Children Running Up Bills Via Ipad

[Prudie]

This is the second story I've seen like this hit the news lately. Apart from querying at what age children should be left alone with ipads/Pcs I don't understand how it happens, there's nothing I can buy online without entering various passwords etc, how are they managing to make the orders?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2292539/Doh-Eight-year-old-boy-runs-1-000-parents-iPad-buying-virtual-DONUTS-Simpsons-game.html

[ummmm]

//Mr Rowland-Fry said it is too easy for children to buy additional items without being asked for any more details to confirm the purchase.//

[youngmafbog]

They are not buying online in the normal use of the phrase.

What happens is that the child is given a 'free' app to play. The app offers credits or items that can be purchased. The child does not appreciate that this is real money that buys these items. Presumably the owner of the iPad has their password in the app store so the purchase goes through.

Oh how wonderful Apple are at inventing things.

[Prudie]

I saw what Mr Roland-Fry said. I just can't think of anything, including itunes, where you can just click and buy without being asked for further details.

[hc4361]

It's in the settings. I had to enter a PIN and enable it to be inputted for every purchase on my Nexus 7 - the default setting is purchases are made without any password, PIN or card details.
It's not just Apple.

[tara20]

Why don't they just buy vouchers?
You don't have to use a credit card, I don't. It's like pay as you go, use up your credit and that's it.

[youngmafbog]

It is not always a credit card, it is usually an account that is then debited on to your account along with your other monthly fee.

PAYG is fine for some but rather impractical for heavy users or those that want new technology. For instance a new dogs Phone will be around £500 which many don't have but can afford the monthly £35.

It is not just phones though and as pointed out not just Apple, although they doo seem to be in the forefront of it having paid out a bucket in compo in the US.

[Gromit]

The iPad has Parental settings on which you prevent in app purchases.

The child also needs the Apple ID which is a password for the owners credit card.

So the parents have only themselves to blame for their own stupidity.

[rockyracoon]

The trouble is, the password is put in to download the app, this was probably done secretly, then once the app is downloaded 'in app' purchases can be made without it. As Gromit points out, this can be pin protected through the settings, to be fair though, I only found this out after I read the previous story like this.