Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
123 thoughts onFortnite Class Action Says Kid Spent $1,000+ In Game
Count me in, I’m going back-and-forth with PlayStation regarding over $600 worth of things that were charged on my credit card. My seven-year-old told me “that he was able to “get vbucks” But didn’t understand how or why he was getting them. there are total of 15 charges with no description, just the word “purchase”. I have no idea what was charged to my credit card exactly! and neither does my son! I want answers!!
Both of my sons have spent over $1,500 by entering my credit card information without my permission or buying VBucks, Games, etc on XBox One. I finally cancelled every credit card and demanded a new number account number, plus credits for fraudulent charges from my credit cards. This is racketeering at its best, especially for kids without any frontal lobe development to see that they do not receive anything for their hard earned money. Microsoft requiring a credit card or to purchase a gift card to open an account is also contributing to the problem.
Please add me! My 7 year old spent hundreds without my approval because his Fortnite “friends” told him he couldn’t be their friend if he didn’t have 100,000 V bucks. :(
I would like to be added also my son has spent hundreds on this game and another one. Just a week ago he spent $450 most of it was on vbucks
Add me my son spent 2300 on Vbucks off my debit card
I would like to be added to the Class Action lawsuit. My child spent $600 over the course of a week and I wasn’t made aware of it for weeks. Now Playstation says I can’t get a refund because the stuff he purchased has been used.
My son spent $896 and my daughter $145 over a period of a month! I am so upset and can’t get any of the money back! I had no clue they were doing that.
Yes my son had purchased hundreds of dollars over several months on skin’s and battle passes without my permission and I wasn’t able to recover none of the fund’s back
My son spent $300. in a matter of days off my bank card and I didn’t know until I didn’t have enough money to pay a bill. I was pissed I asked him what is a fortnite and he said he needed some skins and battle passes!!! I said you better to be able to eat them skins, because you are not getting dinner. These games made these little children feel like they need the newest and latest add ons my son is addicted to this fortnite mess. He actually rages I have to detox him for days before he gets back to normal or at least I think and then come to find out he sneaks and play it. Pulling my hair out.
Both of my children age 14 have spent over $500.00 in unauthorized charges on this game
700.00 in two days..please help
Please add me. My 10 year old daughter spent over $400 AU in 36 hours whilst I was away over the weekend! I bought her a $59.95 vbucks pack as a good Will gesture before I left and then she easily racked up that bill as her friends were asking her to gift them battle passes, and skins etc!! I now have no money for two weeks!!! PlayStation need to have a huge warning when someone is creating their first ever account with them that if they are setting up the ps4 for a minor they must create a second account for the child!! Very cunning company!!! Seems they rely on causing grief within families and rob people to get their money!!!