6 ms·

I lost mine a few years ago, since then Google is an absolute no go for me. Had it for a few years back then and never did anything bad or oblique with it, jus

I lost mine a few years ago, since then Google is an absolute no go for me. Had it for a few years back then and never did anything bad or oblique with it, just used it as my secondary email account and also for deploying a small, harmless Chrome extension to the Chrome store. So one day my wife bought a tablet and also registered a mandatory account. 1-2 days later my and her Google account was terminated. I mailed support and they told me they couldn't tell me the reason for terminating both accounts. No kidding. Tablet suddenly obsolete. All my emails gone. Since then Google is a big red flag for me. Addendum to clarify: They said they won't tell me the reason for terminating my account. I'm sure they could have told me if they wanted to.

t0astbread 6y ago
What tablet mandates a Google account? I thought you could always go without, even on stock Android.
- nor-and-or-not 6y ago
  Those were cheap tablets from Aldi / Medion one could buy in Germany back then and they required a mandatory Google account to use them. Can't remember their name; they cost about 150 Euros back then.
  - nolok 6y ago
    Then it was covered by the warranty so you could get your money back, at least.
    - nor-and-or-not 6y ago
      Yes, sure - but this wasn't my main issue. I found it unapologetic to get my account, which I then have used for years, cancelled without any explanation or sign of wrongdoing. But what should I say. I didn't pay for it so it was well within Googles rights and discretion. At least this made me aware that such behaviour exists.
- zapttt 6y ago
  that was forced on some cheap androids between version 3 and 4. after 4.4 they dialled it back to instead of required now they only apply some seven dark patterns to try to trick users into thinking it is mandatory. same effect to most users, zero regulatory consequences
Markoff 6y ago
the tablet part makes no sense, you can always create new Google account or just use tablet without google account, installing apps through aurora store or apkmirror would be minor annoyance though
- bagacrap 6y ago
  After you sign into an Android device with a Google account then factory reset it, you have to sign in with the same account before you can use a new account. It's an anti theft precaution.
  - zozbot234 6y ago
    AIUI that's only if you "factory reset" from outside the installed OS. You can explicitly remove the existing account from your device, and I think the OS-level "factory reset" function actually does this for you.
  - Markoff 6y ago
    you can almost always bypass FRP, need more information on tablet model and Android version
    - Can_Not 6y ago
      What we really need is the ability to "release" it from the old account. Imagine selling a device and the new owner demanding your password...
- nor-and-or-not 6y ago
  Sorry if you don't believe it, but I tell the truth here. No need to make things up. The tablet required one to have a Google account connected in order to use it, plain and simple.
  - Markoff 6y ago
    you can always skip adding Google account
jedimastert 6y ago
> I'm sure they could have told me if they wanted to. Low level random tech-support? Probably not.
- nor-and-or-not 6y ago
  I guess you're right, but I find it ridiculous anyways to get an account cancelled without further information or dispute.
vbezhenar 6y ago
I wonder what would happen if Apple would ban my account. My iDevices will become useless bricks?
- stickydink 6y ago
  Yep. It's near impossible. Somebody (presumed ex- or current-employee) took handful of iOS devices from our office a few months ago. Changed the password to the Apple ID, added 2FA phone number. The account isn't even deleted, and we can't get back into it. We have a dozen other devices logged into that Apple ID, all prompting for the password. You cannot install updates, you cannot roll back, you cannot log out, you cannot factory reset. Apple have been no help at all. The devices we have that are logged into this account are bricks. Apparently if we have original proof of purchase, we can take them into an Apple store and have it reset. But a lot of our devices are older or were acquired refurb/used - they're used as testing devices. The accounts are locked, they just won't help us get back in, we've tried several times and channels. We've offered to do anything, sign anything, they won't do it. I once went through password/2FA recovery with an Amazon AWS account, and it really wasn't that painless (sign some legal paperwork, show a bunch of documents). We are an unknown startup, but we have generated millions of dollars for Apple over the past decade in App Store cuts. If we can't get back in, I don't know how it'd go for grandma's iPhone.
  - benhurmarcel 6y ago
    > If we can't get back in, I don't know how it'd go for grandma's iPhone. I can tell you about grandpa's iPad. We couldn't find the proof of purchase after he locked his iCloud account (memory isn't great at that age). It's now a paperweight. The lesson is to keep the receipt.
    - asiachick 6y ago
      I would say the lesson is call your congressman and pass some laws. Landlords in the USA can't kick people out instantly AFAIK. Banks I'm guessing have regulations that prevent then closing your account and throwing your money in the trash. I'm pretty sure the electric company can't shut off your electricity on a whim. People are dependent on Google and Apple and their devices and services to similar levels. email and messaging services are similar to phone service which is regulated. Apple and Google both provide payment services (Apple Pay, Google Pay) so are providing some of the services a bank offers. Sure they should be able to close problem accounts at some point but IMO they can't just walk away from responsibility based on a one sided TOS.
chapium 6y ago
Same here. I contacted customer support and the system said they would reach out to me. This was 2 years ago.
- pnutjam 6y ago
  eBay did this to me.
  - koheripbal 6y ago
    Reddit did it to me - any new account I create from my IP gets auto-banned.

