Help HN: Another HN as a Google CS Proxy Request
Well the Google algorithm chose my partner this time. This is a request to any HN Googlers or HN users that know any Googlers that can help.
A couple of weeks ago I saw a fraudulent charge on my credit card, so I reported it. My card got cancelled and we got issued two new ones that would arrive in 10-14 business days. My partner switched to paying her Google account to her own card, and when the new cards arrived, she switched over to the new one. This event triggered the Google algorithm to send her this email:
``` Date: Mon, Nov 28, 2022, 4:14 PM Subject: Important Information Regarding Your Google Account
You're receiving this email because we haven't been able to verify some of the info on your Google account. Until we can verify it, you won't be able to transact with any products you may be using (e.g. Play, Google Ads, AdSense, Workspace, Google Cloud, etc.) with this account. Please complete this form[0] using the email address where you received this notice. If you are not able to complete the form, your accounts may be temporarily suspended until this is resolved. Your data safety and privacy are very important to us. Google Payments stores your info on secure servers and never shares it, except in the limited circumstances specified in our Privacy Policy. We'll try to review your documentation and reply within 24 hours. Thank you for your cooperation. ```
So she filled out the form and then received this email:
``` Date: Mon, Nov 28, 2022, 4:19 PM Subject: Thank you for submitting your documents [*******]
Thank you for responding to the information request. Due to higher volumes and the impact of COVID-19, it may take longer than usual for our team to respond to your submission.
Thank you for your patience. ```
Followed by these two:
``` Date: Fri, Dec 2, 2022, 6:20 AM Subject: Payment declined for Google One subscription
Hi **, Your payment from Visa-4277 was declined. To keep your subscription active, please change the payment method.
SUMMARY Amount Due $1.99 Fix by Jan 8, 2023 ```
``` Date: Sat, Dec 3, 2022, 11:08 AM Subject: Action required: update payment to keep your storage
Hi **, We're having trouble processing your payment for Google One. In order to keep your membership, please verify or update your payment information on Google Play. If you don't take action, your Google One membership will end. You are currently using 80.32 GB of storage and when your membership expires you'll be above your storage limit and won't be able to send or receive emails on your Gmail account or upload new files to Google Drive and Google Photos. You can avoid interruptions by updating your payment information. ```
It's been a week since she filled out the form and has yet to hear back anything. One of those emails references a January 8th deadline, but then inside of her account it says has only a few days left before her entire account gets shutdown. We've tried all types of payments, including a Google Play gift card, as well as sending her money from a debit account and PayPayl via Google Pay. All attempts have been rejected.
The username of the account in question is `into.the.sea.1839`. I'm posting it this way to avoid her email address from being web scraped. I think she's had this address for over 15 years. I've had mine for over 20.
Any help would be appreciated. TIA
[0] https://support.google.com/googlepay/contact/alt_account_verification