FTC Unveils Process for Fortnite Players Charged for Unwanted Items

Fortnite Players (Including Parents) Eligible for Refunds in $245M Settlement. FTC has started reaching out to individuals who may have a chance to..

Fortnite Players (Including Parents) Eligible for Refunds in $245M Settlement: Application Process

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has started reaching out to individuals who may have a chance to receive compensation from a settlement reached in March 2023 with Epic Games. This settlement comes as a result of allegations that the popular Fortnite video game company used manipulative tactics, known as dark patterns, and other misleading methods to entice players into making unwanted in-game purchases.

The FTC initially raised these concerns in December 2022, asserting that Epic Games employed various design strategies to encourage players of all ages to make unintentional purchases within the game. Additionally, the company made it simple for children to accumulate charges without obtaining parental consent and even locked the accounts of individuals who contested unauthorized charges through their credit card providers.

The funds earmarked in the $245 million settlement with Epic Games will be allocated for providing refunds to affected consumers. The FTC has already initiated the process of notifying over 37 million individuals through email about their potential eligibility for compensation, a task that is expected to be completed within one month. Consumers will have until January 17, 2024, to submit their claims for refunds.

Who qualifies to request a refund?

Individuals who qualify to request a refund fall under specific criteria defined by the FTC. To be eligible for a refund, one of the following conditions must apply:

• You incurred charges for in-game items that you did not intend to purchase between January 2017 and September 2022.
• Your child made unauthorized charges to your credit card between January 2017 and November 2018.
• Your account was restricted or locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you lodged a complaint with your credit card company regarding improper charges.

It's important to note that claimants must be at least 18 years old to complete the refund request form. For individuals under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian is responsible for submitting the claim on their behalf.

How can one request a refund?

For those seeking guidance on how to submit a claim, detailed instructions can be located at www.ftc.gov/Fortnite. If consumers have any inquiries regarding the claims procedure, they can get in touch with the administrator through two means:

• By phone at 1-833-915-0880.
• By sending an email to admin@fortniterefund.com.
• www.forniterefund.com/file-a-claim.

To apply for a refund, you will need a claim number or your Epic Account ID. [no_toc]