A Child Made an Online Purchase Without Permission: Can You Get a Refund and What Should Parents Do

A smartphone in a child’s hands today is not just about games and videos. It is access to marketplaces, subscriptions, in-game purchases, donations to streamers, food delivery, and dozens of services where a single click is enough to trigger a payment.

Payment details are often already linked to accounts. Transactions go through automatically. Parents usually learn about the purchase only when they receive a notification from the bank.

That raises a question more and more parents are asking: is it possible to get the money back if the purchase was made by a child?

The answer depends on the circumstances, but Russian law provides mechanisms that allow parents to protect their interests in such situations.

Here is what we will cover:

• which online purchases children make most often
• which legal rules you can rely on
• when a refund is realistically possible
• what parents should do step by step in each situation

When the Digital World Becomes Too Easy

We often discuss online risks in dry legal language—but sometimes a single line captures the problem.

One of our songs about children’s digital safety puts it this way:

In the digital environment, children encounter purchasing options earlier than parents expect.

Games offer bonuses. Applications promote subscriptions. Platforms simplify purchases to a single click.

These systems are designed to be convenient and engaging. As a result, a child may make a purchase without fully understanding the consequences. The payment is completed instantly, while the parent only sees the result.

Why Children's Purchases Can Be Challenged

The key legal principle comes from Article 28 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. It establishes that children under the age of 14 can independently make only limited types of transactions.

They may carry out minor everyday transactions, receive benefits without payment, or use funds that their parents provided for specific purposes.

• minor everyday transactions
• gratuitous transactions
• transactions using money their parents gave them for a defined purpose

All other transactions must be made by parents or with their consent.

If a child completes a purchase independently without parental consent, such a transaction may be declared invalid.

Additional legal provisions may also apply, including:

• Article 26 of the Civil Code — transactions by minors aged 14 to 18
• Article 26.1 of the Law on Consumer Protection — rules on distance selling for online purchases

What Online Purchases Children Most Often Make

In practice, situations vary, but several common patterns can be observed.

In-game purchases

Many games offer:

• in-game currency
• skins
• bonuses
• items
• loot boxes
• season passes

If a payment method is linked to the account, the charge is often processed automatically.

Orders on marketplaces

A child may:

• open an app
• place an order
• confirm payment

Sometimes this happens by accident—for example, if items were already sitting in the cart.

Paid subscriptions

Subscriptions appear in:

• mobile apps
• streaming services
• educational platforms
• gaming services

In many cases, subscriptions renew automatically after a trial period ends.

Taxi rides and food delivery

Refunds are more difficult if the service has already been provided. If a ride has taken place or an order has been delivered, the platform may refuse to return the money.

Donations to streamers or bloggers

These payments are often treated as voluntary. However, if the payment was made by a young child without parental consent, legal arguments based on the Civil Code may still apply.

Why It Is Important to Address This in Advance

The digital environment is structured to capture attention and simplify decision-making.

Games use engagement mechanics. Applications encourage subscriptions. Services reduce friction at checkout.

That means a child may act before parents even realize what is happening. As we wrote in another line from our songs on digital safety:

So it is important not only to understand the risks, but also to know what legal tools exist if a purchase has already been made. Below is a practical sequence of steps.

What Parents Should Do: A Step-by-Step Guide

If this happens, stay calm and act consistently.

Step 1. Document the transaction

Keep:

• the receipt or order confirmation
• the bank notification
• screenshots of the transaction
• the purchase page

Step 2. Contact the service provider

Write to support and state clearly that:

• the purchase was made by a child
• there was no parental consent

Step 3. Send a formal claim

If the service refuses a refund, you can submit an official written claim.

Step 4. Involve the bank

In some situations you can also try to dispute the transaction through the bank.

Step 5. Court as a last resort

If the amount is significant and the dispute cannot be resolved directly, the issue may be taken to court.

How to Reduce the Risk of Such Situations

Most of these cases can be prevented with simple measures:

• turn off automatic payments where possible
• use parental controls
• do not store payment details in children’s accounts
• enable purchase confirmations
• use a separate card for online spending

These steps significantly reduce the likelihood of unauthorized purchases.

Online purchases by children are no longer rare—they are a normal part of the digital environment. At the same time, the digital world moves faster than parents can explain its rules. Games, subscriptions, purchases, and donations are becoming everyday life.

Protection is therefore not only about settings and restrictions. It is also about communication within the family. As we put it in our lyrics:

When parents understand how the digital environment works, children are better protected.

How ContentGuard Can Help

If a child has made a purchase in a game, application, or online service without parental consent, it is important to structure communication with the platform and the bank correctly.

Sometimes a well-worded request is enough to resolve the issue without going to court. In more complex cases, a full legal strategy may be required.

If a transaction is declared invalid, the general rule under Article 167 of the Civil Code applies: each party must return everything received under the transaction.