Apple to refund $32.5m to parents whose kids made in-app purchases For more latest tech news and product reviews SUBSCRIBE to http://www.youtube.com/user/TechyGUYS Apple will refund customers at least $32.5m (£19.9m) after a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The refund agreement settles long-standing complaints over in-app purchases made by children without their parents' consent. Apple will also be required to change its billing procedures to make sure customers have given consent before they are charged for in-app purchases. The company said it had settled rather than take on a "long legal fight". "This settlement is a victory for consumers harmed by Apple's unfair billing, and a signal to the business community: whether you're doing business in the mobile arena or the mall down the street, fundamental consumer protections apply," said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez in a statement. "You cannot charge consumers for purchases they did not authorize." 'Tens of thousands' The FTC's complaint alleged that Apple failed to inform parents that by entering a password they were approving a single in-app purchase and also 15 minutes of additional unlimited purchases their children could make without further consent. It also said that Apple often presented a password prompt screen for parents to enter their details without explaining that this would finalise any purchase made in the app. The FTC also noted that Apple received at "least tens of thousands of complaints" about unauthorised in-app purchases by children. One woman said her daughter had spent $2600 in one app. This refund settlement only covers customers who have made purchases through Apple's US app store but the BBC's technology editor Rory Cellan-Jones says Apple has previously almost always refunded parents in the UK who have complained about big bills from their children's in-app purchases. The changes to Apple's billing process, which means express consent must be obtained before in-app charges are made, must be in place by 31 March, said the FTC. In an internal email obtained by the website 9to5Mac, chief executive Tim Cook told Apple employees that the FTC's proposals were in line with the company's own intentions. TAGS play station 4, play station, play station 2 emulator, play station emulator, play station 3, free play station emulator, play station network, sony play station, play station 2, xbox one, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, xbox 360 iso, xbox emulator, xbox 360 game, gta 5 cheat xbox, xbox iso, gta 5 cheat xbox 360, xbox 360 deal, microsoft, microsoft office, microsoft window, microsoft security essentials, microsoft office 2000, 2003 edition microsoft office professional, 2003 microsoft office student, microsoft word, 2007 microsoft office system, microsoft window xp, download microsoft word, microsoft window media center, microsoft internet explorer, 2007 download microsoft word, microsoft excel, microsoft account, microsoft outlook, microsoft corporation, microsoft window 7, microsoft surface, microsoft office word, microsoft download, microsoft online, microsoft office 2010, explorer internet microsoft update, microsoft power point, microsoft update, download microsoft office, microsoft xbox 360, microsoft computer training, apple, apple store, apple itunes music store, apple itunes, apple ipad, apple iphone, apple ipod, apple laptop, apple vacation, apple ipad mini, apple fix, apple logo, apple tv, apple support community, apple software download, apple iphone 5c, apple iphone 5s, apple iphone 4, apple iphone 5, samsung galaxy, samsung, samsung galaxy s4, samsung galaxy s3, viber for samsung, samsung flight, samsung galaxy note, samsung phone, att samsung galaxy, samsung galaxy note 3, samsung kies, samsung galaxy s iii, sprint samsung galaxy, samsung galaxy s2, samsung galaxy tab 3, samsung galaxy s 4, samsung tablet, samsung galaxy tab, samsung galaxy s, att samsung, samsung galaxy note 2, samsung galaxy s5, samsung galaxy tab 2, samsung galaxy mega, samsung galaxy s3 mini, samsung galaxy s4 mini, samsung galaxy s ii, how to screen shot on samsung galaxy s4, mobile samsung, sony, sony video game, sony tv, sony vaio, sony xperia, sony play station, sony ericsson, sony xperia z, sony laptop, sony entertainment network, sony camera, sony xperia z1, sony tv live, sony psp wall, sony vegas, sony vaio laptop, sony computer, sony style, sony mobile,

• published: 16 Jan 2014
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