Cellphone operator AIS waives 200,000 baht 'Cookie Run' bill

[webfact]

Cellphone Operator Waives 200,000 Baht 'Cookie Run' Bill
By Khaosod English


Screenshot of the game Cookie Run

BANGKOK — Parents of the 13-year-old child who purchased over 200,000 baht in upgrades for the popular cellphone game Cookie Run will not have to pay the massive bill, says cellphone service operator AIS.

The statement followed the revelation that the boy, who lives with his farmer parents in Suphanburi province, spent 203,477.06 baht —roughly the average price for a secondhand car in Thailand — buying "Diamonds" for a game on his mother's mobile phone without her knowledge. The spending spree lasted for 3 weeks in May, according to the family's phone bill.

The boy was able to rack up hundreds of thousands of baht in the phone bill because the company allowed its users to purchase in-game upgrades without a credit card, AIS explained in a statement today. Instead, users would be charged later in their monthly phone bill.

The function, accessible through Google PlayStore, has been available since April this year and has no limit on the amount of money paid by users, AIS says. In the light of the incident, AIS has decided to suspend the function for monthly-paying users until further notice, according to a statement released by the company.

AIS added that the company will not charge the family for the 200,000 baht bill, and that top-up users can still pay for items via the Google PlayStore. It is understood that AIS will use its own funds to pay LINE Corporation, the owner and developer of Cookie Run, on behalf of the boy's family.

The company initially told the parents of the child that they had to foot the bill, said Panumat Chamnanpan, a relative of the family who lives with the boy in Suphanburi.

"When the phone bill arrived, at first we thought it's 20,000 baht, which was already a lot. But when we looked at it closely, we realised it was 200,000 baht," Mr. Panumat said. "We were confused like a blind chicken ... So we consulted with senior officials and filed complaint with Bang Pla Ma Police. We also contacted the AIS call centre, and they told us that we had to pay."

"I believe even if they let us pay in installments, we would never be able to pay for it, because we are already so much in debt these days. Our living conditions are already harsh. So it's a big lesson for us, and I want all guardians and children out there to be more careful about this," Mr. Panumat told our correspondent.

The boy and his mother, Amphon Choomchuendee, were not home when our correspondent visited their residence this morning.

Prawit Leesathaponwongsa, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC), said the Commission will summon Ms. Amphon, her son, and AIS representatives for a meeting in order to establish whether the cellphone operator adequately warned its users beforehand that it would charge them real money if they buy in-game upgrades.

"In principle, the charging of additional service like game upgrades should not be included in a monthly bill for phone usage," Mr. Prawit said. "Mobile phone service operators should carefully monitor its services to prevent such an incredible amount of payment like this."

Mobile phone-based chat applications and games are increasingly popular in Thailand, where the number of mobile phone service subscriptions —93 million — far exceeds the country's 65 million population.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1403526176&section=13


-- Khaosod English 2014-06-24

[doctorproc156]

Well done, a good PR move that is well worth the 200,000 baht.

[englishoak]

Good news, well done AIS that was a smart move and the correct thing to do.

Edited June 23, 2014 by englishoak

[american12bthai]

yes, this boy was quickly brushed under the carpet. did it ... expose... something they didnt want out there? ... like a ... scheme?

[simon43]

In another 'life' I wrote the Artificial Intelligence software for, and operated various 'text-chat' services in the UK, at 1 GBP per message. It was not uncommon for users to spend more than 1,000 GBP per month on these services.

The mobile phone companies always enforced these bills, even if the users were under 18 years, (because the chat service clearly stated that users had to be over 18 years and the costs were clearly advertised - claiming to be over 18 when you were not was not a valid excuse...)

[webfact]

Bad Cookie Run experiences spur NBTC to consider credit limit for game
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- WITH THE Cookie Run game turning bitter for many players, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has decided to step in.

No matter how cute and innocent Cookie Run characters may look, players risk losing too much money if they don't understand that special items in the game are sometimes sold for real money.

"It may be necessary to impose credit limits for the purchase of applications, games, items and stickers - perhaps at Bt1,000 per billing cycle," NBTC member Prawit Leesathapornwongsa said yesterday.

He was speaking after he summoned the representatives of five mobile-phone service operators to a meeting in the wake of reports that a 12-year-old boy incurred a phone bill of more than Bt200,000 in less than a month via the Cookie Run. The bill was from Advanced Wireless Network, a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service (AIS), he said.

