000 bill for a video game, but caution and vigilance are key.
For more on parenting and navigating these tricky waters, check out some of our other blog posts, like this one on home insemination kits. If you’re looking for reliable information, Make a Mom is an excellent resource on this topic, as well as Mount Sinai’s infertility resources.
In summary, when it comes to giving your kids access to credit cards for in-game purchases, knowledge is power. Familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of these transactions and set up the appropriate parental controls to avoid any financial surprises.