Unexpected AWS Charges on My Free Tier Account

Question

I recently signed up for the AWS Free Tier to learn and explore cloud services as a beginner. I was under the impression that my usage would remain within the free tier limits, but to my shock, I just discovered that $34 has been charged to my account.
I did not expect any charges and did not receive any prior warning about exceeding free-tier limits.
Is there any way to take back my money?( i only have that much in my bank account)

re:Post Agent · Answer

I understand your concern about unexpected charges on your AWS Free Tier account. While the AWS Free Tier does offer many services at no cost, there are specific limits and conditions that, if exceeded, can result in charges. Here's what you need to know:

1. The Free Tier typically lasts for 12 months from account creation and has usage limits for eligible services.

2. Not all AWS services are included in the Free Tier, and exceeding limits or using non-covered services can lead to charges.

3. It's possible to incur charges even while on the Free Tier if you use services or resources not covered by it, such as Elastic IP addresses or certain types of storage.

Regarding getting your money back, AWS does not typically offer refunds for used services. However, you can take the following steps:

1. Review your usage in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Dashboard to understand which services caused the charges.

2. Terminate or adjust any resources that are generating unexpected costs.

3. Contact AWS Support directly by creating a billing support case. Explain that you're a new user learning the platform and weren't aware of potential charges. While refunds aren't guaranteed, AWS Support may be able to provide a one-time courtesy credit or offer guidance on avoiding future charges.

4. For future protection, set up AWS Budgets and billing alerts to notify you when you're approaching Free Tier limits or incurring costs.

Remember, it's crucial to monitor your usage regularly and stay informed about which services are covered by the Free Tier to avoid unexpected charges in the future.  
**Sources**  
[Request for Billing Assistance - Free Tier Account | AWS re:Post](https://repost.aws/questions/QUpz6rGEP_SbWbSAz6P2XnRw/request-for-billing-assistance-free-tier-account)  
[Charged for AWS despite using Free tier | AWS re:Post](https://repost.aws/questions/QUAzfwlMf3Qi6fMukKHh_U3w/charged-for-aws-despite-using-free-tier)  
[Been Bill, but on the Free Tier | AWS re:Post](https://repost.aws/questions/QUQEtXBzglRvO6j2WwZBqdlw/been-bill-but-on-the-free-tier)

Unexpected AWS Charges on My Free Tier Account

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