Hi everyone, I could really use your help. I recently received an email from AWS stating that I have a payment due of around ₹23,000, which has left me totally confused and worried. They mentioned that my account is past due and may be suspended if I don't pay up. I created my AWS account back in college just for a small project and thought I was using only free-tier services, so I'm baffled by this unexpected bill. I didn't receive any warnings or alerts about being charged and honestly can't afford this amount. I'd like to safely close my account without getting into any trouble. Has anyone here experienced something similar in India or can provide me with advice on what steps I can take? Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
I'm really sorry to hear about your situation! It might be a good idea to reach out to AWS customer support and explain that you're a student who didn't realize there were charges. They might be willing to waive the fees for you. Check out their unexpected charges resource here: http://go.aws/resources-unexpected-charges and, if you need to close your account, you can find guidance on that as well. You can contact the Account & Billing team through the Support Center if you have access, or use the account support form without needing to log in, which is very helpful for situations like this.
Your account might have been compromised. I recommend going through your security settings to delete any IAM keys you might have, change your password, and set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your root account. Check your billing details to understand what exactly is being charged. Contact AWS Support to explain your situation—they're generally quite helpful.
Make sure you’re cautious going forward. It sounds like a misunderstanding, but you should definitely alert AWS to your status as a student. Sometimes they can waive charges if you explain the facts. Also, keep your account settings secure to prevent any misuse—this could save you a lot of trouble later.
It's possible that you might have inadvertently used paid services or your 12-month free tier has expired. I suggest checking the 'Cost Explorer' section of your AWS account to get a breakdown of your usage. Sometimes services that were free in the past can start incurring charges, so it's worth a look. You can also reach out to AWS support directly—they're often great at resolving billing issues.
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