As we reported in "Google Play Store Lets Your Kid Spend Like a Drunken Sailor," for some time the Google Play Store has allowed children to shop using a credit card without parental authorization for up to 30 minutes after a parent authorizes an in-app purchase. The iTunes App Store offers kids a similar bonanza, though it lasts 15 minutes.
A Federal Trade Commission spokesperson declined to tell us whether the agency had received any complaints about unauthorized purchases in the Google Play Store or whether the FTC was investigating Google Play.
Get your money back
If your child has run up unauthorized charges in the Google Play Store (or the iTunes App Store), the best way to get your money back is by filing a complaint using the FTC's complaint assistant (landing page shown above).
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Apple agreed this week to make full refunds to parents whose children had run up unauthorized bills in the App Store and to better warn parents of this risk. So if you file a legitimate grievance over unauthorized spending in the iTunes App Store, you can expect full restitution from Apple. “You cannot charge consumers for purchases they did not authorize," said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.
The same assurance isn't yet available to Google Play customers, at least not until the FTC, or Google, makes it clear whether full refunds will be forthcoming for those who file legitimate complaints. However, it would seem that the more consumers who file a complaint with the FTC, the better the chance Google will make full refunds.
Tell us about it
If you do file a complaint with the FTC, share details about your situation with other readers on our Facebook page: Which app store did your kid shop in? Which apps and in-app add-ons did he or she buy? How big were the charges?
We're curious to know how widespread the problem is so we can help other parents avoid a similar experience.
—Jeff Fox
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