Ipod Budget Buster HELP!!!

[lucigo]

Last night my 7yo son (who has autism) downloaded a "free" game. Apparently once you put your password in once you can buy things without needing the password again. I didn't know this!!! In this game you can buy gems. By the time I figured out what he was doing he had purchased one for $55.97 and one for $119.98. What can I do???? This is a serious budget buster

Please help if you can!

 

[vicki_c]

I would contact the iTunes store through the contact us link on the store and explain your specific situation and see if they will refund the money (but they're really strict about things, so even if they do it, I'm sure they will never do it again).

 

[lucigo]

Any idea if I can talk to a person, or do I have to email? I really want to talk to a person and not worry about this all day. I feel like puking

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I have to enter a password everytime I want to download anything from itunes. I would check the settings and get that activated ASAP.

 

[benolathe]

Sorry, nothing to help with your situation. But I find it really difficult to believe that a game would have such expensive 'in game' purchase items. That is just not right. Please let Apple know about this game. The company does control what Apps are released - and this one sounds very 'underhanded.'

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have to enter a password everytime I want to download anything from itunes. I would check the settings and get that activated ASAP.

This.

I have to enter my password on the ipod each time too, and if this is a game that you don't have to do that, I would delete the game.

 

[Kitzka]

Would this happen to be a fishy game? The same thing happened to my DD. I wrote to Apple and exlained the situation and they were very helpful and gave me a one time credit.

I will say that my daughter had only gotten to the point of being charged for 10 pearls or $.99 but it's worth a shot. I wish the 'in game' purchase items were more clearly marked.

lara

 

[lucigo]

I have to enter a password everytime I want to download anything from itunes. I would check the settings and get that activated ASAP.

I'm working on that now. They are going to refund my $175. Thank GOODNESS Apple has a heart!!!

 

[lucigo]

Sorry, nothing to help with your situation. But I find it really difficult to believe that a game would have such expensive 'in game' purchase items. That is just not right. Please let Apple know about this game. The company does control what Apps are released - and this one sounds very 'underhanded.'

The game is called Restaurant Story. When I tried to explain to him what he had done he said, restaurant story is a free game! When I told him the gems cost real money he said "Oh, I'm sorry" just like if he had bumped into me or something...he has NO CLUE.

 

[lucigo]

This.

I have to enter my password on the ipod each time too, and if this is a game that you don't have to do that, I would delete the game.

I'm deleting it now. I did find a place in settings where it says restrictions and you can enter a passcode, but I haven't tested it yet to see if it is on correctly!

 

[ArthurIhde]

i have no idea lol

 

[Green Tea]

I'm working on that now. They are going to refund my $175. Thank GOODNESS Apple has a heart!!!

good news. I'm glad it worked out!

 

[vicki_c]

good news. I'm glad it worked out!

I agree - glad it worked out too!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I'm working on that now. They are going to refund my $175. Thank GOODNESS Apple has a heart!!!

thank gosh for apple

 

[lucigo]

I disabled in-app purchases. I also deleted the game! As soon as I let him have the ipod he went to another build-it type game, Tap Town, so I looked at it and sure enough it has in-app purchasing also, so I tested it and it told me they were disabled. WHEW!

So...now he is playing My Sims Kingdom on Wii, and he can build all he wants for FREE!

(Its a planning day so he is home.)

Thank you all for the support, I was freaking out!!

 

[Kitzka]

COuld you tell us where you were able to dis-able in app purchases? I would like to set this on DD's and my iphones..

Is it in my itunes account or something that can be done on the device?

thanks and SO glad it worked out

lara

 

[luvmy3]

Op, I'm glad that Apple was willing to refund you but they probably won't do it again so in addition to what you have already done, I'd delete your CC info from iTunes and just use itunes cards. If he ends up finding another game like that without your knowledge he wouldn't be able to spend more than what is on your acct.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

COuld you tell us where you were able to dis-able in app purchases? I would like to set this on DD's and my iphones..

Is it in my itunes account or something that can be done on the device?

thanks and SO glad it worked out

lara

You have to do this on the device itself. You go into 'Settings' and select 'Restrictions'. Set a passcode for the restrictions and once you do, you can go in and disable in-app purchases, access to other apps (YouTube, Safari, etc) and others. I've done this on DD's iPod and while I do have in App purchases enabled for her, her account is on an 'allowance' basis so once she's spent her cash its gone.

Glad things worked out for the OP!

 

[monorailsilver]

Would this happen to be a fishy game? The same thing happened to my DD. I wrote to Apple and exlained the situation and they were very helpful and gave me a one time credit.

I will say that my daughter had only gotten to the point of being charged for 10 pearls or $.99 but it's worth a shot. I wish the 'in game' purchase items were more clearly marked.

lara

My dd has that game & was buying things too. I get the emails sent to me if something is bought & I finally realized she was buying stuff. I told her no more buying stuff/fish. I don't think she realized she was spending her real money & not fake money. I don't keep alot of itunes $$$ on there for her & currently she has 4 cents in her account. I try to buy her new games every so often or download free ones if I see one she might like.

The game is called Restaurant Story. When I tried to explain to him what he had done he said, restaurant story is a free game! When I told him the gems cost real money he said "Oh, I'm sorry" just like if he had bumped into me or something...he has NO CLUE.

We just downloaded that game 2 weeks ago. MY dd loves it but she hasn't bought anything yet.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

It is also a good idea to have your itunes not linked to your credit card. Once I am out of itunes money that is it, I can't buy anything else until I put in another gift card number. I have a 5 year old that pretty much has free reign on my iphone at times so I have to be super careful.

I was going to add that I had heard about people itunes account getting hacked and that is why I originally changed my itunes setting.