A single mom is fighting to get her money back after her 7-year-old spent nearly $900 on Roblox.
If you're not familiar with Roblox, it's an online platform that allows users to create their own games -- which often requires in-game purchases.
Phoenix resident Kayla Howard found this out the hard way when she received a call from her bank.
"They explained to me that there was a total of seven unauthorized charges on my account," Howard told KPNX.
The charges totaled $897, which caused an overdraft on her account. It turns out the culprit was Howard's 7-year-old son, who spent the money on Roblox.
Left with no money for Christmas gifts or rent, Howard is now fighting with Roblox for a refund.
"The timing could not have been worse," Howard told the outlet. "I'm trying my best not to cry, not to stress out about it. I'm just trying to be as solution-focused about it as I can."
While she admits she should have kept a better eye on her son's online activities, Howard notes he has autism -- so he shouldn't be held accountable for the charges.
"Sometimes, as busy parents, we do overlook things," Howard told KPNX. "He's 7. He has autism. You know it's hard for him to recognize consequences for his actions. That's what he's working on."
Howard said she reached out to Google Play and filed a claim with Roblox. Google refunded her $10.80 but she's still waiting to hear back from Roblox.
In a statement to KPNX, a spokesperson for Roblox said they are reviewing Howard's claim. They also pointed out that parents can set a monthly spending limit in the game,
"We review each request individually and, whenever possible, we work with parents and customers directly as part of our permissive refund policy to provide a refund for unauthorized purchases," the statement said.
In the meantime, Howard has set up a GoFundMe page to help get her family though the holidays. More than $9,000 has been raised so far.
"I am a single mother of four children, working a full-time job, owning and running a small math tutoring business, and have no money left to meet myself and my children's basic needs. My bank account is currently -1244.52 as a result of the purchases and resulting overdraft fees," Howard wrote on her GoFundMe page. "Donations of any amount will help me to cover my expenses and bring my family peace this holiday season."
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