My 8-Year-Old Spent Thousands on Game Add-Ons—Here’s How to Stop It Happening to You

your 8-year-old’s glued to Roblox or Fortnite, happily clicking away, and you think, “Great, they’re entertained.” Then the bank statement hits—thousands of pounds gone on game add-ons, from virtual skins to power-ups. That’s my story, and at Computer Assistance in Oxford, we’ve seen it too often. Kids don’t realize those “£4.99” purchases stack up fast—my son’s £2,000 spree happened in weeks! Here’s what went wrong and how parents can lock it down.

How Did This Happen? A Tech Tale of Tiny Transactions

It started innocently—my son begged for a £10 Roblox gift card. I caved, linked my card for “one more,” and forgot to unlink it. Games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox make buying add-ons (skins, V-Bucks, Robux) a breeze—one click, no password, no fuss. He didn’t know each tap cost real money—£4.99 here, £9.99 there, until it hit £2,000. The Xbox app didn’t flag it, and I missed the emails. Sound familiar? At Computer Assistance, we’ve helped Oxford parents unravel similar tech traps.

Step 1 – Check the Damage

First, audit the chaos. On Xbox, go to “Settings > Account > Payment & Billing” to see purchases—mine showed 200+ transactions! PlayStation? “Account Management > Transaction History.” For mobile games (iOS/Android), check your App Store or Google Play history. If it’s bad, request refunds—Apple and Google often refund accidental kid purchases if you act fast (within 48 hours, ideally).

Step 2 – Lock It Down with Parental Controls

Here’s how to stop the spending spree:

• Xbox: Enable “Require password for purchases” in “Family & Friends” settings—takes 2 minutes.
• PlayStation: Set a monthly limit (£0 works!) under “Parental Controls > Spending Limit.”
• iOS: Turn on “Ask to Buy” in “Screen Time > Family Sharing”—you approve every purchase.
• Android: In Google Play, set “Require authentication for purchases” under “Settings > Authentication.”
• Games: Fortnite and Roblox have in-game PINs—set one in their parental settings.

Step 3 – Tech Support from the Pros

DIY not cutting it? At Computer Assistance, we’ve seen kids bypass controls with sneaky tricks (like guessing passwords). We can:

• Set up bulletproof restrictions on your devices—£50 well spent vs. thousands lost.
• Monitor accounts with AI tools we’ve built—smart alerts for odd spending.
• Recover data if purchases crash your system (yes, it happens!).

A Happy Ending

After my £2,000 wake-up, I got £1,500 refunded (thank you, Microsoft!), locked down the Xbox, and now my son’s V-Bucks come from chores—not my card. Don’t let your kid’s gaming turn into a budget buster—take control today.

Worried about game spending? Ring Computer Assistance in Oxford at 01865 717088 or Book a Tech Check—we’ll keep your tech (and wallet) safe!

Looking for expert computer and audio equipment repairs in Oxford? Visit our Computer Assistance homepage to learn more about our comprehensive services and how we can assist you.