My child unexpectedly spent 500 dollars on YouTube without my awareness. I suspect they were buying super chats or premium memberships, but I’m not entirely sure how this occurred, especially since I believed my payment method was secure. Has anyone experienced something similar? I’m trying to find out if there’s a way to recover some of this money or at least avoid it happening again. The charges appeared on my credit card statement, and I was genuinely taken aback. I had no idea kids could spend this amount of money so easily on YouTube. What actions should I take in this scenario? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Same thing happened to me two years ago - my daughter blew $300 on YouTube super chats during live streams. YouTube processes these payments instantly, which makes getting your money back way harder than other platforms. Check if the purchases happened within 48 hours since Google Play refunds are more likely in that window. When you call your credit card company, stress that a minor made unauthorized purchases without your permission. I got about 60% back through my bank’s dispute process. After that mess, I deleted all payment methods from shared devices and set up Google Family Link so I have to approve any purchases. Kids can burn through cash crazy fast during live streams when they get excited about seeing their messages pop up.
Oof, that’s rough. Same thing happened to my nephew last month with Roblox. File a complaint with your card company ASAP - they usually side with parents on this stuff. Also check if your kid watches Minecraft streamers. They make donating look super easy and kids don’t always realize it’s real money.
yikes, that’s a lot to deal with! def talk to your bank about reversing those charges, most are pretty understanding with kids’ spending. also, try reaching out to youtube support, tho they can be slow. set those parental controls pronto for next time!
I experienced a similar situation when my child made unauthorized purchases on YouTube. I recommend contacting your bank to dispute the charges; they typically offer assistance for cases involving minors. It’s also wise to reach out to YouTube’s support team, although they may take some time to respond. For future prevention, remove any stored payment methods from devices used by your child and consider enabling purchase alerts. Additionally, review your child’s account settings for potential spending limits. It may take some effort, but many parents have successfully recovered some of the funds.
Contact YouTube support first before hitting up your bank. Same thing happened to me - my son blew $400 on channel memberships and super chats in two weeks. YouTube refunded about 70% when I explained a minor had account access and showed proof. Don’t give up if the first rep says no - keep pushing and escalate. Change your Google password right now and delete saved payment methods from every device. Check your Google purchase history too - kids often turn on monthly memberships without realizing they’ll keep charging. YouTube’s way more flexible with refunds than most people realize, especially when kids are involved.
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