Google gives Pixel resellers access to their accounts again

Google has reversed its decision to block accounts of people who have resold a Pixel smartphone. The users were banned after they bought a Pixel cheaply through a trick, to resell it for a profit.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Google had banned a large number of users’ accounts for violating the terms of use. The conscious account holders had purchased a Pixel smartphone cheaply via Project Fi, Google’s American telecom service, with the intention of selling it on again. Before that, they worked with a seller in the US state of New Hampshire, who resold the Pixel smartphones for a higher price. The profit was shared with the people who initially purchased the Pixels.

However, in doing so they violated Google’s regulations due to the commercial nature of the resale. The accounts of approximately 200 Google users would therefore have been blocked, without further warning. That meant that these people lost access to all data stored with Google.

However, the Dans Deals blog noted that Google has since reversed its decision to ban Pixel resellers. Users were notified of the decision in an email; they can access their account again after verification by SMS. It’s not known why Google has reversed its decision, but it may have something to do with the massive media attention the case generated.

Previously, Google users managed to buy Nexus smartphones cheaply. At that time, however, the internet giant did not hand out any blockages.