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My Google pay was recently locked, probably as a result of moving countries and using VPNs. To make matters worse, with a locked account I can't change play st

My Google pay was recently locked, probably as a result of moving countries and using VPNs. To make matters worse, with a locked account I can't change play store countries and access the local play store, so I can't get the app from my accounting firm (Which would seriously make my life easier). It finally hit me that I don't own my phone. I have (own is the wrong word) a pixel 2 and used to pay Google ~$400/year for YouTube, domains, gsuite, hangouts dailer... My next phone will be a librem, though I'm going to wait until my pixel dies. I'll probably also buy a cheap iPhone for apps I can't get on the librem.

Kuinox 8y ago
I have a "workaround" for you: On another phone, download the apps, and you can transfer the APK to your phone to install the app without the play store. You can also download alternative to google play store.
dorfsmay 8y ago
Could you not download the APK for that apps and installed directly? Don't get me wrong, I had not realised google was locking the play store and totally agree that it is an issue, but wondering if that could have helped you at the time. Also, I run lineageOS to be able to update old phones with recent Android version, and tend to get better battery life and faster boot!
untog 8y ago
Unfortunately there's no Google Pay equivalent, right?
- 0xfaded 8y ago
  To pay for Google's services? Yes, you would be right.
  - untog 8y ago
    I meant for contactless payment - I'd be interested to see how an open version of that could ever develop.
    - oAlbe 8y ago
      Why not just use the contactless card your bank gives you? Or, if you don't want to pay directly out of your checking account, get a credit/pre-paid card? They are all contactless these days, and even the small tea shop that processes card payments through an Android tablet and a small Bluetooth reader is able to accept the contactless cards.
      - untog 8y ago
        Two reasons: 1. My bank doesn't give me a contactless card 2. It's much more convenient anyway, I don't have to reach into my wallet.

Kuinox 8y ago

I have a "workaround" for you: On another phone, download the apps, and you can transfer the APK to your phone to install the app without the play store. You can also download alternative to google play store.

dorfsmay 8y ago

Could you not download the APK for that apps and installed directly? Don't get me wrong, I had not realised google was locking the play store and totally agree that it is an issue, but wondering if that could have helped you at the time. Also, I run lineageOS to be able to update old phones with recent Android version, and tend to get better battery life and faster boot!

untog 8y ago

Unfortunately there's no Google Pay equivalent, right?

0xfaded 8y ago
To pay for Google's services? Yes, you would be right.
- untog 8y ago
  I meant for contactless payment - I'd be interested to see how an open version of that could ever develop.
  - oAlbe 8y ago
    Why not just use the contactless card your bank gives you? Or, if you don't want to pay directly out of your checking account, get a credit/pre-paid card? They are all contactless these days, and even the small tea shop that processes card payments through an Android tablet and a small Bluetooth reader is able to accept the contactless cards.
    - untog 8y ago
      Two reasons: 1. My bank doesn't give me a contactless card 2. It's much more convenient anyway, I don't have to reach into my wallet.