[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tip2tail:
Hi All,

I have a bit of a problem in that Mobile Carrier Billing - i.e. buying an app on the Play Store and charging it on my phone bill - is no longer working. If you will indulge me I will try and provide as much background and information as I can.

I am running ARHD - currently on 71.1.

This feature used to work, last used in February 2014 to purchase an app.

Since then, EE have upped my data allowance after I called in to complain it was too low compared to new customers. I was told this would not affect my contract length etc, but clearly they had to do something to my tariff/account on the system to up the allowance.

I have also had my mobile telephone number changed due to harassing calls. Again this hasn't actually changed my account - just my number. Both of these changes took place in March 2014.

In April, I tried to purchase an app. The payment option for "Bill to my EE account" was disabled.

I logged into the Google Wallet website and checked payment options - my OLD mobile number was shown there (twice actually - once at EE and once as T-Mobile). I removed both instances of my old number, and I removed an old debit card too. No luck, tried to pay for an app again and the option to pay by carrier is no longer even there in the app!

After checking some FAQs, I called EE for advice and to check if my account is in good standing (I know it is - but just in case they had a block on). EE confirmed they have no reason on the account to block this feature. They suggested I contact Google.

OK, nearly there! Contacted Google Wallet Customer Services - they checked the account, and again confirmed that there was no problem with it. They said to call EE as it was a problem with them!! Aghhhhhhh!

Finally, I called EE again. They have passed the case to a Technical Product Manager for him to call me back - he never did!

Today however, I wiped my phone for a fresh install of AHRD 71.1 again. My wife is borrowing it so I connected her google account in the initial setup. This time it asked though to add a billing method to her account with my number (which is ok as my SIM was still in). I accepted that and continued with the setup. Once compate, I went to the Play store and bought an app - no issues at all. Hmmm..... Seems the EE account is ok then??

I decided to call EE again about this and spent 30 mins on the phone with a chap in the Technical department. He had actually never heard of the option before, but I explained the situation and that it was now working with another Google acount but with my SIM. He checked and found the "product" needed for this to work on my account was setup, however he refresed my SIM with the data again just in case. Phone off for 10 mins to allow the update. I reflashed again and this time used my account - still no "add payment method" screen in the setup wizard and still no option to add the phone as a method when actually buying an app! Argggggghhhhhh!

The guy at EE suggested I call Google again. 30 mins on the phone to them and they are absolutely INSISTING that it is EE not them who supports this, and that they have no control over it. I tried to explain that the system worked with another Google account and asked if they could "clean" or "reset" any mobile carrier links on my account - no such luck - he tells me that they cannot do this.

The issue is really stating to pi$$ me off now. It should be a simple feature. It was in the past.

Is there anything I can try? I have root and S-Off on the phone. Does anyone have any advice? Or the tech knowhow of how the system is actually setup?

Thanks for reading

Mark