The Verdict: Google Waived $6,400 of My Bill. The Final Update.

Hello everyone, this is probably the most awaited update on my Google Cloud journey. Sa mga sumubaybay, mula sa pagkakita ng $7,000+ bill, sa pag-lock ng account ko, hanggang sa pag-register ng aking sariling business—this is the resolution.

After several days of stress, constant communication with Google Support, and a whole lot of patience, I finally received the email I was waiting for.

At ang news? Sobrang ganda.

Google approved my request for a goodwill credit. Mula sa original na bill na $7,133.38, ibinaba nila ito sa $718.99.

Yes, you read that right. They waived over $6,400 of the charges.

Words can't express the relief I felt. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik na kasing laki ng bundok. It's a testament that with proper communication, taking responsibility for your part, and a bit of hope, companies like Google can be incredibly understanding.

Ito na ang itsura ng billing account ko ngayon:

Of course, may natitira pa ring balance. At bilang isang freelance developer, ang $718.99 ay malaki pa ring halaga na kailangang bayaran nang isang bagsakan.

So, my next step was to ask for a payment plan. Nag-reply ako sa kanila with gratitude and a professional request to pay the remaining amount in installments.

Their answer was a valuable lesson for everyone:

"In response to your inquiry, please be informed that we don’t have an installment payment option. However, you may use the manual payment feature in your account to help you pay your outstanding balance in increments that you are comfortable with... But, kindly note that your account may be suspended."

Basically, wala silang formal "payment plan," pero binigyan nila ako ng go-signal na magbayad paunti-unti gamit ang manual payment. Ang catch? Maaaring manatiling suspended ang account ko habang hindi pa fully paid.

This is my current challenge: to negotiate a way to re-enable my account while I'm making these regular payments.

Ang buong experience na ito, mula sa bug hanggang sa resolution, ay nagturo sa akin ng napakaraming bagay. But these are the most important:

• Don't Be Afraid to Ask: Kung hindi ako nag-reach out sa support, I would be facing an impossible bill. Always communicate.


• Be Professional and Grateful: Ang pagiging magalang at ang pagpapakita ng pasasalamat, lalo na noong binigyan na nila ako ng credit, opened the door for the next request (the payment plan).


• Understand the System: Kahit may "unofficial" na payment plan, may automated system pa rin na pwedeng mag-suspend ng account mo. Always study the full process.

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng sumubaybay at sent messages of support. On-going pa ang final negotiation, but the biggest battle is over.

It's time to get all my sites back online and continue building—this time, with more wisdom and a lot more safeguards in place.