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If Your Kids Made In-App Purchases, Amazon’s Been Ordered To Pay You Back
In a world where kids seem to have a knack for outsmarting the grown-ups, Amazon has found itself in hot water over unauthorized in-app purchases made by little ones. The online retail giant is now mandated by a federal judge to reimburse parents for these sneaky spending sprees, which are set to begin in January 2017. This ruling comes after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against Amazon in 2014, claiming that it was far too easy for kids to rack up charges on their parents’ accounts while playing games like “Pet Shop Story” and “Ice Age Village.” According to estimates, these unapproved purchases amounted to a jaw-dropping $86 million. Wow, that’s a serious chunk of change!
Initially, the FTC sought a hefty payout of $26.5 million in damages from Amazon, but the judge decided that instead, the company must inform parents about their eligibility for repayment through an upcoming claims process. Amazon is not alone in facing this kind of scrutiny; both Apple Inc. and Google have dealt with similar issues in the past. As a result, all three companies now require a password for in-app purchases—a much-needed safeguard for parents.
While Amazon initially proposed to reimburse parents with gift cards, the judge nixed that idea, insisting that refunds must go back to customers’ credit cards instead. This comes as fantastic news for parents who know all too well how tricky in-app purchases can be. After all, kids these days seem to master technology faster than we can keep up. I remember when my friend Sarah’s son, at just six years old, managed to find some rather inappropriate content on their on-demand service, all thanks to a little help from his school bus buddy. It was a wake-up call for many of us that we must remain vigilant about our children’s digital interactions.
It’s a constant challenge for parents to oversee every aspect of their kids’ tech use, and it’s only fair for companies like Amazon to be held responsible when they make it too easy for youngsters to spend money without permission. We should be able to navigate through Target while our toddler plays with our phone without worrying about them draining our bank account on in-app purchases. Technology is always evolving, and a brief lapse in supervision shouldn’t cost us hundreds of dollars.
So, here’s to getting some of that money back, Amazon! Chances are, we’ll still spend it with you because, let’s face it, Prime is a lifesaver!
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In summary, if your kids have been racking up in-app purchases without your consent, Amazon will be refunding parents starting January 2017. This decision comes after a federal judge ruled in favor of parents, following a lawsuit from the FTC. It’s a win for families navigating the challenges of technology and parenting.