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A mother has filed a class action lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment over claims that her child made more than $1,000 in in-game purchases while playing Fortnite.
Brandi Crawford says the game and how it is played through the Sony PlayStation encourages young players to make in-app purchases.
Allegedly, the game does not warn parents of minor players that these purchases can be made.
Crawford says her son began to play Fortnite on his PlayStation 4 in 2019. Allegedly, her son, known by the initials CRB, made in-game purchases worth more than $1,000. Crawford argues that this occurred because Sony allows minor players to make purchases without their parents’ knowledge or permission.
The Fortnite in-game purchases class action lawsuit argues that to play Fortnite CRB had to make an account with the PlayStation Network. This account reportedly made it so that he could buy and download digital content, including games. He then allegedly needed to link a debit card to the account, for which he used his mother’s debit card.
As part of signing up for a PlayStation Network account, users reportedly have to register an online account and agree with the Terms of Service and User Agreement. Allegedly, these terms of service require a user to agree that they are either not a minor or, if they are a minor, are making the account with their guardian’s consent.
However, Crawford argues that these requirements are not effective in preventing children from making accounts. She says that many children make PlayStation Network accounts without their parents’ permission. In addition to making accounts, many children reportedly make in-game purchases without their parents’ permission.
The Fortnite class action claims that in-game purchases include “skins” that change the appearance of a player’s in-game character and a Battle Pass that gives a player access to rewards not available for free. According to Crawford, the maker of Fortnite, Epic Games, allows children to make purchases for these virtual items without receiving the authorization from their parents.
The Fortnite purchases class action lawsuit says that CBR made purchases of more than $1,000 worth of V-bucks, which are used in the game to make purchases of “skins” and Battle Passes.
Crawford says that she sought a refund of the purchases after she learned of her son’s unauthorized micro-transactions. However, the User Agreement that CRB signed reportedly says that all transactions are non-refundable, even if they are made by a minor.
The Fortnite class action argues that these purchases are voidable under California law, despite the terms of Sony’s agreements. Crawford asserts that she and other parents have suffered economic injury because of Sony’s allegedly unlawful refusal to refund purchases made by minors.
This is not the first time that parents have taken issue with Fortnite’s in-game purchases. Two other class action lawsuits have made claims similar to Crawford’s.
Has your child made unauthorized Fortnite in-game purchases? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Crawford is represented by Keith Altman of Excolo Law PLLC.
The Fortnite In-Game Purchases Class Action Lawsuit is Crawford v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC, Case No. 3:20-cv-01732-LB, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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123 thoughts onFortnite Class Action Says Kid Spent $1,000+ In Game
Just added up what my 10 year old spent on Vbucks and skins in the past 45 days! $1341.44 since he asked my wife to buy him a battle pass and he gave her cash. She didn’t think it would save her card. Now the X box is gone and he is earning money pulling weeds for everyone in the nieghborhood.
my kid clicked buy(impulse buy) 14 times on 79.99 charge plus fees for V bucks in Fortnite.
Sure wish I could get money returned also, its an automatic set up to our children.
800.00 last month- by my 10 yr old. This game is ruining our children and robbing them of childhood- causing tension between parents and children- all while epic games gets rich. ?
Pls Add Me
My grandson is made several hundred dollars in purchases but he’s on Microsoft Xbox and they refused to refund the money
My 10 year old racked up $2000 on my debit card buying skins on the Xbox for Fortnite. I’m livid and speechless. Please add me to the list as well.
My grandson charged over 1100.00 dollars. I was told that they would not refund my money because it was one on my end. They are ripping our young kids off.