Games are meant to be the good part of an evening. This page is for the times when the spending or the hours start to feel like more than you meant.
Simple guard rails
- Decide on a monthly games budget and pay from a card or balance that matches it.
- Turn on a spending limit or purchase approval on every platform you use; our spend limits guide shows how.
- Switch off one-tap payments on consoles and phones so each purchase asks for a password.
- Use the platform play-time tools if the evenings are running long; consoles and Battle.net all offer schedules.
- Talk about it. Most money trouble gets smaller the moment someone else knows.
Free, confidential help in the UK
| Who | For | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| MoneyHelper | Free, impartial money guidance, including credit cards and buy-now-pay-later | 0800 138 7777 · moneyhelper.org.uk |
| StepChange Debt Charity | Free, confidential debt advice | 0800 138 1111 · stepchange.org |
| Citizens Advice consumer helpline | Refunds, faulty digital content, subscription disputes | 0808 223 1133 · citizensadvice.org.uk |
| Financial Ombudsman Service | When a card issuer or credit firm turns down a Section 75 or chargeback claim | 0800 023 4567 · financial-ombudsman.org.uk |
| NSPCC Helpline | Adults worried about a child, including unapproved in-game spending | 0808 800 5000 · nspcc.org.uk |
| Childline | Young people up to 19 | 0800 1111 · childline.org.uk |
| Ask About Games | Step-by-step parental controls and PEGI explained | askaboutgames.com |
If a child spent money without asking
Contact the store straight away and explain that the purchase was not authorised; most platforms have a route for this, and the UK industry principles on in-game purchases ask them to handle it sympathetically. Then set a spending limit or approval on that account before anything else.