Facebook must face a nationwide class-action lawsuit seeking to . force the social media company to provide refunds when children . spend their parents ' money on its website without permission , a federal judge has said . U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose , . California on Tuesday said a class of plaintiffs estimated in . the hundreds of thousands may press their claim that Facebook . should change how it handles online transactions by minors . The judge also said the plaintiffs could not pursue refunds . as a group under U.S. Supreme Court precedent , because any . refunds would vary from case to case , but could still seek . individual refunds . A California judge said a class of plaintiffs estimated in the hundreds of thousands may press their claim that Facebook should change how it handles online transactions by minors . The lawsuit was brought by two children and their parents . One child said his mother let him spend $ 20 on her credit . card toward the game 'Ninja Saga , ' but was later charged several . hundred dollars for purchases he thought he made with 'virtual , . in-game currency . ' The other said he took a debit card from his . parents without permission and spent $ 1,059 . She set an Oct. 19 trial date . Facebook said it believes the lawsuit lacks merit , and said . it will defend itself vigorously . The April 2012 lawsuit said Facebook let children use their . parents ' credit and debit cards to buy the virtual currency . Facebook Credits , and violated California law by refusing . refunds under its 'all sales are final ' policy when the parents . complained . In opposing class certification , Facebook said the . plaintiffs ' claims were too disparate , and an injunction would . not address them . But Freeman said state law protects parents and their . children when those children 'occasionally use their lack of . judgment ' and buy things they should not . 'Though some minors undoubtedly may wish to continue making . purchases through credit or debit cards they do not have . permission to use , such a desire can not prevent the named . plaintiffs from bringing suit to demand that Facebook 's policies . comply with the law , ' she wrote . Facebook Credits were discontinued in 2013 and replaced with . Facebook Payments . The lawsuit was brought by two children and their parents . One child said his mother let him spend $ 20 on her credit . card toward the game 'Ninja Saga , ' but was later charged several . hundred dollars for purchases he thought he made with 'virtual , . in-game currency . ' The April 2012 lawsuit said Facebook let children use theirparents ' credit and debit cards to buy the virtual currency Facebook Credits , and violated California law by refusingrefunds under its 'all sales are final ' policy when the parentscomplained . The other said he took a debit card from his . parents without permission and spent $ 1,059 . People who sign up for Facebook must be at least 13 years . old , according to the Menlo Park , California-based company . 'We 're very pleased with the decision , ' J.R. Parker , a. lawyer for the plaintiffs , said in a phone interview . 'The . difference between Facebook and other businesses is that the . company is on actual notice of a user 's age , but treats children . the same as adult users when it comes to taking their money . ' The case is I.B . et al v. Facebook Inc , U.S. District Court , . Northern District of California , No . 12-01894 .
Parents hope to force the social media company to provide refunds . Claims children spend their parents ' money without permission . Facebook said it believes the lawsuit lacks merit . Comment: