Shelly Palmer

Google to Refund $19 Million to Parents for Kids’ In-App Purchases

If you’ve ever found an unexpected charge on your credit card after letting your kid borrow your Android device, you may be in for a refund. On Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Google has a agreed to refund a minimum of $19 million to consumers who were charged for purchases made by their children without authorization. Google has also agreed to change its Play Store billing practices so as to better obtain express consent for in-app purchases. The Commission alleges that many consumers reported hundreds of dollars of unauthorized charges due to current billing practices. Many free apps contain in-app purchases (where kids often think they’re just spending virtual money), so even if there isn’t an upfront cost, you could end up paying in the long run.

Read the full story at The Next Web.