Dad Blames Microsoft for Son's Xbox Live Spending Spree

[Trilliandi]

I hate to be the one that says it, but Microsoft really is to blame... really...

See, anyone keeping any tabs on the game industry knows by now only too well that... modern parets SUCK at parenting. They're either horribly irresponsible or just plain clueless, game ratings might as well be in mandarin for all they understand, and the telivision is the best babysitter they never had to hire or pay to watch their kids. Maybe Microsoft SHOULD know this a bit better than most, and maybe have a system in place for these kinds of people... y'know?

Then again you can't pin TOO much blame on Microsoft, I mean, there's only so much stupidity you can plan for, but there should still be SOME kind of backup for parents like this.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

I'm going to actually take the father's side here.

It's not unreasonable to expect a password lock on your credit card to be opt out rather than opt in.

All these childless teenagers and twenty something shouting "bad parenting" are just indulging in the reflexive usual squawking in defence of their hobby.

He's certainly guilty of carelessness but it's not like Microsoft can't just reset that account and offer at least a partial refund. That would be sensible customer service/PR on their part.

Im gonna agree with this guy here, a lot of adults really dont have much of an idea about gaming technology, and he probably assumed that the account wouldnt have permanent access to his credit card. That and he probably trusted his son anyway, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The kid probably knew about what he was doing but did it anyway (When you were 12 you did stupid things, everyone did), not really caring about the consequences.

Still it took the dude six months to realize this? I was under the assumptions that banks sent you messages about this kind of stuff once a month?

 

[Laughing Man]

While this is most certainly the fathers fault on many, many, MANY different levels Microsoft could very easily avoid these types of things by adding an extra confirmation screen before you spend any cash on anything.

Sorry and how exactly would this have solved anything? I have several online accounts with various etailers and they all have this screen that asks you to confirm purchases and they ALL save my password and deatils, all adding a screen like this would have done is given the kid an extra kid to confirm through. As stated by MS the system clearly states what the cost of the purchases is adding another screen is pointless the failure here starts and stops with the parent.

Here's how it goes

MS failure

1). Not adding an extra confirmation screen for the kid to skip through

The parents failure

1). Not setting up the kids XBox correctly, this stands in the same vain as parents who complain about internet porn, the systems are their to prevent the access if you can not be bothered learning to use them then the fault is yours and yours alone, ignorance is and never has been a valid excuse.

2). The kid clearly had no monitoring of his activity what so ever, 12 years old playing a game that is legally limited to sale of over 18s only.

3). The password was left active, I am certain the XBox has the ability to request password every time rather than just saving it and automatically logging in each time it is used.

4). The period of activity took place over several months so at no point did these transactions get noticed on the bill payers statement?

The level of failure is so epic that short of MS phoning him up and asking him to verbally confirm each purchase their is nothing that would have prevented this idiot and his idiot son from doing this.

 

[setting_son]

I remember when I was growing up, my parents used to make sure I didn't go spending their money or watching huge amounts of pornography or murdering animals. They did it by doing this thing, um, 'parenting'... I think it was called.

Does that not work anymore?

 

[johnnyLupine]

I can't help but feel bad for the guy though, who here can honestly say that they always read the pages of information that these companies give you when you sign up with something or their terms of service has changed? His kid needs to take some blame here too, even if it was a genuine mistake and he wasnt just lying to his dad to get out of trouble he needs to be taught that he needs to be more careful.

This is coming from a person whose dad dishes out contempt for my hobbys as if it was the one think keeping him alive. Even I'm suprised about what I wrote.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

WHY THE FUCK is nobody bothered that the kid plays cod?

Because as much as we'd like to think that the new generation of parents is responsible, they often aren't. Don't forget, CoD is a game and to most non-gamers, that alone means any game at all is full of cutesy-poo safeness for the kids to enjoy.

Shit, we're in 2012 and I know a few people my age who still are unaware that the gaming scene has progressed far beyond stomping on Goombas. Suggesting that it's now commonplace to spend some time killing fantasy Arab terrorists gets them on their high horses about how the medium has devolved into something monstrous and how it's now a complete waste of time.

Not everyone is a gamer, and several parents aren't willing or interested enough to take the ten needed seconds to check the ESRB's label. If CoD is what the kid wants for his birthday or Christmas, what do you think the oblivious parent is going to purchase?

