A 14-year-old in Lower Saxony, Germany, incurred over 2,630 euros in charges purchasing virtual currency (“Robux”) within the online game Roblox, after establishing a Google account without his parents’ knowledge, according to a case handled by the Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen (consumer advice center).
The teenager bypassed age verification protocols, which require users to be at least 16 years old to create a Google account, by using his parents’ credit card details. Google verifies age either through an image of an official ID or by linking a credit card. The purchases, ranging from 5.99 euros to 59.99 euros each, occurred over several months, with the adolescent sometimes buying nearly 180 euros worth of Robux in a single day. As the account was created independently, the parents did not receive email notifications about the transactions and only discovered the charges upon reviewing their credit card statement.
The Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen successfully intervened on behalf of the family, securing a full refund of 2,630 euros from Google, which the company characterized as a gesture of goodwill. The case highlights the financial risks associated with in-game purchases and the challenges parents face in monitoring their children’s online spending.
Legal experts note that minors have limited legal capacity and generally require parental consent for binding financial agreements. Without such consent, claims for payment are often legally invalid. Still, they caution against relying on this protection, as repeated, unchallenged purchases over a prolonged period could be interpreted as implied consent. Promptly disputing unauthorized charges is therefore crucial.
The incident comes as consumer protection groups are increasingly scrutinizing the practices of gaming companies like Roblox and Fortnite. The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv), Germany’s federal consumer protection organization, has initiated legal action against several gaming apps, alleging manipulative design and practices that encourage excessive spending. A September 2024 complaint filed with the European Commission, jointly with the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and consumer groups from 17 other countries, targets what they describe as unfair practices employed by leading gaming platforms.
According to the vzbv, the business model of many popular games relies on “in-app” or “in-game” purchases, where players spend real money on virtual items to enhance their gameplay. These purchases can quickly become costly, and the games often employ “dark patterns” – manipulative design techniques – to pressure users into spending more. The vzbv warns that these tactics can be particularly harmful to children and adolescents, potentially leading to addictive behavior.
Apple and Google have taken some steps to address transparency in in-app purchases, requiring app stores to clearly display all available purchase options for in-game currencies. However, consumer advocates argue that more robust safeguards are needed to protect vulnerable users.
