Country and payment method don't match

[dhrumil]

Plan: Premium

Country: India

Device: iPhone 14 Pro Max

My Question or Issue: Keep getting these emails - Update your payment method to keep Premium. Your Premium subscription will be cancelled in 30 days as we believe the country you bought your subscription in wasn’t right. To keep listening on Premium, add a payment method that’s valid in the country you’re streaming from and update the country on your profile within the next 30 days. To find out more click here.

Even though I live in India and have paid with an active Indian card. I do travel overseas every now and then but that doesn't mean I have an active card or bank account in each country I am travelling to.

Reached out to SpotifyCares and all they said is this: We understand you certainly. Your payment method and the updated country don't match. That's the reason you're facing this issue. We suggest you update the country and make payment so that you'll not face any issues.

And then left me on read when I asked which country should I change it to. My country and payment method absolutely do match.

[pediacax]

This issue seems to stem from Spotify's policy of matching the country on your account with your payment method's billing country. Here’s how you can approach solving it:

Steps to Resolve

1. Verify Your Account Settings

   • Log in to your Spotify account through a web browser.
   • Go to Account Settings > Profile and check the country listed. Ensure it matches your actual country of residence (India) and your payment method’s billing country.

2. Update Your Payment Method

   • If your current payment method is valid and linked to India, re-enter it under Payment Settings. This can help refresh Spotify's system.

3. Address Travel Patterns

   • While traveling abroad, using Spotify in a different country can sometimes trigger such errors. To avoid this, refrain from switching to local payment methods or using a VPN that might confuse Spotify’s system about your location.

4. Contact Spotify Support Again

   • Emphasize that your payment method and account country (India) do match, and provide screenshots of:
     • Your Spotify account’s country setting.
     • Your card statement showing the Indian billing address and Spotify payment.
   • Politely insist on escalating the issue to a higher-level support team for review.

5. Use Spotify's Community Forums

   • Post your query on Spotify's official community forums. Often, moderators or experienced users can provide solutions that bypass frontline support roadblocks.

6. Alternative Approach

   • If the above doesn’t work and you suspect Spotify’s system is flagging your account due to frequent travel, consider using a family plan tied to a fixed Indian address. This might reduce mismatched location triggers.

Why This Happens

Spotify’s policies are designed to prevent misuse of cheaper regional pricing. However, legitimate users like yourself can get caught in the crossfire when the system detects mismatches, often due to frequent travel or location changes.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you might want to escalate through email to Spotify’s management or explore other music streaming options in the meantime.