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Frustrated parents whose kids bought gear on the popular video game Fortnite without their permission may soon get some of their money back.
The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it has begun notifying more than 37 million people that they may be entitled to compensation from a settlement with game maker Epic Games. The Federal Trade Commission has created a webpage on its website for those who are affected to apply for a reimbursement. It also said Epic “made it easy for children to rack up charges without parental consent and locked the accounts of consumers who disputed unauthorized charges with their credit card companies,” according to a blog post Tuesday.
Eligible refund recipients must be 18 years or older or have a parent or guardian complete the refund form. You might qualify for the refund if between January 2017 and September 2022:
You were charged in-game currency for unwanted items.
- Your child charged game items to your credit card without you knowing.
- Your account was locked after you disputed wrongful charges with your credit card company.
- Eligible recipients can apply at this link with their claim number and Epic Account ID. Epic provides instructions on how to find your account ID. The FTC stated that the amount of a refund “depends on several factors including how many people submit a claim.” In a March agreement, Epic agreed in total to pay consumers $245 million in order to settle the FTC’s complaint. The company will also pay $275 million to settle allegations that it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule. The agreement also prevents Epic from blocking customers from their accounts when they dispute unauthorized charge. Watch: Apple’s battle with Epic Games is a part of a larger Antitrust Battle