Parents aux États-Unis peuvent désormais demander un remboursement de Fortnite

Fortnite players in the United States who have been affected by unauthorized in-app purchases made by their children can now request a refund. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a consumer protection regulatory body, has started notifying more than 37 million people via email about the possibility of compensation. This comes after Epic Games Inc, the maker of Fortnite, agreed to settle a legal dispute for $520 million, following complaints about children’s privacy and deceptive payment practices.

Deceptive Practices and Refunds

The settlement includes $245 million for customer refunds and a $275 million fine for allegedly collecting personal information on Fortnite players under the age of 13 without parental consent. The FTC stated that Epic Games used “dark patterns” and deceptive practices to trick players into making unwanted purchases, and made it easy for children to spend money without parental consent. In response to the settlement, Epic Games implemented additional safeguards to prevent unintended purchases.

While the settlement refund is currently only available to customers in the United States, there is hope that Epic Games will extend the refund eligibility to UK customers. In a statement to the UK’s Digital, Culture Media, and Sport Committee in 2019, Matthew Weissinger, Director of Marketing at Epic Games, expressed their intention to be generous in cases of unauthorized purchases made by children. However, Leigh Day Solicitors partner Jill Paterson emphasized that consumers in the UK have rights, and if Epic Games fails to honor their commitment, there may be legal avenues for consumer redress.

Eligibility and Claim Process

According to the FTC, those eligible for refunds in the United States include Fortnite users who were charged in-game currency for items they didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022, individuals whose child made charges to their credit card without their knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018, and customers whose accounts were locked after reporting wrongful charges to their credit card company. Claims can be submitted until January 17, 2024.

Overall, this settlement and refund opportunity aim to address the concerns raised by parents regarding unauthorized in-app purchases made by their children while playing Fortnite. The notifications from the FTC provide affected individuals with the chance to seek compensation for any financial losses incurred.

Source : www.bing.com