[user43928]

To avoid this, I tried to close my Google Play Developer account. A decade ago I published a free app on it, which was online for half a year.

It was to no avail. They will not close the account.

I received only automated responses about bringing my old app into compliance with current policy, to then transfer it to another developer account.

Only then would Google graciously allow me to close my Developer account.

Meanwhile, private Google services charge me the wrong prices, because I have a Payments profile in another country. It is associated with a Merchant account, which is linked to the Google Play Developer account.

The support concluded that this can also not be closed, and that I should close my Developer account first.

It's hell.

[consp]

It's not just google. Try removing an unpublished but uploaded iOS app. Wasn't possible for decades and I guess it still isn't. You eventually could hide them. The only way to remove it was to publish it, but that requires app validation, which a failed app is not suited for.

[test6554]

Gotta move to the EU and sue based on right to be forgotten

[maccard]

Suing a company will almost certainly result in them exercising their right to not do business with you and shutting down all your accounts - exactly what OP was trying to avoid

[c0n5pir4cy]

In some EU countries - it could be seen as retaliation if you sue for something and then Google closes your accounts, some EU countries have strong protections here.

More importantly for Google though it's under extra scrutiny under the DSA at the EU wide level - so it doesn't have a clear right to not do business, it has to do terminations correctly with clear reasons set out in terms, there are mandatory notice periods etc.

[edoceo]

Which countries have that?

[maccard]

Let us know how that works out for you!

[ecedeno]

I tried to close my account, and got the response. But they closed it when I failed to verify it.

[ecedeno]

*same response

[monegator]

really? I have to keep making useless updates (just a version number bump) on one of the accounts i manage, because i keep receiving thread emails every 6 months that the developer account sees no activity and if i don't do anything they will remove and close.

that app is a done project and need only to be udpated when the target SDK becomes too old for the play store

[user43928]

Yes, unfortunately that has not been the case for me, my account is still active.

My app has already been removed when they added the Privacy Policy requirement for the Advertising ID, where I did not update the app.

[cwmoore]

wonder what that app was for