In December 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published an official announcement regarding the agreement they signed in partnership with Epic Games and what is to be done with the settlement of $345 million funds that the developers of Fortnite needed to reimburse this federal institution. According to the report that was released, the FTC will refund users who are affected by the main problems outlined in the accusations concerning Epic Games. This includes poorly designed parts of the shop UI which led to unintentional purchases, or the absence of a system for authorization that was formalized that authenticates purchases of cardholders previously.
However, not every Fortnite player will be able to get a refund for accounts from the FTC. For clarification on how to qualify and eligibility, the FTC provides three distinct groups of Fortnite accounts that can be eligible for refunds of the settlement pool of $345 million. First, there are “parents whose children made an unauthorized credit card purchase between January 2017 and November 2023.” In the above paragraph, it was noted that there was previously a lack of verification for purchases within Fortnite’s cash store which allowed children to purchase items in the game without parents or guardians’ approval.
What is the best way to obtain the Fortnite refund?
For a Fortnite refund, you have to be on the lookout to receive an email notification from FTC or go to their site and click apply for a refund. Be aware that only eligible players can request a refund. Also, it is required to be over 18 to apply for.
The last day to request a refund will be 17 January 2024.
Anyone eligible for a refund should be on the lookout for updates on the FTC website to get more information regarding the refund program as well as an email notification within the next few days. The FTC emphasizes that you will never pay for refunds and must never offer anyone the FTC refund in exchange for paying a fee.
The settlement of $245 million which is the largest FTC settlement for a gaming dispute, was reached following FTC claims that Epic Games charged parents and other players for unneeded items as well as blocked the accounts of players who challenged unjustified accusations.
The remainder of $275 million was a monetary fine to those who allegedly violated the COPPA regulation in collecting personal data from minors under 13 years old without informing their parents or getting their parents’ valid consent.
In a blog entry following the settlement, Epic Games shared a statement that reads: “No developer creates a game in the hopes of ending up in this situation.
“The gaming industry has become an area of rapid innovation in which expectations for players are extremely high and innovative strategies are the norm. Laws that were drafted decades ago didn’t define how gaming ecosystems operate. Laws haven’t changed but the way they are applied has changed and established industry guidelines are no longer sufficient.
“We agreed to this deal because we would like Epic to remain in the forefront of protecting the consumer and to provide the most enjoyable experience to our customers.
If I’m eligible, what do I need to do to apply to get an amount of money back?
If you want to apply for a refund, go to www.ftc.gov/Fortnite and then click “Apply for a Refund.”
You’ll need the Epic Account ID or a claim number that was likely to be sent via email. If you haven’t received an email containing a claim number, then you’ll need to identify the Epic Account ID by following these instructions.
Important to keep in mind that you need to be 18 or older of age to file claims. If you’re not yet 18 years old, the FTC requires that an adult or parent complete this procedure for you.
How Do You Refund Your Fortnite Account?
Log in to your Fortnite Account: Start the Fortnite game using the device that you like (e.g. console, desktop, or mobile). Sign in using your Epic Games account that is connected to your Fortnite account.
Go to the Main Menu. After you’ve entered the game Navigate through the main menu.
Access the Item Shop Find The “Item Shop” option in the menu bar at the top. Here you will be able to look over your purchases of the past and request refunds.
Examine Recent Purchases: Within the Item Shop there’s an area that lists the latest purchases you made. Explore the products you’d like to cancel and then select the items you want to refund.
Start the Refund Request Start by clicking on the item you would like to return, and there should be an option of “Refund” or “Request Refund.” Select this choice.
Confirm the Refund: Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the refund request. Make sure you read all instructions or messages with care.
You must wait for approval before submitting your reimbursement request will be forwarded to Epic Games for review. In general, refunds will be approved when you satisfy the criteria for eligibility outlined in Fortnite’s policy on refunds. There is a possibility that you will have to wait until you receive a reply from Epic Games regarding the status of your refund application which could take days.
Conclusion
Refunding the balance of a Fortnite account is an easy procedure that can be accomplished with just a couple of steps. Users who want to cancel their accounts can do this by signing into the Epic Games account and going to their account page. There, they will be able to go to Transactions and search for the item they wish to reimburse.
In addition, customers who were shut out of their accounts in the period between November 2017 to September 2023 following a dispute over an unauthorized charge with the credit card company might be able to claim an amount of money in the settlement of $345 million with the company that owns Fortnite, Epic. They can apply for a refund online at www.fortniterefund.com/file-a-claim, using a claim number or their Epic Account ID.
It is important to remember that it is important to note that the FTC doesn’t require users to make a payment to submit claims or to receive an amount of money back. It is also important to note that refunds come with some limitations and restrictions like an expiration date of 30 days after the date of the purchase.