The real cost of building with a broken Firebase Studio

General
1

Ok so I have been attempting to build a Firebase web and mobile app. I went to “Blaze” to get the added features and wisely set a budget if $25.00

I spend a huge amount of time trying to sort out errors and problems in the code, then roll back as it really can’t get it going again, even tho it was working last week. Slowly, as Firebase studio is so slow, working toward a publish and roll out.

So then I grt the monthly bill over over $300.

Not only is this simply wrong borderline criminal it is automatically done.

I try to contact billing support and it’s behind six buttons and takes me to a chat bot which after 15mins of waiting to connect I figure it’s Google this can’t be happening by mistake- I’ll give feedback , which allows you to fill out the form and then no submission button.

Just wrong and costly on so many levels.
I want my money back.

Someone who can assist please reach out to me on jonobean@gmail.com

Kind regards

Jono

2

I am pleased to say that Google billing team have resolved the payment issue.

I now understand that when a person sets a budget in Google Firebase Studio project payment its a random measure that is in almost know way related to setting a budget to spend.

I feel others should be aware of this Google interpretation. Setting a budget is not setting a budget.

Kind regards,

Jono

2 Likes
3

@Jonathan_Bean :worried: I’m sorry to hear about the surprise billing. Please file a support ticket here “I have an account or billing issue I need help with“ to open a refund case: Contact Support  |  Firebase

I’m curious. Did you set up a budget alert as described here Avoid surprise bills  |  Firebase Documentation ?

A budget alert is not a budget cap. “An alert will send you communications when you’re approaching or surpassed your configured threshold so that you can take action in your app or project.“

An alternative is to disable Cloud Billing programmatically: Disable billing usage with notifications  |  Cloud Billing  |  Google Cloud

To avoid future incidents like this, please consider this alternative.

1 Like
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Hiya,

Yes I have a budget set up, and got the emails, I just didn’t expect it would go from a little over to massive increase over the last week.

It turns out it was that month of billing where Google got it wrong. They billed people for all of a project not just since going live. It was addressed by them over a two month period.