AWN is the first operator in Thailand to allow mobile-phone users to pay for Google Play Store services via direct carrier billing (DCB). With this method, mobile-phone users do not need to associate their account with a credit-card number. They can pay for the services via their phone-service payment, which could be either pre-paid or post-paid from April 30 to May 30.

AIS executive Pratana Leelapanang said the company had decided to launch DCB services to provide convenience to users of Android phones.

"And when we noticed that some customers had incurred unusually high expenses last month, we didn't stay idle. We immediately shut down the DCB service for all post-paid users," he said.

Pratana said AIS had also offered to waive fees for customers who unintentionally bought services from the Google Play Store via DCB.

He said AIS would develop its alert system further to prevent customers from incurring unwanted expenses.

"We're also thinking about a credit limit and educating the public more about online services."

Prawit said the NBTC would invite Google Thailand to a discussion on Thursday to see how the firm, as a platform provider, could help prevent the aforementioned problems.

However, the DCB services provided by AWN are done via a contract between Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), the major shareholder of AIS, and Google Singapore.

Cookie Run is an irresistible game among many Thais.

Two months ago, a Thai man fell from a four-storey building after getting too absorbed in this game. Fortunately, he was not seriously hurt.


-- The Nation 2014-06-24

[antimedia]

So is AIS going to change their scam or are these business practices going to be allowed as sweeteners for big business and compromise for the suits in the new Thailand. Corruption comes in many forms, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time.

[casualbiker]

Wasn't the truth of the matter that the kid knew it cost money and tried putting a hack on the game that he saw on YouTube to get free upgrades.. the hack was either a hoax or didn't work. Kids shouldn't have post pay phones.. just prepay. Then no problem!

AIS are at fault for allowing it to get this high due to no credit limit on add on.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited June 24, 2014 by casualbiker

[terryp]

1 minute sounds about right

[harrry]

In another 'life' I wrote the Artificial Intelligence software for, and operated various 'text-chat' services in the UK, at 1 GBP per message. It was not uncommon for users to spend more than 1,000 GBP per month on these services.

The mobile phone companies always enforced these bills, even if the users were under 18 years, (because the chat service clearly stated that users had to be over 18 years and the costs were clearly advertised - claiming to be over 18 when you were not was not a valid excuse...)

hope you understand karma

[seabass69]

This kid gets a 200,000 baht waiver and I can't even get a 43 baht refund on some out-dated, green chicken that the missus bought at Big C

[A1Str8]

I agree. The parents shouldn't have to pay it. It's the boy's duty when he grows up.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Seastallion]

What suprises me is this farmer had a post-pay phone, not a pre-pay like 99.99999% of the country.

[JesseFrank]

In another 'life' I wrote the Artificial Intelligence software for, and operated various 'text-chat' services in the UK, at 1 GBP per message. It was not uncommon for users to spend more than 1,000 GBP per month on these services.

The mobile phone companies always enforced these bills, even if the users were under 18 years, (because the chat service clearly stated that users had to be over 18 years and the costs were clearly advertised - claiming to be over 18 when you were not was not a valid excuse...)

That kind of "service" is illegal now, isn't it?

[khunano]

What suprises me is this farmer had a post-pay phone, not a pre-pay like 99.99999% of the country.

I moreover wonder why the service was not cut when a certain credit limit was reached. On my postpaid account with DTAC I have a limit of 5'000 Baht and I would assume they send me an SMS or suspend my account once I have reached that limit. However this may apply to calls and similar services only and not silly games....

[yankee99]

This kid gets a 200,000 baht waiver and I can't even get a 43 baht refund on some out-dated, green chicken that the missus bought at Big C

Never had a issue with returns at tesco...(stopped shoping a big c too many rats)

Funny the company would even extend that kind of limit on a post pay. Where does it end at 1,000,000 baht?

[dinger]

I agree. The parents shouldn't have to pay it. It's the boy's duty when he grows up.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Could you explain this statement because I just don't get it

[pmarlin]

Typical for what goes on now days, reward bad behavior. The boy tries to hack the game to steal from the game company, screws it up and ends up with a large phone bill using his mothers phone, I think I got this right.

[Loles]

Of course, this is not question at all, this was their system's fault.

But I hope this small cheater will get his calibration from his parents as well as I think.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Loles

[JacChang]

Thumbs up for AIS.

But ridiculous how the mother AGAIN played the thainess.

Bill too expensive, get angry, must file complaint.

