FTC plans to reimburse Fortnite players with settlement funds: Following Epic Games’ record-breaking settlement of unauthorized charges, the Federal Trade Commission plans to issue refunds to eligible parents and Fortnite gamers in the US.
Following claims that the video game publisher violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and tricked gamers into making unauthorized payments, the FTC announced this week that the Fortnite developers would pay a total of $520 million in fines.
The federal agency claims it would use $245 million of the fine to reimburse US-based Fortnite gamers and parents who made illegal purchases or whose accounts were frozen for disputing unauthorized transactions.
The FTC accused Epic Games of using it “Shady patterns of tricking players into making unnecessary purchases and tricking children into collecting unauthorized charges without parental intervention” in their official announcement. Epic Games was also accused of blocking access to purchased Fortnite content for users who disputed unauthorized charges.
See more related articles here:
If you believe any of the issues above have affected you, we’ve gathered all the information to help you determine your eligibility for a refund and access the most up-to-date information on how to request one.
Contents
Who is eligible for a refund?
After confirming Epic Games’ record fine, the FTC has published extensive information about which parents and Fortnite gamers may be eligible for a refund.
The FTC plans to make refunds available to:
- Parents whose children have made an unauthorized credit card purchase in the Epic games store between January 2017 and November 2018 Fortnite players whose accounts were locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after disputing unauthorized charges with their credit card companies. Fortnite players who had to pay in-game currency (V-Bucks) for unwanted in-game items (such as cosmetics, llamas, or battle passes).
- It is also critical to remember that only eligible gamers and parents from the US will be able to receive any compensation from the settlement money. Therefore, if you live in the UK or anywhere other than the US, you are not eligible to claim a refund through this process.
Fortnite FTC Penalty: Latest Claim Details
Parents and gamers of Fortnite in the US who believe they are entitled to a refund cannot manually submit a claim. The FTC has confirmed that it will provide regular updates on the procedure and direct notification emails to customers who have paid for in-game purchases.
Before you use a buy it now, pay later plan to buy your Christmas gifts, know what you’re getting. New Consumer Alert: https://t.co/eT1azErgno
—FTC (@FTC) December 23, 2022
Customers who believe they may be eligible for a refund are urged to subscribe to regular email updates to receive the latest information. Beware of scammers who guarantee you a refund in exchange for money; the FTC will not request cash to file a claim as part of this process.
What should I do to get a refund?
If you believe you qualify for a payment, you do not need to take any action at this time. We will update this page and email consumers who paid for in-game purchases when we have more information about the refund program. Remember, the FTC will never charge you for filing a claim or receiving a refund. Never pay anyone who demands money in exchange for a guarantee of an FTC refund.
Closing
Please forward this message and encourage your friends and family to stop by Leedailly.com for the latest news.
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.