You could get a check after ‘unwanted charges,’ says FTC – NBC Chicago

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. players of the online video game Fortnite may be eligible for a refund after the Federal Trade Commission says users were improperly charged for “unwanted purchases.”

The FTC is sending 629,344 refunds totaling more than $72 million to Fortnite players in the U.S. after the FTC said consumers were “tricked” by video game maker Epic Games, according to an announcement. The $245 million settlement was first announced in December 2022, the announcement said, alleging that Epic Games “allowed children to collect unauthorized fees without parental involvement.”

The settlement alleges that Epic Games also denied some users who disputed unauthorized charges access to their purchased content, calling the game maker’s tactics “counter-intuitive, consistent and confusing.”

The first round of payments – almost 630,000 pieces – were sent out on Monday, the announcement said. According to the FTC, half of the payments were made by check and the other half were made through PayPal. The average payment is about $114, according to the FTC.

Authorities said the first round of checks went to those who submitted a valid claim by Oct. 8. However, eligible consumers can still file a claim online.

Here’s what else you should know about Fortnite refunds, how to file a claim, and who’s eligible.

Who can request a Fortnite refund?

According to the FTC, users can request a Fortnite refund if any of the following are true:

• You were charged in-game currency for items you did not want between January 2017 and September 2022
• Your child made charges to your credit card between January 2017 and November 2018 without your knowledge
• Your account was suspended between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about unlawful charges

Users must be at least 18 years old to fill out an application form. According to the FTC, parents or guardians can fill out forms for anyone under 18.

According to officials, the claims will not affect purchases made through Fortnite accounts.

The claims process only applies to Fortnite players residing in the United States, the FTC said.

How to file a claim and request a Fortnite refund

Claims can be submitted here.

To request a refund, users must provide a claim number or Epic account ID. If you didn’t receive an email, you can find your Epic account ID here.

Deadline to file a claim and request a Fortnite refund

To be eligible for a refund, users must submit a request by January 10, 2025.

How much will the Fortnite refunds be?

The FTC says the amount paid out for approved claims depends on several factors, including how many people submit such a claim. According to the FTC, the average refund for the first round of payments was $114.

When are Fortnite refunds paid out?

The FTC said Monday that it had issued 629,344 refunds as part of its first round of payments.

“Consumers selected their payment method when they completed their application form,” the FTC said. “Recipients should clear their PayPal payment within 30 days and clear their checks within 90 days as indicated on the check.”

According to officials, additional payments are expected to occur in 2025 after the FTC “reviews and validates all claims.”

For more information, please call the Refund Administrator at 1-833-915-0880 or email [email protected].