As a parent, it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life and overlook certain things, like keeping track of our kids' app purchases.

But for Kayla Howard, a single mother of four, the consequences of not paying close attention were steep.

When Howard received a call from her bank on Saturday, she had no idea what was in store.

As it turns out, her 7-year-old son had racked up seven unauthorized charges on her account while playing Roblox, a popular app among children. The charges added up to a staggering $897, which was sure to cause financial strain for Howard, who works two jobs to support her family, including a child with autism.

To make matters worse, the charges occurred just a week before Christmas and with rent due in the near future.

Howard was understandably upset and immediately reached out to both Google Play and Roblox to try and resolve the issue. While Google refunded her a small amount of $10, Howard is still waiting to hear back from Roblox regarding her claim.

According to a spokesperson from the company, they are reviewing the claim and "whenever possible, we work with parents and customers directly as part of our permissive refund policy to provide a refund for unauthorized purchases."

It's a challenging situation for Howard and her family. It serves as a reminder to all parents to be vigilant regarding in-app purchases.

The Roblox website advises setting a monthly spending limit within the app. This step could potentially save parents from unexpected financial surprises.

In the meantime, Howard has set up a GoFundMe page to help get her family through the holiday season.

Here's hoping that she receives the refund she is hoping for and that her family can enjoy a happy holiday despite the unexpected expenses.

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