 

[waj9876]

Hello people who believe Microsoft can do no wrong and default into "PARENTS TODAY SUCK! Kids today are too ignorant to know anything or manipulate their parents, it was different when I was a kid, so it's the parent's fault every time." thinking.

Everyone is at fault here. The idiot parent for not checking his bank account for six months. The little shit kid who manipulated his dad into believing he can do no wrong. And greedy Microsoft for setting it up to where idiot parents can be exploited.

 

[Risingblade]

Why aren't IQ tests mandatory for parents yet?

Because even smart people can be horrible parents

 

[soren7550]

Didn't the Escapist report something like this a few months to a year ago? It was a mother though, and when the kid got caught, he allegedly started crying.

Anyway, like it's been said before, the father's an idiot for not noticing any of this over a six month period, and there's almost no way that at twelve, the kid has no concept of money. He had to know what he was doing.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Wait wait wait. Does it show how much the points to get something will cost or does it show how many points something will cost? That would make a pretty big difference in believing the Fathers story.

Shows EITHER amount of money (if buying a game) OR MS points. However, you have to buy MS points which clearly shows you have to spend money for them anyway.

 

[Doom972]

XBL shouldn't keep credit card details unless the customer wants it to. It doesn't matter if it's a child account or not. Also, "Microsoft Points" instead of actual prices are made to make the customer feel like he's not spending money. I can see how a child might get confused.

 

[Darkmantle]

What bothers me I guess is that be obviously wasn't paying attention to his kid for 6 months.

Not only that, he wasn't paying attention to his bills for six months. That shows a total lack of responsability on his part. Which only goes further to sustain my point. The father was not a responsible man.

I agree, I just don't want people saying it's because his kid was playing CoD. There are far better reasons is all.

 

[NightHawk21]

WHY THE FUCK is nobody bothered that the kid plays cod?

Because we know it happens due to parents who are under the assumption that all games are appropriate for children, and that it's not their responsibility to make sure what their kid is playing actually is. Plus the stereotypical player of CoD, MWF, or Battlefield on the 360 is a 13 year old brat shouting obscenities and racial slurs over the microphone. Hell, just the other day I was talking with a guy while in line at Gamestop and he was telling me how he and his wife felt their 11 and 9 year old sons were old enough to be playing CoD. It took every ounce of restraint I had to not tell him otherwise. What's sad is that it's those kinds of parents who end up in situations like this and also blame games when their kid grows up to be a rampaging asshole.

maybe i am just stupid or retarded or really really naive but i just don't get how people can think a game where you shoot people in the head with more or less accurate depictions of modern weapons is something a child should play. i mean i get that as a parents you neither can nor want to control everything your child does but who in their right mind allows kids to do that?
my parents didn't allow me to watch violent movies when i was a kid, i still did it, especially when i was visiting friends but i still it helped me form a more differentiated opinion towards violence in media than FUCK YEAH BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOD(which is also an excellent game)

I think it really depends on the child. When I was growing up I was playing shooting video games since around 5 or so (whenever the hell Goldeneye came out). Mind you the majority of my childhood I spent with my cousins who each had a couple years on me. Combined that with just a general increased maturity and they had no problems with it. That being said there are some 20 year old people I know now who I still don't think are on the maturity level to play these games.

As for the OT, I think its completely the dads fault. There's no questions about it here. He didn't use the safegaurds that were already in place, didn't pay attention to his finances for half a year, didn't do a good job raising his kid, and mindlessly handed over his credit card. If I were Microsoft I would say sorry, you're shit out of luck and you aren't getting a refund because you bought and have been using the material for half a year.

 

[J Tyran]

I'm going to actually take the father's side here.

It's not unreasonable to expect a password lock on your credit card to be opt out rather than opt in.

All these childless teenagers and twenty something shouting "bad parenting" are just indulging in the reflexive usual squawking in defence of their hobby.

He's certainly guilty of carelessness but it's not like Microsoft can't just reset that account and offer at least a partial refund. That would be sensible customer service/PR on their part.

If the Father had set the Xbox up properly it would have locked purchases. There is little excuse for failing to set the Xbox up properly either. When you first turn the brand new console on it leads you step by step through all of that, it also happens to be in moronese so anyone can understand it.

The only reason for not having set up right is not being arsed and skipping it.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Man doesn't understand technology, gets burned as result, threatens to sue company that makes technology.

