Boy’s Xbox Spending Spree Bleeds His Single Mother Dry

[Sonic 294]

From Kotaku (who should go back to their old design). Some kid blew a **** load of of his Mum's cash on Xbox Live, and now she is pissed.... at Microsoft not her son.

 

http://kotaku.com/#!5754856/boys-xbox-...ngle-mother-dry

 

Boy’s Xbox Spending Spree Bleeds His Single Mother Dry

 

This is Brendan Jordan. He's 11 years-old and he racked up £1082.52 (US$1,743.90) on Xbox Live. And now, his 37-year-old mom, Dawn, is working two jobs just to make ends meet.

 

"When I put my card details in 18 months ago I thought it was just for his membership to play online with his friends," Dawn tells UK tabloid The Daily Mail. "A thousand pounds isn't that much to people like Bill Gates, but for a single mum it is a lot of money that I don't have."

 

Dawn claims that she's now working two jobs in order to pay off the debt her son racked up, and both the bank and Microsoft are blaming each other. "It has taken me ages to permanently get rid of my card details from the website," she says. "It was only when I made a complaint that they took all my details off."

 

That might be so and this might be The Daily Mail (yeah, I know), but shouldn't Dawn have gotten monthly statements from her bank or credit card company? And, you know, shouldn't she have looked at them? And shouldn't she have gone, Hey Brendan, what are you buying?

 

"Brendan is 11 and knows his times tables but it was only when I explained to him that he realised how much money he had spent," Dawn says. When she showed him how much he spent, Brendan unplugged the Xbox 360 and apparently said he didn't want the console anymore and started crying. She hasn't punished her son, because she says he feels bad and won't do it again.

 

"It is ridiculous to allow someone of his age to make payments without any checks being done," she says. "When he is in gaming mode he can't be thinking about the money. You can't put all that responsibility on a young boy."

 

"It is impossible to monitor everything your children do," she adds. "These companies should take some responsibility. They take advantage of vulnerable people.'

 

That's why there are parental controls on Xbox Live, Microsoft points out, adding that complaints of this nature are "extremely rare."

So why is she bitching at Microsoft when it her fault for let her son use the credit card in the first place and not do some research to find out if there other on going charges.

[Nmenth 290]

She isn't suing though, is she? So she knows she is ultimately at fault, she is just mad that it was so easy for them to sneak £1000 out from under her nose.

 

If she was suing Microsoft, I'd hate on, insult, and possibly ridicule her, but since she can accept responsibility and is working two jobs to pay off her debt, I'm siding with her on this one (in so far as much as to say she isn't wrong).

[Plok 323]

Ahhh, the story I hear even too often... an undereducated parent who doesn't have authority over his/her own family and absolutely no idea of what gaming is sues a company because he/she is too lazy or stupid to inform him/herself of what risks there are. It's always easy to judge something you don't know. I can already hear Bill Gates choking of laughter in his office...

 

Looking at the attached picture, I think her Peggy Bundy image does have some message to show

[Doctor Destiny 41]

I can't side with the mom on this one. Take that ****ing XBox away from that little ****.

[Luk3us 63]

Ahh yes, taking an interest in your child's activities, a foreign concept to many parents these days. Obviously Microsoft should be doing that for her.

 

This is competently and utterly terrible parenting at its finest. And I'm sure that child will grow into a fine young man who refuses to take any responsibility for his actions or lack there of, just like good old mom here. Following in her foot steps. Ahh, it brings a tear to my eye.

[Nmenth 290]

sues a company because he/she is too lazy or stupid to inform him/herself of what risks there are.

Is she suing? The article doesn't mention any lawsuits going on...

 

And I'm sure that child will grow into a fine young man who refuses to take any responsibility for his actions or lack there of, just like good old mom here.

Holding two jobs to pay off her debt isn't taking responsibility?

 

And the kid unplugged his XBox when he learned of his mistake, that shows a whole lot more responsibility than many spoiled, selfish brats these days would.

[Luk3us 63]

Let me show how she lacks personal responsibility.

 

"It is ridiculous to allow someone of his age to make payments without any checks being done," she says. "When he is in gaming mode he can't be thinking about the money. You can't put all that responsibility on a young boy."

 

Indeed it is ridiculous, so what did mom do? She typed in her credit card and then let the kid do as he wished. I especially love the whole 'I didn't' know concept too, what kind of a person pays for something they don't understand? Irresponsible people thats who.

 

"It is impossible to monitor everything your children do," she adds. "These companies should take some responsibility. They take advantage of vulnerable people.'

 

No responsibility for her child and his activities, it takes all of five minutes to sit down once a week and say, "Wow stupid child of mine, that's a cool game I haven't seen that before, where did you get it?" You'd also think for a women with two jobs and no doubt living on a budget, would very quickly notice an irregularly in her 'books.' But she isn't responsible for looking after her finances, which is probably why she needs two jobs anyway.

 

And the kid unplugged his XBox when he learned of his mistake, that shows a whole lot more responsibility than many spoiled, selfish brats these days would.

 

Possibly, I still blame the parent for everything.

