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Unauthorized Child Purchases in Fortnite Could Qualify for Refunds, According to FTC

by Chloe Baker
4 comments
Epic Games Refund

Parents who have discovered unauthorized purchases of virtual goods in the widely-played video game Fortnite may soon have an opportunity for financial restitution.

Regulatory authorities in the United States have initiated the process of contacting over 37 million individuals via email to inform them of their potential eligibility for monetary compensation. This action is part of a legal resolution with the game’s developer, Epic Games Inc.

Late last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disclosed that Epic Games had agreed to disburse $520 million for penalties and reimbursements in order to settle grievances focused on issues related to children’s privacy and deceptive payment mechanisms leading to unintentional purchases.

Of the $520 million settlement amount, $245 million has been designated for customer reimbursements. Finalized in March, this portion is intended to offset the expenses incurred by consumers for unwanted purchases of V-Bucks, Fortnite’s virtual currency, as well as other in-game items such as costumes or whimsical purple llama loot boxes.

The deadline for consumers to file a claim is set for January 17.

Furthermore, Epic Games has consented to a $275 million fine for the unauthorized collection of personal data from Fortnite players who are minors under the age of 13, without parental notification or consent. This fine represents the largest ever imposed for a violation of an FTC regulation.

Per the FTC, individuals who may be eligible for refunds encompass Fortnite players who were invoiced for in-game items they did not desire between January 2017 and September 2022; parents whose children made unauthorized charges to their credit cards from January 2017 to November 2018; and individuals whose accounts were suspended subsequent to lodging complaints about illegitimate charges with their credit card providers.

In a statement updated this Tuesday, following the resolution of the legal case in December, Epic Games indicated that it plans to incorporate additional measures to inhibit unintentional purchases and directed inquiries to the FTC’s website for further information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Epic Games Refund

What is the FTC settlement with Epic Games about?

The FTC settlement with Epic Games is related to issues involving children’s privacy and deceptive payment methods in the popular video game Fortnite. Epic Games agreed to pay $520 million in penalties and refunds as part of this settlement.

What does the $245 million in customer refunds cover?

The $245 million allocated for customer refunds is meant to reimburse Fortnite players for unwanted purchases, including expenses related to in-game currency (V-Bucks) and virtual items such as costumes and loot crates.

Who is eligible for refunds under this settlement

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4 comments

GamerDad September 19, 2023 - 9:39 pm

my kid bought tons v-bucks, maybe I can get $$$ back, thanks 2 ftc!

Reply
CryptoEnthusiast September 20, 2023 - 12:11 pm

epic games got smacked hard by ftc for kids’ stuff & privacy. refunds r cool tho!

Reply
PolicyNerd September 20, 2023 - 1:50 pm

epic broke FTC rule, huge $275M fine, gotta protect kids’ info!

Reply
FinanceWhiz September 20, 2023 - 6:46 pm

$520M fine, ouch! but $245M 4 refunds is kinda nice, jan 17 deadline, not 2 far off!

Reply

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