Ripped off by Kick the Buddy app

This is a user to user support forum, so no one here can do anything for you. Take your issues up with the app devloper - there should be contact info in their iTunes page. and if that doesn't work, contact iTunes support.

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/

If their charges are not clearly spelled out you may have recourse, but if it was there and you just didn't see it, then it may all be on you.

You probably inadvertently made an in-app purchase. Many apps, particularly games, are free for the base game but charge for additional features such as levels, "coins" and other such add-ons. To prevent this from happening again, turn off "In App purchases" in the Restrictions settings on your device. You may also want to turn off the ability to install apps and set the password to be required immediately. For more information, see:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4213

Eventually Apple will stop refunding your money for such inadvertent purchases, so you'll want to take action to prevent further such mistakes, if this is indeed what has happened.

Regards.

You may be referring to a different "Kick the Buddy", but I can't find any mention of a charge per minute for the apps from Crustalli. I don't even believe the iTunes Store allows that sort of thing unless it's clearly a subscription model. The "Kick the Buddy" apps do however sell "Extra Spins", "BuddyGold" and "BuddyBucks" as in-app purchases and I'm guessing that's what your kids actually purchased.

Regards.