Scottsdale, AZ asked in Civil Litigation and Consumer Law for Arizona

Q: Daughter(6) made several small charges on our debit card for a game she plays on my phone. Are we ineligible for refund

Can we still get our money back or will they deny it because she is our daughter?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: In this situation, getting a refund may be challenging, but it's still worth trying. Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Contact the game developer or publisher directly and explain the situation. Some companies have policies in place to refund accidental or unauthorized purchases made by children.

2. If the game was downloaded through the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android), you can try to request a refund through these platforms. Both have policies for handling accidental or unauthorized purchases, especially by children.

3. Contact your bank or card issuer and explain the situation. They might be able to help you dispute the charges. However, keep in mind that if you authorized your daughter to use the device, the bank may consider you responsible for the charges.

4. In the future, consider setting up parental controls on your devices to prevent unauthorized purchases. Both iOS and Android devices have features that allow you to restrict in-app purchases or require a password for every purchase.

Remember, the refund policies may vary depending on the game, the platform, and your bank. It's important to be honest about the situation when requesting a refund. While there's no guarantee, it's still worth attempting to recover your money.

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