[Sonic 294]

One can only wonder what 1 of her 2 jobs could be

[Guest Stevie_K]

I'd say buy another joystick and join in the fun! Her son must have pretty much every game there is available!

[Chronojam 3]

Maybe I can't appreciate the pricing on electronics and the significance of pounds sterling, maybe the job markets are rubbish where she lives, but that's a nice looking sofa, with a good sized TV, with one of the better XBOX360 models (not sure here, correct me if I'm wrong), and some DVR / DVD stuff. Perhaps they bought it during better times, or over a long period of time (despite it all being/looking rather recent), but I'm not sure a second job would be necessary here to pay off the thousand.

 

Besides, I was pretty sure stock service agreements require you to be 13+ for most online social interaction and 18+ for most online commercial interaction. Kid's 11 here.

 

One can only wonder what 1 of her 2 jobs could be

Taking a look at the photo... they don't call those "retail executive" boots, now, do they?

[Saracen 16]

Dawn tells UK tabloid The Daily Mail.

 

Well, that line pretty killed any credibility to the story. The paper's run by a Hitler loving racist who pretty much blew everything out of proportion to say everyone of the Muslim faith has links to terrorism. The other tabloids got wind, the robot public listened, and now we have a nation of Muslim hating right wing opinion in this country because of that paper.

 

Still... single mother mean in this country "a woman who got herself pregnant at an early age (probably teens) to some heavily drinking benefit scrounging nobody (You know them as Frat boy douchebags in the states), who then promply ran off at the sight of his girlfriends bump (after beating several tonnes of **** out of her) to impregnate another half brain bitch who hasn't a clue about anything."

 

And that "oh so true" stereotype, results in the fabrication of this story. Where parents in the UK, in this day of age, decide to give their kids everything in the name of "shutting the noisy little ****er up!" as opposed to doing any real parenting, and understanding that the kid knew what he was doing, and promptly became a fat little **** because of it.

 

I know, I know... The language isn't quite appropriate... but really when it comes to things like this. It can be justified.

[Roguey 0]

I agree, its the mum fault for entering in credit card details. Normally that would stop kids from doing such a thing.

 

If you gave any kid a credit card, I bet it would be empty in minutes!

Edited February 15, 2011 by Roguey

[dbjs2009 25]

It's her fault for sure, how could someone give a credit card with more than 1000$ to a boy in his age.

[rSquar3d 0]

The mom's fault, pretty much. You get monthly bills; how the hell does one rack up a bill THAT HUGE without anyone noticing!? And she should be reprimanding her son (though I personally condone corporal punishment)... Even I got an ass kicking from my dad for racking up a phone bill of... $900... But that's over a period of THREE months. Waaaaay less than how much that kid spent... And my parents already spotted it on the first month. Well, there are parents that are irresponsible...

[Inferno 22]

The mom's fault, pretty much. You get monthly bills; how the hell does one rack up a bill THAT HUGE without anyone noticing!? And she should be reprimanding her son (though I personally condone corporal punishment)... Even I got an ass kicking from my dad for racking up a phone bill of... $900... But that's over a period of THREE months. Waaaaay less than how much that kid spent... And my parents already spotted it on the first month. Well, there are parents that are irresponsible...

$900? That's being on the phone for nearly an hour a day, for THREE months |:

[Nmenth 290]

And my parents already spotted it on the first month.

Then why did they let you repeat the performance for the next two months?

[pichorra 4]

Welcome to Micro$oft World... That's why i Play my Xbox360 trough XLink Kai., A freeware Playing lobby like Live, but uses the "System Connect" engine of the games.

 

BTW, you at least uses Phone... i have a Pre-Pay phone and do you know how many i spend with it? Yes. 0$! pretty cheep huh?

 

and i play my Xbox360 into my 29'' CRT television, no HDMI, but it still haves a good quality for me. =D

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Yeah, this is so Microsoft's fault. I mean damn, how dare they charge money for a service they provide to make a profit. That's just evil, am I right, guyz?

[rSquar3d 0]

Because I said I won't do it again. Imma bastard. >

 

Seriously, it's not because of the DURATION of the calls... Rather, it was long distance. So yeah, now my parents had the phone company block long distance calls on our phone. So that's that.

 

Well, the mom of that Brit kid should've been able to spot the bills early on... So mostly her fault. And the kid's eleven, imo someone that age has absolutely no idea what the phrase "too expensive" really means.

[Guest Stevie_K]

So yeah, now my parents had the phone company block long distance calls on our phone. So that's that.

 

Seriously? You know, your parents not trusting you with such a simple thing as to not make long distance calls?

[rSquar3d 0]

Lost distance calls are one thing... $300 a month is a different matter altogether. Well, it's okay. I mean, it's not really a disaster or anything... Lesson learned. >

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Seriously, it's not because of the DURATION of the calls... Rather, it was long distance. So yeah, now my parents had the phone company block long distance calls on our phone. So that's that.

You pay for long distance? Jesus, you're getting ripped off.

[rSquar3d 0]

Welcome to the Philippines. >

[Guest Stevie_K]

Use Skype?

 

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Skype costs money to make phone calls.