Xbox live.......a cautionary tale!

[rufusindigo]

My 10 yr old son, who has ADHD, was given an Xbox and Xbox live membership for Christmas. I set it up with all the parental controls on which took me ages as I found it really complicated and difficult to understand. Once it was up and running he began to receive 'friend requests' which he told me he was unable to accept on a child setting. At his behest I changed his setting to either a teenager or adult setting so that he could accept the requests. The next thing I know I receive a bank statement that shows over £500 worth of Fifa points purchases in one month!! I had no idea that if I changed his child setting then he would be able to access the debit card I had registered to activate his Xbox live account. I have tried to take this up with Microsoft who are distinctly unsympathetic and have offered me a refund of......$13.49. I feel so stupid, as a single parent on a low wage I really can't afford this. I would seriously advise against getting an Xbox - especially with Xbox live . We were much happier with the Wii!

I'd sell the Xbox tbh

I would sell the Xbox to pay the bill too I'm afraid, it's never a bad idea to teach kids that actions have consequences. Not much use to you now but in case it's useful for anyone else my DD has to ask us to log in to the adult account to accept or send friends requests so we're able to supervise who she has contact with as well as ensuring she can't make any purchases. Might be worth contacting the bank, I doubt they'll refund it but they can block all further purchases from Microsoft through your card rather than you having to work out how to remove the details from the Xbox live account if that helps. It's a bit of a minefield for those of us who aren't tech savvy, I relied heavily on my 18 year old DSS to help me set it all up safely or I may well have ended up in the same boat as you OP

At the age of 13 your son is old enough to know what he is doing Ann.
If he doesnt then he shouldnt have free reign with a debit card.

It is xbox or microsofts fault.

Just ring them up and they'll take the card off.

Even better advice is to go to any game shop, buy Microsoft points and put the code in so there is a pre paid balance to use. Then when it's spent it's spent.

Sorry but its your sons fault. He linked the card and used it.... He knows where money comes from to pay for things.
Its hardly Microsoft's fault. It's quite clear when you sign on.... They aren't 'vulnerable' he is 'in tears' as he has been caught...

You can remove it yourself. And make sure any purchases you are emailed about.

Honestly as parents we need to be one step ahead, have to be totally familiar with gaming stuff, Internet etc.
So many of my sons friends parents have no clue whatsoever, it's pretty worrying.

My email is linked to Xbox so I know whenever he buys anything.

Tbh I'd be checking his friend requests too. Ds's name is not searchable. You have to know exactly what it is to send him a request

That's good to know about the Amazon points. With the 360, I am sure we had it set so there was a card registered, but you still needed to enter a password to purchase. The One seems to have no such setting, if there's a card registered (to buy a game for example) it stays accessible with just a click, unless you delete the card again.

Ah 'op' = original poster - well I've learnt something. Re posting in another thread - thought it disappeared! Zombie alert is new to me too.

Re 13 yr old with a debit card - he usually only has a small amount of money in it but he got a cheque for Xmas so we put that in and meanwhile he spent the money and was supposed to pay me back when cheque cleared. Hence when he went to pay me back got in a complete state when he realised he had actually spent all of the money. Obviously he knew he spent some. I only allow him to purchase things with my permission and this was a shock to me. I repeat - I don't think Xbox should be able to take money off those under 18 - it is wrong !

FGS Ann you've already been told, it's not microsofts problem. If you're that worried about it put on the parental controls and he won't be able to spend money. Or actually look at the price of things and figure out that it's expensive, ergo should not be bought.

ANN
It's probably a bit confusing to have resurrected someone else's zombie thread AND to have started a completely new thread too.

I have commented on you other thread that I don't think Microsoft are at blame here at all. The parental controls are available and there is a lot of guidance on how to use them. YouTube is useful if you really struggle with tech. There are very simple to understand step by step tutorials on, well, everything.

Sorry but this is you and your kids fault.

I am a parent and I've messed up too and you may be to hear that my DC have messed up from time to time as well. Sometimes it's better to accept it and not blame others

my son is 19 and has an xbox (unfortunally)!!! but I have never let him have my bank details. Yes, you learned the hard way Honey xx... so sorry xx

This thread is 2 years old. I think the op is probably over it by now...

Typical poor parenting, blaming someone else for either their lack of controls and use of protocols, or for their badly behaved child. Face it. You should have checked the controls at that age, and he is old enough to know better.
How the fuck you can blame Xbox, Microsoft, the pope or Peggy Mitchell for your failings.

My son is now nearly 19 and sits on xbox 24/7, he has dropped out of college and his Kent Football league. He thinks that socialising 24/7 on social media is ok pfft! Do any other mum;s have the same prob?

I don't think that anything that happens with xbox is poor parenting - I think we Mums need to be here to support each other and not to be put down, especially when loan patents bless you all mums xx

I don't think that anything that happens with xbox is poor parenting - I think we Mums need to be here to support each other and not to be put down, especially when loan patents bless you all mums xx

I don't think that anything that happens with xbox is poor parenting - I think we Mums need to be here to support each other and not to be put down, especially when loan patents bless you all mums xx

If you are here rufusindigo or any other mum's who want to talk about problems that xbox brings, then I would welcome your chat xx

let's not barrage a Mum for being naïve pls ,,yes I give my son my cc no if I want to and I remove it after from Microsoft. we are not all perfect.. pls remember xx

Support isn't agreeing when someone is blaming others for their fuck ups. Not perfect? but again don't blame others for your failings. And why 'loan (lone)' mums in particular? What an odd, patronising post. You sound like a particularly daft journo.