Canadian Teen Racks Up $7,600 In Microtransaction Charges
In case you haven't heard, games can cost a lot of money these days if you're not careful -- or if you give your gamer child access to a credit card with a limit in the high four digits.
That was the expensive lesson one parent in Canada learned this holiday season. According to a CBC report, Ontarian Lance Perkins received a bill for $7,625.88 on Dec. 23, all of which were attributed to his 17-year-old son's frequent and repeated microtransactions in various FIFA soccer games for an unidentified Xbox system. The son confessed to the transactions but seemed just as surprised about how much he had spent. "He thought it was a one-time fee for the game," Perkins said.
It seems unlikely that Microsoft will reverse or undo the charges, issuing a statement that says such legal transactions are the responsibility of the buyer, and that there are systems in place to help parents regulate their children's purchases. Perkins won't need to worry about those systems, however, as all gaming systems have henceforth been banned from his home.
The FIFA games Perkins' son paid for may or may not have been free-to-play, but they obviously came loaded with microtransactions of the type that are common in F2P games. In any case, it's something to keep in mind if you've got a child with access to a bank account or credit card -- even if it's "for emergencies," as Perkins had designated for his son.
Related Articles
- Xbox Team Reveals Plans To Take Four Games To Other Platforms, Sea Of Thieves Rumored To Be One
- Always Online Podcast: Microsoft Buying Nintendo, EverQuest 3, And KFC in FFXIV w/ Special Guest Ginger Prime Ep 490
- Major Nelson Says His Goodbyes To Xbox And Looks Forward To The Next Chapter Of His Career
About the Author
Jason Winter is a veteran gaming journalist, he brings a wide range of experience to MMOBomb, including two years with Beckett Media where he served as the editor of the leading gaming magazine Massive Online Gamer. He has also written professionally for several gaming websites.
More Stories by Jason WinterRead Next
A new hero has joined the Nexus, bringing with him the curse of the Gilneans.
You May Enjoy
They've made improvements.
The Hunter Guild and the Fortis Colosseum are open for business.
Fight monsters and other players in the future world of Pangea.
The "Secret Lab" season is exactly what it sounds like.
It sounds like some great features.
The update also includes Battleon Museum adjustments and the return of the Clover Crusaders.
Discussion (2)