Tag Archives: Oliver Allen

Apple’s in-app purchasing spirals out of control

Published on Monday, December 5th by Tony Dennis

Rating: Child lands £1,300 bill from free iPad app

Despite numerous precedents and calls from the US House of Representatives, Apple has demonstrated that – once again – it is permitting unscrupulous publishers to fleece parents. This time, in the UK, a seven-year old child managed to run up a £1,300 bill by making in-app purchases. He was playing a game called Tap Zoo from Pocket Gems – a San Francisco based developer. Although the game itself is free, players are encouraged to ‘collect’ virtual animals with golden coins whose purchase charges range from £1 to £79.99. Take a look at the game’s front page via iTunes on a PC and there’s absolutely no warning that such vast fees can be incurred. Continue reading →

Posted in App stores, Apple, Games | Tagged Amy Klobuchar, Apple, Heidi Drager, in-app purchasing, iPad, Oliver Allen, Tap Zoo | 6 Comments

Apple brings in-app purchasing into disrepute – yet again

Published on Monday, November 21st by Tony Dennis

Rating: 4-year old Brit runs up £87 bill playing rogue game Smurfs’Village

Despite it’s protestations to the contrary, Apple is bringing the whole practice of in-app billing into disrepute. This is despite its protestations to the contrary. The latest incident involves a four-year-old Brit, Oliver Allen – who cannot even read or write – managed to wrack up a bill of costing £87.48. Oliver was playing a children’s game – Smurfs’ Village, and incurred the charges because his mother – Sam Allen, was still logged into the iTunes App Store. The App Store has a time-out of 15 minutes and the purchases were made within that time period. The amazing thing is that the USA’s FTC had been asked to investigate exactly the same kind of incident nine months previously. Continue reading →