Why not, ask if any one in the family is responsible for it? Every action comes with a responsibility no? Quick to blame outsiders. Should be asking for forgiveness instead of directly to police and file a complaint. Complaint for what? For your son's crimes?

The family isn't totally without fault here. Can't completely blame AIS. What happens if today the son went into a store and ate all the chocolate and didn't pay for it? Staff comes up to the mom with a huge bill, complain?

Internet communications works the same as real life. You do something, you are responsible for it. Your children caught watching underage porn, they will face legal actions, blame the internet service provider?

[BSJ]

AIS is sending a bad message to all the under 18's in LOS. Do a criminal act and get caught......don't worry kid, we forgive you.

[jayjayjayjay]

Looks line legalising marajuana might be safer than this addiction!

[doctorproc156]

AIS is sending a bad message to all the under 18's in LOS. Do a criminal act and get caught......don't worry kid, we forgive you.

How was this a criminal act? There was no 'hacking', the boy saw some video in which there might have been a glitch which netted you free diamonds, the boy obviously mucked it up and was just buying the diamonds with real money. The boy was an idiot nonetheless and I hope that he is appropriately punished by his parents, at 13 years old you should know what you are doing.

[ratcatcher]

This kid gets a 200,000 baht waiver and I can't even get a 43 baht refund on some out-dated, green chicken that the missus bought at Big C

Never had a issue with returns at tesco...(stopped shoping a big c too many rats)

Funny the company would even extend that kind of limit on a post pay. Where does it end at 1,000,000 baht?

"....(stopped shoping a big c too many rats)"

Most self respecting rats wait until the store has closed and all humans have left before they embark on their nightly shopping expeditions. I expect Tesco loyal rats sleep during the shopping hours.

As for the guy with a 43 baht refund for some stale green chicken............what can one say?

Bin it!

[MMarlow]

This kid gets a 200,000 baht waiver and I can't even get a 43 baht refund on some out-dated, green chicken that the missus bought at Big C

That's because AIS doesn't own Big C, and you're making up that accusation that you can't get a refund from Big C.

Edited June 24, 2014 by MMarlow

[MMarlow]

What suprises me is this farmer had a post-pay phone, not a pre-pay like 99.99999% of the country.

Think you need to check your statistics there.

[webfact]

NBTC orders capping of users' credit after 200,000 baht Cookie Run bill shocks parent



BANGKOK, 24 June 2014 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) has ordered all mobile phone service providers to put a cap on all users' allowed credit, after the parent of a boy received a 200,000 baht bill incurred from purchases in the game 'Cookie Run'.

NBTC secretary-general Thakon Tanthasit said on Monday the order was meant to prevent a repeat of the recent occurrence, in which the mother of a 13-year-old boy in Suphanburi was billed 203,477 baht for her son's multiple purchases in the game Cookie Run. The items were reportedly purchased during a period of just two weeks in May.

According to NBTC commissioner Prawit Lisathaphon, service providers have been asked to limit in-game purchases to 1,000 baht per bill cycle and are required to send an SMS to notify the user every time a purchase is made. The NBTC is also planning to discuss with Google Thailand on how to prevent such occurrences.

The mobile phone service provider has waived the shocking bill for the boy's mother.


-- NNT 2014-06-24

[Ulic]

The family will not have to pay and neither will AIS. Just written of as a bad debt. No actual costs were incurred.

Imaginary diamonds in a digital world. Just glad AIS did not press the issue.

[Bluespunk]

Thumbs up for AIS.

But ridiculous how the mother AGAIN played the thainess.

Bill too expensive, get angry, must file complaint.

Why not, ask if any one in the family is responsible for it? Every action comes with a responsibility no? Quick to blame outsiders. Should be asking for forgiveness instead of directly to police and file a complaint. Complaint for what? For your son's crimes?

The family isn't totally without fault here. Can't completely blame AIS. What happens if today the son went into a store and ate all the chocolate and didn't pay for it? Staff comes up to the mom with a huge bill, complain?

Internet communications works the same as real life. You do something, you are responsible for it. Your children caught watching underage porn, they will face legal actions, blame the internet service provider?

If the internet provider isn't blocking underage porn, then yes I would.

[Sandman77]

Why no one ask here the question how is it possible to pay without credit card, when I ask the hotline how this kind of people operate to make money on million range with in app purchase or SMS fake spam

How this people operate?

If it would be easy everyone could make it, but the guidelines for this are a big secret and hotline also don't know

Only got learned how to say a aggressive You must pay !

If you not pay mr. Thaksin come back from Dubai, and bring you to the court!lol!