In-app purchase in spotlight again as boy racks up ?1,000 iPad bill

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  • Reply 41 of 80
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    solipsismx wrote: »
    The targets have changed but humanity has not. 100 years ago we blamed things on false science or even just more superstition but today we have a lot more information in our reach but with that excessive amount of info comes the ability to miss something because there is so much to absorb. Apple wasn't around then but if you go back to before the iPhone there was no inexpensive Apple product that could easily be tied to excessive costs or usage. Even the iPods didn't have any wireless capabilities and there was no app store.

    Has there ever been a generation that hasn't said that they newer one is more spoiled and more entitled than there's at that age? Perhaps during a prolonged war that can be said but in general I think that's a common sentiment because of the way we recall our own history is emotional and selective, not objective.

    Good thing pitch forks and torches aren't so easy to find anymore.
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  • Reply 42 of 80
    darkpawdarkpaw Posts: 212member
    God, these people aren't giving us Brits a good image.
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  • Reply 43 of 80
    darkpawdarkpaw Posts: 212member


    It's "Sterling" ;) But I agree. Some people over here are duuuuuumb.

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  • Reply 44 of 80
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post



    "Theo is only just eight," said Nick Rowland-Fry, 


     


    And thus, Nick, he shouldn't have been playing a game that is rated 12 and over without at least supervision etc.

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  • Reply 45 of 80
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by HawkBlade View Post


    How about a AppleID for that unit without a CC on it.  Plenty of free email host's out there.  This will prevent "kid buy" syndrome by not even letting them buy anything.  



     


    So does restrictions which have been around since the first iPad if not sooner

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  • Reply 46 of 80
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by winstein2010 View Post


    Android has a "Kids Mode" App that locks the device so there are no in-app purchase possible.  I think Apple should implement something similar:  A kid mode that the user cannot change settings and a pre-set limit on how much the kid can spend a week or a month.



     


    They have had restrictions since the iPad released. As well as allowance accounts, gift cards etc that can limit purchases 

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  • Reply 47 of 80
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    darkpaw wrote: »
    God, these people aren't giving us Brits a good image.

    Oh, that ship sailed years ago…

    1000
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  • Reply 48 of 80
    filburtfilburt Posts: 398member


    Perhaps the biggest reasons against freemium games is how ridiculous these in-app currencies cost. Freemium games should have a maximum ceiling of $49.99 or so (certainly not higher than $99.99), at which point the game should convert to premium game with all the locked contents unlocked.

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  • Reply 49 of 80
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by RichL View Post


    I think developers need to take a bit of responsibility here. Who decided that it would be a good idea to put a $99.99 IAP into a kids game? It's only going to cause trouble.



     


    This game is rated for older kids. Not their fault a parent is letting an 8 year old play a game meant for older kids. Which is often been the case with these incidents

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  • Reply 50 of 80
    This is ton of money! I wonder if there is any protecting mechanism to limit purchases in such cases?
    Also today it is possible to create your own games for kids if you wish, to avoid getting in such situations! I played with few platforms on the web, some of them are pretty limited, however some were very useful (eg: ibuildapp.com)
    It worth trying though.
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  • Reply 51 of 80
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GQB View Post


    Frankly, I've had enough of the childless losers lecturing parents on how easy it is to monitor every second of a kids life. You don't have a clue about this.


    Its not 'nanny' to put the simple work into store design to allow a simple, obvious cut-off for in-app purchases.


    The problem is that in-app is a cash-cow and neither developers nor Apple really want to make it easy to disable.


     


    Stop pontificating on things you don't understand.



     


    And I've had enough of parents that won't take responsibility for their kids and educate themselves before allowing access to something like an iPad and get pissed when us 'childish losers' are more aware when they are about these issues we don't have as valid a need for.


     


    be a grown up, admit you blew it and take your licks. 

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  • Reply 52 of 80
    gqb wrote: »
    Frankly, I've had enough of the childless losers lecturing parents on how easy it is to monitor every second of a kids life. You don't have a clue about this.
    Its not 'nanny' to put the simple work into store design to allow a simple, obvious cut-off for in-app purchases.
    The problem is that in-app is a cash-cow and neither developers nor Apple really want to make it easy to disable.

    Stop pontificating on things you don't understand.

