Dad sues Apple for pushing cash-draining 'free' games at kids ? The Register
Does Android have any surefire way of preventing this?
Does Android have any surefire way of preventing this?
One way to prevent any charges to your account is to report the registered credit card as lost. The CC company will cancel it and issue you a new account number. The phone app account would remain the same until someone tried to make a purchase.
Also a good way to stop recurring monthly charges to any account that you have billed to a credit or debit card when they refuse to stop billing you after cancellation of services, or where they make it difficult to cancel the recurring charges.
Yes, this has already happened with the Smurfs game so Apple tightened parental controls for in-app purchases. As for Google, you can set up a PIN for app and in-app purchases (still would prefer being able to buy stuff via gift cards without linking a credit card at all like in iTunes).This happened with a Smurfs game. Parents were really upset. I certainly wouldn't sit there and play the stupid thing.
If I want to purchase anything from Amazon, I have to sign it. Why can't Google have you sign in for a purchase? Having to do that at Amazon hasn't stopped anyone.
On the same vein - how would you stop an older kid from downloading adult material or really violent games? These are rated in the physical world and a storekeeper can deny the purchase.
There's no difference. You could require a password/pin to purchase from either.To me there's no difference in in-app purchase and handing your kid the phone and the kid opens up the Market. The kid can buy whatever they want out of the market. What's the difference?
If it's disclosure of the app about the in-app purchase, then it's the developer fault. If the dad should sue anybody, he should sue the developer of the app. But then, if the dad was to sue the developer, he won't be able to sue for 'damage' of $5 MILLION! If you sue, sue big and sue someone that has the money.The judge said that even if parents had given their children passwords, many parents were misled by Apple's presentation of these "freemium" games as free and that Apple didn't adequately inform consumers about the potential costs. Judge Davila has allowed the case to continue.
From the article
If it's disclosure of the app about the in-app purchase, then it's the developer fault. If the dad should sue anybody, he should sue the developer of the app. But then, if the dad was to sue the developer, he won't be able to sue for 'damage' of $5 MILLION! If you sue, sue big and sue someone that has the money.
Although annoying, iOS requires that you enter a password for EVERY purchased made in the App-store or in app since last year. I fail to see how it's Apple's fault when it has taken the right precaution against unauthorized purchases. The father gave his password to his kid and should expect the consequence of such action.
I wish Android has such password protection in the market and in-app but it doesn't. It's easier to buy from the Play store and in-app purchases then in iOS.
If my kids were to have an Android phone, I would download one of the App PW protection app and password protect the market and set the phone up so that any time the kids are playing a game, their phone goes into airplane mode. I'll also restrict access to apps I deem that they don't need. Plain and simple. If the parents can take the necessary precautions and don't, it's no one fault's but their own if their kids messed up.
I'm the only user of my phone so I've not screwed around with setting up a pin,password. I do have an app protector that I can turn on with a widget that denies all access to the market when it's running. Not sure what effect it would have on in app purchases.
I'm sorry, but this is just out right fraud. If your kid runs up in-app purchases and you claim your card is stolen so you can get out of them, it's fraud. Your card isn't stolen and you know it.
As mentioned, it's easy to make these in-app purchases. The one's I've seen basically pop up a window in a lot of cases that says something like, "You must purchase XYZ to continue. Would you like to? Click yes/no" A kid is going to click yes there. Or they have stores in the game. Some purchases are made with in-app currency and some are made with real money. The difference is not always obvious and certainly wouldn't be to a kid.
To me there's no difference in in-app purchase and handing your kid the phone and the kid opens up the Market. The kid can buy whatever they want out of the market. What's the difference?
keep in mind that reporting a credit card lost or stolen when it is not is committing fraud.
Why go through the hassle of reporting your card lost when you can just opt to remove the credit card from your Google Wallet/iTunes account? Heck, you can set up both services and download free apps/content without the need to add a credit card at all.
That's what my aunt did with my cousin. There's no credit card linked to his iTunes account but he gets a $10 iTunes allowance every month so he can still purchase stuff. Beyond the $10, he's on his own.
Pretty sure a credit card wasn't required for iTunes when I set up my first iPhone (2G 16GB which I now use as alarm clock ). Don't have a CC linked to my account. I just always use gift cards.I don't remember that option when I first got my iPhone, but that would be the way to go then:thumbup:
I've thought about it but prepaid Visa/MC/Amex gift cards or reloadable Visa/MC/Amex all have fees associated with them. For gift cards, minimum fee is usually around $4 some also deduct a fee from the balance if you haven't used it up after a certain period. For reloadable cards, there's usually a monthly fee involved as well as charges when you refill your card.People always complain about not having Android gift cards, but couldn't you just get a pre paid Visa gift card and use it the same way? Or no?
Yep, definitely a missed opportunity. Another option, would be carrier billing. Google actually has a system like that in the Philippines since few folks over there have debit/credit cards.They should have Android cards, though. Seems like a missed opportunity.
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