Everyone is wondering how to get their Fortnite refund money and what course this fine is on following the FTC and Epic Games settlement. The studio that made Fortnite, Epic Games, just announced that it will pay the FTC $520 million as part of a settlement. The money comes from two separate complaints about invasions of privacy and tricking players into buying things they didn’t want.
These penalties represent “the largest penalty ever obtained for violating an FTC rule,” as stated by the commission.
Fortnite refund process started: FTC & Epic Games settlement explained
As part of a settlement for alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Epic Games has agreed to pay a record $275 million in fines and offer a record $245 million in refunds to customers who were charged for in-game items they did not order. So, we explain how to make a Fortnite refund claim. Keep reading and learn everything you need about the Epic Games settlement.
The FTC claims in its lawsuit that Epic violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by allowing children to communicate with adults online without their permission. FTC claims Epic employees reported default settings issues as early as 2017.
“Epic’s matchmaking children and teens with strangers while broadcasting players’ account names and imposing live on-by-default voice and text communications has caused substantial injury,” states the complaint. “Children and teens have been bullied, threatened, and harassed within Fortnite, including sexually. Children and teens have also been exposed to dangerous and psychologically traumatizing issues, such as suicide and self-harm, through Fortnite. And the few relevant privacy and parental controls Epic has introduced over time have not meaningfully alleviated these harms or empowered players to avoid them.”
FTC
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint against Epic Games, alleging that the company “deployed design tactics, known as dark patterns, to deceive millions of gamers into making inadvertent purchases” and “allowed youngsters rack up unlawful charges without parental involvement.”
Online “dark patterns” are used to trick users into taking actions they hadn’t planned to take. The FTC said that gamers were being charged without their knowledge for in-game purchases because “Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button layout.”
Epic believes the gaming industry should make it normal practice after the settlement to assume that children are playing games that are inappropriate for their age:
“Fortnite is rated Teen and is directed at an older teen and college-aged audience. We recently rolled out Cabined Accounts, a new type of Epic account that provides a tailored experience that is safe and inclusive for younger players. Players under 13, or their country’s age of digital consent, whichever is higher, will be able to play Fortnite while they wait for parental consent, but in a tailored environment where certain features, such as chat and purchasing, are disabled.”
Epic Games
In addition to the fine, Epic will have to delete any personal information it shared through Fortnite in violation of COPPA laws. It will also not be able to allow phone and text chats for kids and teens in the future without the permission of their parents.
Epic says that “games should go above and beyond to make sure players even more clearly understand when they are making a transaction with real money or with virtual currencies.” This will keep players from spending real money or virtual currency by accident. According to this new approach, Fornite refunds will start.
Games like Fortnite, which are free to enter and play but provide cosmetic upgrades for a fee, are known as “freemium.” The FTC settlement might make some game developers think twice about using this type of business model.
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Fortnite has become extremely popular, with a large and active player base. It has also been a source of debate, with some people saying that it is too addicting and encourages people to be violent.
Below you can watch the latest trailer of Fortnite.
Who is eligible for the Fortnite refund?
The Federal Trade Commission laid out who will be eligible for Fortnite refunds once the “refund scheme” is up and running. Here is what the rules state:
- Those whose children used their credit cards to buy games from the Epic Games Store between January 2017 and November 2018 without their knowledge or consent.
- Fortnite gamers between January 2017 and September 2022 who were charged V-Bucks for unnecessary in-game products (such as cosmetics, llamas, or battle passes)
- Affected Fortnite accounts are those whose users disputed transactions on their credit cards between January 2017 and September 2022, resulting in the account being locked.
How to make a Fortnite lawsuit claim?
There is no rush to verify your Fortnite refund eligibility at this time because this settlement is still in its beginning.
Eligible players for Fortnite refund will soon be notified through email, but in the meanwhile, they can keep a watch on the FTC’s website for further information on the refund program. The Federal Trade Commission warns that you should never pay anyone for a refund in exchange for a charge, even the FTC itself.
You don’t have to take any action if you suspect you may be entitled to a payment. FTC will reach all customers who have paid for in-game items through email as soon as additional details reveal about the refund program.
Fans should also know how to refund Fortnite skins via Return Tickets outside of the Epic Games settlement Fortnite refund.
To receive your V-bucks back if you return a purchase, Epic Games gives each account three “Return Tickets.” Check out these instructions on how to use RTs to exchange items bought from the Epic Games store:
- Launch the game.
- To reach the primary menu from the lobby, use the panel to the left of the main entrance.
- Choose the Preferences gear button.
- To request help or a refund, select the appropriate option from the menu.
- Select Cancel Order or Go Back to Shop.
- Alternatively: Choose Options from the Menu
- To access your Account And Privacy options, select the silhouette.
- Just go to your Account page and select either Return or Cancel Purchase. A full inventory will appear if you’ve made qualifying in-game purchases during the last 30 days.
- Use the drop-down menu to pick the item you wish to return. Select the Return Ticket option.
- In the end, you’ll get a confirmation screen. The returned items must be inspected before they are accepted.
- Select Yes if you are sure you want to continue.
- Once you click Yes, there will be no turning back.
- The number of V-Bucks added to your account will be displayed on the Success screen.
- Click OK to go back to the page where you can cancel or return your purchase.
Keep in mind that you can only ever get three more Return Tickets in any given year.
Canceling a purchase is an alternative to using Return Tickets to get your money back for Fortnite skins and stuff.
You can request a refund within 24 hours of making a V-bucks transaction. You will also be reminded in-game that you cannot use the item while it is equipped.
Cancellations are limited to once per item.
Epic Games settlement amount
As we previously mentioned, the total Epic Games settlement amount reached $520 million in total.
After FTC allegations that Epic Games charged parents and other players for undesired items and froze the accounts of consumers who protested erroneous charges, a $245 million settlement was agreed upon, the biggest amount the FTC has ever paid in a gaming case.
The remaining $275 million was a fine for allegedly breaking the COPPA guideline by collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 without alerting their parents or gaining their verifiable consent.
Epic Games settlement amount per person
How much do you get as a Fortnite refund? Epic Games settlement amount per person depends on how many people apply. So, it is unclear at the time of writing.
Epic Games settlement payout date
Epic Games has not yet committed to a schedule for processing refund claims or sending payments to qualifying gamers. But Fortnite refunds will start as soon as the necessary information is gathered.
Check out the official settlement website for more information.
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What is COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)?
To safeguard the personal information of children under the age of 13, the federal government passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in 1998.
The legislation was passed in 1998 by the United States Congress and went into effect in April of 2000. The FTC is responsible for overseeing COPPA (FTC).
