Can anyone help please?…

[VaromaUK]

My son and his friend have used my phone to play games and have made in app purchases without my permission. I have had £849 taken from my bank account without my knowledge. They have put in my PayPal address which has taken money from my bank account. Is it possible to get this refunded as I am now short for bills. hope you can help.

Android or Apple?

Ime Google are pretty good at refunding - if you search Google play refund you'll get to a page where you can request refunds. Put in "unauthorised purchase" and you should get it back!

I'm so sorry they did this! I hope you'll let the other parents know - though some games are rubbish at transparency around microtransactions!

Apple. It’s a bingo app

I can't help with apple unfortunately but I bet I'd you search apple store game refunds you'll find something helpful!

How old is your son? (and how on earth does he know your paypal details??)

I can't give an answer to your question I am afraid, but you must change your passwords and set up two step verification on Paypal, and any online accounts you hold that store your payment details, immediately.

I hope your ds is in a shedload of trouble for effectively stealing from you. Sorry this has happened - so stressful 😞

Contact Apple straight away

My DS did this some years ago now, Apple refunded it

(I still don't have direct access to my account - I load £20 credit at a time!)

support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204084

Why should the child be in trouble? We don’t even know if the children knew they were spending real money.

there are simple parental controls available and other even more surefire ways to prevent this from happening. People just have to use them.

This happens a lot and whether they'll refund you probably depends on the specifics of the situation

All you can do is follow the process and hope they are sympathetic

If your son is old enough to know how to use PayPal he's possibly old enough that they'll say he knew what he was doing, does he also know your password? Bingo isn't a young child's game is it?

Have you changed the password and set up extra security now

I take some responsibility for this as I used to play this app and must have left my PayPal details on there. I have the ‘no gambling’ restriction on my debit card and the ‘no in app purchases allowed’ restriction on all apps. My son and his friend are 9, and they both say they didn’t know it was taking money out of my bank account. I’m sorry for not being a ‘perfect’ parent. I’m sure the people who left negative comments have never made a mistake! Thank you for any useful advice left.

He also got his love of bingo from his Nan who plays a lot (at clubs, not on phone). No password is needed to make purchases, just my email address.

@VaromaUK @Ponderingwindow

Hi I am sorry for unfairly impugning your son. I didn't intend to criticise your parenting. I was judging completely by my own perspective of having a teen who plays online with teen friends; they would understand they are spending real money.

Good luck with the refund.