Unauthorized large purchases by children may be refundable under China's Civil Code
For a child aged 8 or older, a transaction clearly beyond their age and understanding requires parental consent or ratification. Without it, a refund can be claimed. Children under 8 cannot independently make such legal transactions. A legal representative's failure to ratify is treated as refusal under the cited rule.
What it takes
No fee to request a refund, but collecting evidence and negotiating takes time. Platforms may initially refuse. Litigation can take months and legal fees may be yours, so prepare documents and try the platform and 12315 first. Patiently establish what happened with the child.
What you may gain
Children aged 8 and above have limited civil capacity: they may independently perform acts appropriate to age and understanding, or purely beneficial acts. Other acts require their legal representative's consent or later ratification. Children under 8 lack civil capacity and act through a representative. Article 145 treats a representative's failure to express ratification as refusal.
Context & considerations
Evidence that the child, not you, operated the phone is crucial: transaction timing during school or parental working hours, device-use records, chats, game records and the child's account can help. No universal monetary threshold defines age-appropriate spending; a skin costing tens of renminbi differs from tips of tens of thousands. Prevention is easier: limit password-free payments, enable youth mode and keep payment passwords private. For adults' own impulsive spending, see payment barriers.
Research & references
National People's Congress of China (2020). Civil Code, full text reproduced by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml Article 19 defines limited capacity for minors aged 8 and above and permits independently performed purely beneficial or age-appropriate acts. Article 20 requires representation for children under 8. Article 145 validates purely beneficial and age-, understanding- and mental-health-appropriate acts by people with limited capacity; other acts require consent or ratification, with no expressed ratification treated as refusal.