    Who said anything about monitoring every second? It's as simple as setting a password on purchases and not giving it to your kid. Doesn't even take any technical savvy, just common sense. Same principal as don't give your ATM card and pin to your teenager. There's no way a bank is going to give money back to bonehead parents that do that. Why should Apple treat them any different.

    And for your information, I have kids and little cousins and nieces and nephews. I have first hand experience with lots of children. These occurrences should be a life lesson to these parents, without Apple bailing them out.
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  • Reply 53 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hmm View Post


     


    iOS is on millions of devices, so these kinds of PR debacles will come up. If Apple wanted to lessen the rate of occurrence, they could have the in app purchase feature disabled by default or allow allow some kind of purchasing limit to be set at an account level. Otherwise you're likely to continue reading similar stories. The use of "freemium" business models didn't seem that widespread a couple years ago.



     


    I remember the olden days when Sega, Atari etc had "premium" help lines, where kids could run up large phone bills by calling for tips and hints.


     


    There is nothing new under the sun, parents should take responsibility for supervising their children.

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  • Reply 54 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GQB View Post


    Frankly, I've had enough of the childless losers lecturing parents on how easy it is to monitor every second of a kids life. You don't have a clue about this.


    Its not 'nanny' to put the simple work into store design to allow a simple, obvious cut-off for in-app purchases.


    The problem is that in-app is a cash-cow and neither developers nor Apple really want to make it easy to disable.


     


    Stop pontificating on things you don't understand.



     


    Try to teach your kids that not every whim can be immediately gratified, I know it's hard they can be very demanding but don't give in.


     


    When they face living in the real world they might thank you for it one day.


     


    Then again, we have created a debt ridden society where having it NOW overrides any future consequences.

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  • Reply 55 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by nicwalmsley View Post



    Another simple idea is that a user should be allowed to set global limits on in app purchases, a daily, weekly and monthly rate. When you hit the limit, you have to authorise a new limit for that day, week or month.

     


     


    Edit your account via iTunes on a PC to remove your credit card, use vouchers (often available at a discount).


     


    or


     


    Set up your account via iTunes on a PC, where it asks for a credit card specify "None".

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  • Reply 56 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GTR View Post


     


    Bristol is in the Netherlands now?



     


    It depends which accountant you use. image


     


    Double dutch sandwich, anyone?


     


    (The poster was referring to their experience, not the one depicted in the article.)

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  • Reply 57 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by TheUnfetteredMind View Post


    Back in the day it was nice when we (kids) played outside and got some fresh air.



     


    ...and are now developing skin cancer (well in Australia and New Zealand, anyway).

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  • Reply 58 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post





    And you get the email receipt immediately not the next day which could've prevented the bill from getting so high. All of you that blame the parents are idiots, do you stand over your child's (if you have any) shoulder, and monitor there usage at ALL times? No of course not. It doesn't take long to rack up a pretty big bill with these IAPs. Last week while getting my hair cut I let my son use a iPod to play games instead of sitting there bored. I had my eye on him the whole time but he could've very easily made some IAPs right under my nose. Good thing I always look him in the eye and tell him "DO NOT buy anything".


     


    Only if he knew the password, which you would have had to have given to him.

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  • Reply 59 of 80
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post





    The targets have changed but humanity has not. 100 years ago we blamed things on false science or even just more superstition but today we have a lot more information in our reach but with that excessive amount of info comes the ability to miss something because there is so much to absorb. Apple wasn't around then but if you go back to before the iPhone there was no inexpensive Apple product that could easily be tied to excessive costs or usage. Even the iPods didn't have any wireless capabilities and there was no app store.



    Has there ever been a generation that hasn't said that they newer one is more spoiled and more entitled than there's at that age? Perhaps during a prolonged war that can be said but in general I think that's a common sentiment because of the way we recall our own history is emotional and selective, not objective.


     


    Fairground hawkers making money from rigged games.


     


    Are the people who run the fairs at fault for providing entertainment people want?


     


    This "issue" has been around for hundreds, even thousands of years.

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  • Reply 60 of 80
    adamcadamc Posts: 583member


    This must be some pretty smart who knows the password to access and make in app purchases.


     


    I wonder who gave him the password or is it a case of auto download?


     


    I just wonder.


     


    Perhaps as someone mentioned after downloading a few hundreds paid purchases i make a complaint and all my spending will be refunded.


     


    What a scam. Sad

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