I've posted about it a few times, a few years ago my entire Google account was locked out for "fraud" with Google Pay. Lost my email, DNS, GoogleFI (my CELLPHONE) access. Sent them a picture of my license 3 times on a form they make you fill out (which you have to google, they don't tell you anything, you just can't log in).
Never received a response.
I'd kind of like this for stuff like that. Bypassing horrendous or non-existent customer support.
I never once received a response from Google. I tested my account maybe a year later and it was unlocked.
That's terrible! I'm curious if you pay for any Google services, do you get better support? For example, I know people who pay for Youtube Premium just so they don't have to watch ads, or spend a few dollars on GCP for personal projects.
Nope. Zero difference. I was a paying Google DNS, GoogleFI, and Gmail user. Maybe more. The first thing that happened was my Google Wallet/Pay account was marked as fraud. I didn't know this until my OTHER accounts stopped working.
My OTHER accounts stopped working because I couldn't update my credit card at Google Pay to change my recurring bills for all of those services to keep paying for them.
I was in the middle of SELLING A HOUSE, literally happened that week. My Gmail was made back when Gmail first started so I have so much mail I have to pay for it to receive mail. I had to migrate everything THAT week to another provider (fastmail).
Miserable experience. I couldn't even use my cell phone. I think that might have been cut off immediately. I forget. I don't use Google for anything but SSO now and even then I try to use Apple instead if available.
edit: Oh, yeah, I didn't know any of this was broken until I stopped getting email at my private email (via gmail DNS) Gmail account when I was selling the house. Literally nothing told me I was banned.
Sorry, I missed you were paying for GoogleFI when I read your original message. So if your cell phone gets shut off, there is nothing they'll do about it?! That's crazy. I can understand having little-or-no support for "free" users, but you're a paying customer.
Right, there's no customer service at all. Nobody to call or contact, not that I could call. I switched to an iPhone at another carrier that week. I've de-googled my life as much as possible.
