OFT investigates children’s app games exhortations

Parents who find their children are being lured into paying for virtual currency in ‘free’ app-based games, should report them to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The OFT is investigating if children are being unfairly pressured to pay for in game extras in what was initially a free app.

They are particularly interested in whether the games contain ‘direct exhortations’ to children, some thing that is unlawful to do under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

OFT Senior Director for Goods and Consumer, Cavendish Elithorn said: “We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs.”

For more information: http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/consumer-enforcement/consumer-enforcement-current/childrens-online-games/#.UXZXXqLvu7E