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Unauthorized purchase by child

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danfisherman

Junior Member
Hello there,

I have a question,
Is purchase made by toddler over the internet or by downloading something on cellphone legal? Are parents of the child obligated to pay in such case?

For instance my kids was playing PS3 and they went into PS Online Store and downloaded bunch of games and movies from there since PS Online had my credit card on file. My credit card was charged and PS refused to issue a refund. IS it actually legal?

Thank you very much for any information.
 


Proserpina

Senior Member
Call me stupid but how can a toddler, who most likely can't read using the internet?
Well, one would think that if one allows a toddler to play an game online...one is prepared to accept whatever consequences may follow if said toddler isn't being monitored during the game....

Y'know?
 

Proserpina

Senior Member
Hello there,

I have a question,
Is purchase made by toddler over the internet or by downloading something on cellphone legal? Are parents of the child obligated to pay in such case?

For instance my kids was playing PS3 and they went into PS Online Store and downloaded bunch of games and movies from there since PS Online had my credit card on file. My credit card was charged and PS refused to issue a refund. IS it actually legal?

Thank you very much for any information.
OP, how are you going to prove that it was your child - and not you - who made the purchase?
 

TinkerBelleLuvr

Senior Member
Well, one would think that if one allows a toddler to play an game online...one is prepared to accept whatever consequences may follow if said toddler isn't being monitored during the game....

Y'know?
I could NOT imagine my toddler searching the web. That one is beyond my realm of imagination.
 

Proserpina

Senior Member
I could NOT imagine my toddler searching the web. That one is beyond my realm of imagination.
Though my little 'un seems to have a homing device which makes even the vaguest (three rooms away even) Internet reference to Ubiquitous Yellow Square Holey Thingy trigger a glass-shattering cry of "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOm it's SHUNNNNNNGDOB!!" I'd still be loathe to let the little darling actually touch the keyboard unless a Big Nasty Grown Up was present.

She knows this ;)

I'm so with you.
 

danfisherman

Junior Member
I could NOT imagine my toddler searching the web. That one is beyond my realm of imagination.
Today's kids are beyond your realm of imagination :D. Haven't you seen the that (e-Trade?) commercial with baby buying stocks? :D

Well, maybe not really a toddler 5 years old, I just used toddler to make a point.
But you people did not get the point, ordering pay per view movies, downloading stuff on the cellphone or game console, is as easy as a push of the button, just keep pressing that big red button in the middle and here goes your weekly paycheck. Even a baby can do this.\

Those suckers made it so convenient for us, so we buying stuff even without knowing it.

How legal is that? How legal those purchases accidentally made by kids are?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
Yes, you are responsible. You agreed to be responsible when you created the account.
 

Proserpina

Senior Member
Today's kids are beyond your realm of imagination :D. Haven't you seen the that (e-Trade?) commercial with baby buying stocks? :D

Well, maybe not really a toddler 5 years old, I just used toddler to make a point.
But you people did not get the point, ordering pay per view movies, downloading stuff on the cellphone or game console, is as easy as a push of the button, just keep pressing that big red button in the middle and here goes your weekly paycheck. Even a baby can do this.\

Those suckers made it so convenient for us, so we buying stuff even without knowing it.

How legal is that? How legal those purchases accidentally made by kids are?
Many (if not most) of us have babes, toddlers, kiddies, tweens etc., etc. I daresay we get the point you're trying to make.

Now, tell us again how you aren't aware of what your youngsters are doing online? And why anyone other than you should be responsible?
 

Isis1

Senior Member
Many (if not most) of us have babes, toddlers, kiddies, tweens etc., etc. I daresay we get the point you're trying to make.

Now, tell us again how you aren't aware of what your youngsters are doing online? And why anyone other than you should be responsible?
i need my contacts cleaned. or maybe it was that first "shot" before logging in....i really read that title as Unauthorized Purchase of Child. :eek:
 
Today's kids are beyond your realm of imagination :D. Haven't you seen the that (e-Trade?) commercial with baby buying stocks? :D

Well, maybe not really a toddler 5 years old, I just used toddler to make a point.
But you people did not get the point, ordering pay per view movies, downloading stuff on the cellphone or game console, is as easy as a push of the button, just keep pressing that big red button in the middle and here goes your weekly paycheck. Even a baby can do this.\

Those suckers made it so convenient for us, so we buying stuff even without knowing it.

How legal is that? How legal those purchases accidentally made by kids are?
I think you're the one missing the point here. None of those things are necessities, they are luxuries. If you can't figure out how to use parental controls that come on nearly every device, that's not the companies' fault and neither it is illegal. Supervise your children when they're online, whether it's the internet, via cell or a gaming console. You bought those things into the house, you're solely responsible for making sure your little darlings don't abuse them. Pay the bill and consider it a lesson.
 
I imagine that Sony has the same policy with money you spend on your account that a cell phone company might have. If you give your 8 year old a cell phone, then call the phone company a month later about $800 in text messaging charges your kid racked up but "they can't be valid, my kid would NEVER text while at school!!!" you're stuck with the $800 phone bill. On my really good days if a customer had been with the company for years and never had a credit I might have taken $50 or $100 just to be nice. If you let your kid use electronic equipment then you as a parent are responsible for whatever charges your kids racks up. Novel idea.... unplug the stupid console from the internet.
 

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