Really its partially his fault for not talking to his kid or checking his bank account. It's also partially the kid's fault as at 12 years old he can understand how money works and that he shouldn't be spending what he doesn't have.

 

[Dastardly]

The company failed to note that, as a 12-year-old, Nik shouldn't have been playing Call of Duty in the first place,

Says who? The rating is just there to provide parents information on what a game contains, and who the intended audience is in terms of age. Obviously, this guy is OK with his kid playing Call of Duty, making this particular point immaterial (He's not complaining about his child's behavior or exposure to violent media). Besides, it's possible that the family just has one profile, rather than one for each individual user.*

This guy isn't being unreasonable. He seems to have genuinely not known that it saved his credit card information. Microsoft needs to change the default options or provide more up-front warnings.

*Think about this, really. Old consoles? Push ON, put in game, PLAY. You didn't have to log into the device. That's how we've learned to engage video game consoles. In fact, a lot of parents might want their kids to play on an open profile -- it makes it easier for them to keep track of what and how long the kid is playing, for instance.

 

[zombiesinc]

Man, that would be too much like work though. Parents can't be taking all of that time out of their days to teach their children proper morals and how money works and stuff, jeez. Television should be good enough!

Of course not all parents are lazy and irresponsible but it's absolutely frustrating just how many actually think like this (well, minus the recognition of neglecting various parental responsibilities).

Off-topic and I promise not creepy at all: What's that shirt say in your profile pic? Because I feel like my immediate guess is just wrong, for some reason, but I would be excited if it weren't.

It says 'Haste The Day'. I don't listen to the band an absolute ton but loved the t-shirt and couldn't resist. ^^

 

[shrekfan246]

Man, that would be too much like work though. Parents can't be taking all of that time out of their days to teach their children proper morals and how money works and stuff, jeez. Television should be good enough!

Of course not all parents are lazy and irresponsible but it's absolutely frustrating just how many actually think like this (well, minus the recognition of neglecting various parental responsibilities).

Yeah, I agree with that. My parents took the time to make sure I was ready for everything I was exposed to, and they made damn sure that I knew I shouldn't be emulating any violence I saw in video games or movies.

It says 'Haste The Day'. I don't listen to the band an absolute ton but loved the t-shirt and couldn't resist. ^^

That's what I thought, and now I'm excited! >.> Don't even care if you're not their biggest fan, it's just awesome to see that there's more than one other person on this website aside from me who's heard of them in the first place.

 

[Sarsaparilla]

The company failed to note that, as a 12-year-old, Nik shouldn't have been playing Call of Duty in the first place,

Says who? The rating is just there to provide parents information on what a game contains, and who the intended audience is in terms of age. Obviously, this guy is OK with his kid playing Call of Duty, making this particular point immaterial (He's not complaining about his child's behavior or exposure to violent media). Besides, it's possible that the family just has one profile, rather than one for each individual user.*

This guy isn't being unreasonable. He seems to have genuinely not known that it saved his credit card information. Microsoft needs to change the default options or provide more up-front warnings.

*Think about this, really. Old consoles? Push ON, put in game, PLAY. You didn't have to log into the device. That's how we've learned to engage video game consoles. In fact, a lot of parents might want their kids to play on an open profile -- it makes it easier for them to keep track of what and how long the kid is playing, for instance.

You make some really great points and have helped me sympathize with a gentleman I didn't much side with beforehand. I agree that it was likely an honest misunderstanding on his part regarding how the toy he bought his child worked. The sticking point for me is that kid. While I'll grant that he likely didn't fully understand the implications of his actions I just can't believe he was completely oblivious to the fact he was spending real money. In the US at least buying points involves going to a screen that tells you they are coming at the exchange of real dollars. And how about all those school buddies of his who he played with? Did they never once complain of how cool it was it that he had ALL of the epic gear/teams/DLC while their parents refused to shell out for this stuff? The idea of this company refunding everything and/or changing their user interface because brats like this scam the system is a bit grating. But I guess that's the reality of life and business. You need to build things with the lowest common denominator in mind and so we all get to see such gems like cups that warn us coffee may be hot.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Either the son is an idiot or the father is an idiot.

Wait, are you actually blaming the twelve-year old child for being an idiot? Of COURSE he's an idiot, he's twelve. That's what parents are for.