The Federal Trade Commission announced that refunds are now available for parents whose children made unauthorized in-app purchases. More than $70 million in charges is eligible for refunds on in-app purchases made between November 2011 and May 2016. It’s another win for consumers. So if your child bought something in an app from Amazon’s app store without your permission, you may get your money back.
Amazon Appstore is preloaded on Amazon mobile devices such as Kindle Fire tablets. Game developers often mix in paid items into free games. Kids are pushed to to make in-app purchases without the parents’ knowledge. According to CNNMoney, “a court found Amazon responsible for stuff that kids bought without parents’ permission, noting Amazon didn’t provide sufficient disclosures or ask parents to approve the purchases children made. It did not require a password to make purchases within apps.”
The FTC had previously settled with both Apple and Google on similar charges, before they caught Amazon. CNNMoney also reported: “In 2014, Apple and Google refunded customers whose children made purchases in their mobile app stores, and the companies were forced to be more explicit about in-app purchases. Both firms no longer call apps “free” when they are free to download but have upgrades you can buy. Amazon sent eligible consumers an email to receive a refund. If you didn’t get one and think you should be eligible, you can go to the Message Center to find out more information.”
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