Amazon & the FTC have reached an agreement over unauthorized in app purchases made between November 2011 and May 2016. Amazon did not require a password for in app purchases during this period, this allowed kids to make purchases without their parents permission. A password requirement was added in 2012, but this was only for purchases over $20. Amazon is sending out e-mails to those who might be eligible, you can also check this link to see if you have any eligible purchases.
If a child under the age of 18 made purchases without your authorization you have until May 28th, 2018 to apply for a refund. The FTC expects up to $70 million to be eligible for a refund. You can also call 866-216-1072 to check the status of your refund.
Hmm… It doesn’t look like e-reader purchases were included in the deal w/the FTC. Unfortunate because even today, kids can make a purchase directly from the kindle store w/o a password.
If you enable password protection, kids can’t browse the kindle store to find books they might like to read; but if you don’t password protect, then they’re just 1 click away from $200 worth of book purchases! Happened to me last summer. I’ve always thought accessing the kindle store should be unrestricted but buying something should require a password. Unfortunate that it doesn’t work this way.
On the one side, maybe I should file a complaint. But on the other, I guess there are worse things my teen could be getting into than splurging on books. #pickyourbattles
I’d file a complaint. I would be surprised if it wasn’t refunded.
So would any mobile app purchase be eligible? How can they tell if it was kids or you?
They probably can’t. You just have to decide if your integrity is worth more to you than whatever you would get from this.
this happened to me twice…but I got my money back by refunding it …not sure if it was cuz I am Prime.
, comma AND covfefe
“Amazon did not require a password for in app purchases during this period, this allowed kids to make purchases without their parents permission.
Amazon is sending out e-mails to those who might be eligible, you can also check this link to see if you have any eligible purchases.” -DoC
I don’t know if you’re a native English speaker, but the commas don’t belong there. Use periods or semicolons.
No offense… but if that bugs you I suggest you just do not read this blog. Posting comments like this sounds like you (a) do not appreciate this blog, (b) spending other people’s time on reading your unrelated comments…. plus a comment “I don’t know if you’re a native English speaker” sounds a bit offensive/snobby to me. We are guests here, so let’s behave like ones.
P.S. I could justify your complain if the orthographic imperfection affects the meaning of the message, but in this case everything is perfectly clear.
The comma is fine there. Not to mention it’s a near direct quote from the Federal Trade Commission website statement, only “which” was replaced with “this”.
There are two commas in the above quote that technically should both be semicolons, but it is common practice to use commas instead in casual/conversational writing even when one knows it ‘should’ be a semicolon, and it’s silly to complain about such a minor thing regardless when it doesn’t affect the meaning.
Maria…seriously?
No reason for this. Are you the Grammer Police? That is incredibly offensive.
As someone who holds an English degree, I can confirm that you are correct.
As someone who values the information this blog posts over comma placements, I can confirm that you are a pedant.
In Maria’s defense, encouraging a habit of commas in the incorrect place could lead down a slippery path to a life or death situation. Allow me to demonstrate:
Well, let’s eat grandma!
Well let’s eat, grandma!
The initial comment above seems unnecessary, but I certainly got a laugh from this one. Well played.
I would so like this comment if I could. 🙂
I believed you about your English degree but having to spend the time to look up the definition of “pedant” reinforced that belief.
If one were to have a time machine this could be considered a great MS opportunity.
Savage!