Refunds for illegal purchases

[Lief Treaty]

My minor son made over $1200 charges on steam over the last three months. I have requested refunds through the purchase history and called the phone number but have not received any replies. Due to the fact he is a minor and illegally accessed the debit card, I am requesting refunds for all purchases made over the last three month.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[ecznos]

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6088-UDXM-7214#refund
http://store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds/?l=english

[Lief Treaty]

Thanks.

Unfortunately that doesn't show what happens when the purchases were made illegally by a minor child. There are laws restricting purchases by minors who do not have signing authority over a card. The circumstances don't fit under the regular rules of refunding.

[ecznos]

Try to contact steam support.

https://help.steampowered.com/en/

But according to valve: All purchases are final – you will not have any right to a refund or a reversal of any Community Market transaction once it is completed.

I'm sure they won't refund anything back if your son bought items on community market. Just ask them, maybe i'm wrong.

[bopomofo]

it was me sorry daddy

[HEART]

Originally posted by Lief Treaty:

My minor son made over $1200 charges on steam over the last three months. I have requested refunds through the purchase history and called the phone number but have not received any replies. Due to the fact he is a minor and illegally accessed the debit card, I am requesting refunds for all purchases made over the last three month.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Just curious...

a) how did you not notice these charges until now?
b) how did your bank not notice these charges?
c) don't you monitor your son's internet usage and activity?

Since this is your son and your card was not stolen by some stranger, you will have a difficult time, to say the least in getting these funds returned to you. They will claim that you failed to safeguard your account information and it could have been prevented.

[Ｔｅｎｓｅｎｕｍａ]

Originally posted by MiSOKΛ:

Since this is your son and your card was not stolen by some stranger, you will have a difficult time, to say the least in getting these funds returned to you. They will claim that you failed to safeguard your account information and it could have been prevented.

this

Good luck OP

[Lief Treaty]

Thanks MiSoka for you father of the year post. Way to assume things without having any context.

For the record, this was his mother's card who he does not live with. He lives with me and I just found out about it last Friday. Due to the fact that I had custody I am still responsible for his actions even though I didn't have access to any of the information.

There are also several lawsuits of iTunes and others that stated minor children are not responsible for their actions due to the fact that they don't have signing authority on an adults card. Those companies have more easily accessible customer service and I have already received several refunds. Steam does not have a customer service hotline so I thought I would use the message board to try to contact someone as I have already disputed the charges through the previous payments section and called the number and left messages.

[ecznos]

You have to contact steam support directly. Use the link above.

[HEART]

That being said, you should use this link, not the one's referenced above...

https://help.steampowered.com/en/wizard/HelpWithUnknownCharges

[Lief Treaty]

Thanks

[Palputin]

Steam isnt responsible for you not being able to prevent your son from wasting money, they only offer refunds for games that have been bought less than 2 weeks ago and played around 2 hours. Rip :/

[Lief Treaty]

The law says otherwise. I am just trying to figure out how to get the reimbursement without going to court. There is a lot of legal precedence in this area. Roblox, Apple, and Nintendo have already issued refunds without delay or argument.

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/01/apple-inc-will-provide-full-consumer-refunds-least-325-million

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/07/are-you-responsible-for-purchases-your-kids-make-without-your-permission/index.htm

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

nope. the steam subscriber agreement slearly states...

1 C. Your Account

When you complete Steam’s registration process, you create a Steam account ("Account"). Your Account may also include billing information you provide to Valve for the purchase of Subscriptions, Content and Services and any physical merchandise offered for purchase through Steam (“Hardware”). You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or Account except as otherwise specifically authorized by Valve. You are responsible for the confidentiality of your login and password and for the security of your computer system. Valve is not responsible for the use of your password and Account or for all of the communication and activity on Steam that results from use of your login name and password by you, by any person to whom you may have intentionally or by negligence disclosed your login and/or password in violation of this confidentiality provision. Unless it results from Valve’s negligence or fault, Valve is not responsible for the use of your Account by a person who fraudulently used your login and password without your permission. If you believe that the confidentiality of your login and/or password may have been compromised, you must notify Valve via the support form (https://support.steampowered.com/newticket.php) without any delay.

Your Account, including any information pertaining to it (e.g.: contact information, billing information, Account history and Subscriptions, etc.), is strictly personal. You may therefore not sell or charge others for the right to use your Account, or otherwise transfer your Account, nor may you sell, charge others for the right to use, or transfer any Subscriptions other than if and as expressly permitted by this Agreement (including any Subscription Terms or Rules of Use) or as otherwise specifically permitted by Valve.

3 B. Responsibility for Charges Associated With Your Account

As the Account holder, you are responsible for all charges incurred, including applicable taxes, and all purchases made by you or anyone that uses your Account, including your family or friends. If you cancel your Account, Valve reserves the right to collect fees, surcharges or costs incurred before cancellation. Any delinquent or unpaid Accounts must be settled before Valve will allow you to register again.

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/

this is what family view is for.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5149-EOPC-9918

[Nex]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

nope. the steam subscriber agreement slearly states...

1 C. Your Account

When you complete Steam’s registration process, you create a Steam account ("Account"). Your Account may also include billing information you provide to Valve for the purchase of Subscriptions, Content and Services and any physical merchandise offered for purchase through Steam (“Hardware”). You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or Account except as otherwise specifically authorized by Valve. You are responsible for the confidentiality of your login and password and for the security of your computer system. Valve is not responsible for the use of your password and Account or for all of the communication and activity on Steam that results from use of your login name and password by you, by any person to whom you may have intentionally or by negligence disclosed your login and/or password in violation of this confidentiality provision. Unless it results from Valve’s negligence or fault, Valve is not responsible for the use of your Account by a person who fraudulently used your login and password without your permission. If you believe that the confidentiality of your login and/or password may have been compromised, you must notify Valve via the support form (https://support.steampowered.com/newticket.php) without any delay.

Your Account, including any information pertaining to it (e.g.: contact information, billing information, Account history and Subscriptions, etc.), is strictly personal. You may therefore not sell or charge others for the right to use your Account, or otherwise transfer your Account, nor may you sell, charge others for the right to use, or transfer any Subscriptions other than if and as expressly permitted by this Agreement (including any Subscription Terms or Rules of Use) or as otherwise specifically permitted by Valve.

3 B. Responsibility for Charges Associated With Your Account

As the Account holder, you are responsible for all charges incurred, including applicable taxes, and all purchases made by you or anyone that uses your Account, including your family or friends. If you cancel your Account, Valve reserves the right to collect fees, surcharges or costs incurred before cancellation. Any delinquent or unpaid Accounts must be settled before Valve will allow you to register again.

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/

this is what family view is for.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5149-EOPC-9918

:qr:

Steam is not above the law. Quit misleading this person. They can write whatever they want in their user agreement, as long as it doesn't go against the laws. If other companies have to be held accountable for these rules, then why doesn't Valve? Are you trying to tell us that they are above the law?

[999999999]

The difference is that Valve has Family View for children and that helps protect their parents from unecessary or "illegal" purchases. The Amazon case was before and during their change to a password based system to protect the parents from charges. Steam has the password system it Family View to prevent this. You can not cite the Amazon case because of this.

After reading the Apple case, it also can not be cited as Valve has a service to protect users against their children making purchases without consent.