Hey
I’m posting this because I’m genuinely baffled — and a bit shocked.
After years of trusting Google Cloud, I ran into a billing situation that feels beyond reason, and I think it deserves a wider conversation.
(This isn’t an accusation — just facts and personal experience. Let’s keep it constructive.)
What Actually Happened
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I was testing Vertex AI Video Generation (Veo 2) for a small non-commercial project on Travelja.eu. Around 20 test clips, nothing fancy.
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Out of nowhere, I got a PLN 3,398.37 bill (~€780 / $850) for what Google says were 1,540 video generations in one day — August 28, 2025. That’s physically impossible. Even if I worked non-stop, it would take 30–40 hours in a 24-hour day.
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I asked for server logs (timestamps, IPs) to verify usage. The response? Only metadata — no real API logs.
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Then came daily payment attempts (~PLN 3,000) until I blocked my card. Finally, my entire billing profile got suspended, including unrelated stuff like my site’s Google Maps API.
That felt less like “cloud computing” and more like “cloud roulette.”
Why I Think This Isn’t Just Me
Around the same time (Aug 23–Sep 3, 2025), Gemini API forums were flooded with reports of billing bugs and phantom charges.
Even Google staff mentioned a “billing system issue” affecting image generation APIs.
Examples users posted:
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$43,000 bills for zero usage.
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$70,000+ for deleted keys that still generated charges.
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A $450k loop from a misfired function.
If those are real, it sounds systemic — not just user error.
My incident lines up exactly with that timeframe. Coincidence? Maybe. But it’s hard to ignore the overlap.
Why This Feels Bigger Than a Billing Glitch
Here’s what it felt like from a user’s perspective — and why I think it hits deeper psychological triggers than just a “bug”:
| Aspect | My Experience | Consumer Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of Transparency | No clear cost warnings before auto-upgrade from free to paid. | Feels like walking into a trap you didn’t see. |
|---|---|---|
| Trust in Brand | “It’s Google, what could go wrong?” | Users let their guard down. |
| undefined | ---- | ---- |
| Pressure Loop | Daily charges, blocked card, blocked services. | Creates panic & urgency. |
| undefined | ---- | ---- |
| Procedural Maze | Redirected to “fraud team” instead of billing transparency. | Exhausts you until you give up. |
| undefined | ---- | ---- |
To me, it feels similar to how psychological scams work — not because it’s a scam, but because it hits the same emotional circuits: shock, helplessness, and confusion.
Why I’m Sharing This
Because if it’s a systemic issue, others might get hit too — and won’t even realize it’s not their fault.
I’ve already filed with ECC Poland and UOKiK (consumer protection) asking for log access and charge cancellation.
If you’ve had Gemini / Vertex AI billing spikes, please drop a comment or link your forum threads.
I’m curious if these are isolated glitches or a pattern we should be talking about more seriously.
Sources / References
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Developer forum threads: discuss.ai.google.dev
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EU Consumer Protections (UCPD, 2011/83/EU)
TL;DR
Used Google Vertex AI for a tiny test project → got a $780 bill for “impossible” usage.
Timing matches known AI billing bugs.
Feels less like an accident, more like a systemic blind spot.
Anyone else seen this?
Disclaimer
This post reflects personal experience and publicly available reports.
It’s not legal advice or an accusation of wrongdoing — just a consumer perspective on how automated billing and support systems can break trust.
Here is the video analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySjtLWB3lmk