t0astbread 6y ago

What tablet mandates a Google account? I thought you could always go without, even on stock Android.

nor-and-or-not 6y ago
Those were cheap tablets from Aldi / Medion one could buy in Germany back then and they required a mandatory Google account to use them. Can't remember their name; they cost about 150 Euros back then.
- nolok 6y ago
  Then it was covered by the warranty so you could get your money back, at least.
  - nor-and-or-not 6y ago
    Yes, sure - but this wasn't my main issue. I found it unapologetic to get my account, which I then have used for years, cancelled without any explanation or sign of wrongdoing. But what should I say. I didn't pay for it so it was well within Googles rights and discretion. At least this made me aware that such behaviour exists.
zapttt 6y ago
that was forced on some cheap androids between version 3 and 4. after 4.4 they dialled it back to instead of required now they only apply some seven dark patterns to try to trick users into thinking it is mandatory. same effect to most users, zero regulatory consequences

Markoff 6y ago

the tablet part makes no sense, you can always create new Google account or just use tablet without google account, installing apps through aurora store or apkmirror would be minor annoyance though

bagacrap 6y ago
After you sign into an Android device with a Google account then factory reset it, you have to sign in with the same account before you can use a new account. It's an anti theft precaution.
- zozbot234 6y ago
  AIUI that's only if you "factory reset" from outside the installed OS. You can explicitly remove the existing account from your device, and I think the OS-level "factory reset" function actually does this for you.
- Markoff 6y ago
  you can almost always bypass FRP, need more information on tablet model and Android version
  - Can_Not 6y ago
    What we really need is the ability to "release" it from the old account. Imagine selling a device and the new owner demanding your password...
nor-and-or-not 6y ago
Sorry if you don't believe it, but I tell the truth here. No need to make things up. The tablet required one to have a Google account connected in order to use it, plain and simple.
- Markoff 6y ago
  you can always skip adding Google account

jedimastert 6y ago

> I'm sure they could have told me if they wanted to. Low level random tech-support? Probably not.

nor-and-or-not 6y ago
I guess you're right, but I find it ridiculous anyways to get an account cancelled without further information or dispute.

vbezhenar 6y ago

I wonder what would happen if Apple would ban my account. My iDevices will become useless bricks?

stickydink 6y ago
Yep. It's near impossible. Somebody (presumed ex- or current-employee) took handful of iOS devices from our office a few months ago. Changed the password to the Apple ID, added 2FA phone number. The account isn't even deleted, and we can't get back into it. We have a dozen other devices logged into that Apple ID, all prompting for the password. You cannot install updates, you cannot roll back, you cannot log out, you cannot factory reset. Apple have been no help at all. The devices we have that are logged into this account are bricks. Apparently if we have original proof of purchase, we can take them into an Apple store and have it reset. But a lot of our devices are older or were acquired refurb/used - they're used as testing devices. The accounts are locked, they just won't help us get back in, we've tried several times and channels. We've offered to do anything, sign anything, they won't do it. I once went through password/2FA recovery with an Amazon AWS account, and it really wasn't that painless (sign some legal paperwork, show a bunch of documents). We are an unknown startup, but we have generated millions of dollars for Apple over the past decade in App Store cuts. If we can't get back in, I don't know how it'd go for grandma's iPhone.
- benhurmarcel 6y ago
  > If we can't get back in, I don't know how it'd go for grandma's iPhone. I can tell you about grandpa's iPad. We couldn't find the proof of purchase after he locked his iCloud account (memory isn't great at that age). It's now a paperweight. The lesson is to keep the receipt.
  - asiachick 6y ago
    I would say the lesson is call your congressman and pass some laws. Landlords in the USA can't kick people out instantly AFAIK. Banks I'm guessing have regulations that prevent then closing your account and throwing your money in the trash. I'm pretty sure the electric company can't shut off your electricity on a whim. People are dependent on Google and Apple and their devices and services to similar levels. email and messaging services are similar to phone service which is regulated. Apple and Google both provide payment services (Apple Pay, Google Pay) so are providing some of the services a bank offers. Sure they should be able to close problem accounts at some point but IMO they can't just walk away from responsibility based on a one sided TOS.

chapium 6y ago

Same here. I contacted customer support and the system said they would reach out to me. This was 2 years ago.

pnutjam 6y ago
eBay did this to me.
- koheripbal 6y ago
  Reddit did it to me - any new account I create from my IP gets auto-banned.