• Off Topic

  • Google Play not seeing me in the US, can't make purchase

ok, this is a new one. can't find any older threads about this.
i'm just checking here first before I start banging my head...

I have play services installed in my main profile. I have no other profiles.
Everything has been working as expected.

I use Adguard VPN when connected to work wifi. I choose a US location to connect to. Disconnect when I'm gone. Never a problem.

I have 1 app that i need to make an occasional in-app purchase through google play. It has been working.
Today, I get an error "Couldn't complete your transaction. Your play balance can only be used in the United States. See the gift card terms of service". I'm not using the VPN to purchase.
It not just the one app, I can't purchase directly in google play either.

Today I verified that my regular mobile IP is, in fact, showing up in the US and my Adguard IP is also in the US.
I can't see any reason for google to think I'm NOT in the US.
I logged in on my desktop, and I CAN make a purchase from the play store.
I CAN add funds to the account on mobile, but CAN'T make a purchase.

To test, I allowed location in play services and in play store. Didn't help.
Should I maybe clear storage/cache in play store?
Any thoughts?

update- play store- cleared cache and also cleared storage, logged in again. no good.
also, i've tried on mobile data and on home wifi.

Thank you for reading.

    additional info...

    • i've tried on mobile data and on home wifi.
    • i CAN make a purchase if I use another form of payment (credit card on file), it's just the Play Balance that's not working.
      As I'm typing this, I'm feeling more like this is a Google problem and not a GOS problem.

    biscuit_tosser_88 But I guess in this case the important thing is are you actually in the US? If not, Google Play may be detecting that you're connected to a mobile network not based in the US, or something like that. Check out https://grapheneos.org/faq#non-hardware-identifiers

    Examples of the global OS configuration available to apps are time zone, network country code and other similar global settings.

    If you are in the US, though, I'm not sure why Google Play would think you aren't. If that's the case, I'd suggest contacting their support to let them know of the issue.

        other8026 Yes, I'm in the US. I found a FAQ somewhere in Google, and I filled out a support request last night. They will get back to me within 48 hrs.
        I don't have high hopes. :/