payment issues Archives

AppWizard

September 29, 2026

Your next Google Play subscription could work very differently

Google Play is introducing new subscription features aimed at AI applications and services with variable costs. These include Usage-Based Billing, allowing users to maintain a prepaid balance that replenishes automatically; Multi-Quantity Subscriptions for organizations to purchase multiple subscriptions in one transaction; Mixed Carts for offering auto-renewing subscriptions alongside one-time purchases; and Cross-Developer Bundling for selling complementary subscriptions from different developers as a single package. Additionally, Google is enhancing user retention through a Dynamic Grace Period for payment issues, Retention Offers during cancellation, and personalized winback offers for former subscribers. Many of these features are currently available or being rolled out through Google's Early Access Program.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Google Unwraps Plans to Put AI to Work for Android, Web Developers

At the recent Google I/O event, Google introduced a suite of AI tools for Android and Chrome applications aimed at enhancing marketing and management for developers. In the Play Store, AI will assist in app discovery through Google’s Gemini and provide a Q&A interface for user inquiries. New AI-driven management tools for developers include creating app listings based on keyword insights, automating catalog management, analyzing payment issues, and offering retention incentives for users. Google also reduced Play Store charges for developers to a commission of 10% to 20%. For Android programmers, Google’s AI Studio offers coding assistance for specific app categories, while additional enhancements include a command-line interface guided by programming-assistant AIs and new marketing options. In Chrome, Google introduced a trial version of WebMCP for AI agents to connect with site APIs and expanded built-in AI tools for writing and debugging. New web-coding options are being tested to improve app-like interfaces and compatibility metrics. The “Immediate UI Mode” feature allows for a unified login interface to streamline passkey authentication.

Tech Optimizer

October 31, 2025

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ESET is currently offering a 30% discount on all plans with the code TECH30. Their security suite includes Essential, Premium, and Ultimate packages, providing protection against various online threats. Key features include a secure VPN for encrypting internet connections, anti-phishing technology, proactive ransomware protection, and UK-based customer support.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Google Play adds topic pages, audio previews, and new subscription tools for developers

Google is enhancing its Play Store with upgrades for Android app developers, including a robust toolset for managing subscription-based applications, allowing developers to pause live app releases. New "topic browse" pages will help users discover apps related to over 100,000 media and entertainment titles, and the "Where to Watch" feature will expand to the U.K., Korea, Indonesia, and Mexico. Developers can integrate new visual content options, such as a hero content carousel and audio samples, which have increased app installs for Health & Wellness developers. Curated spaces for user interests will expand, particularly in Japan. The Play Console will feature a new asset library for organizing visual assets and provide new metrics for app listing performance. Subscription management tools will allow multi-product checkout and enhanced reminders about subscription benefits, reducing voluntary churn by 3%. Developers can offer a grace period of up to 30 days or a 60-day account hold for declined payments. The Engage SDK will support additional categories and markets, while the Play Integrity API will improve security with enhanced abuse detection and device security update checks.

AppWizard

February 4, 2025

Martin Lewis warning on bank app payment to Ryanair, JustEat and others

Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, cautioned about the "pay by bank app" options at online checkouts, noting that while they streamline transactions, they lack consumer protection compared to credit card payments. These methods, increasingly used on platforms like JustEat and Ryanair, involve selecting a bank and authenticating via biometrics, but function as bank transfers, which do not provide protections like chargeback rights or Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Section 75 allows credit card users to claim refunds for faulty goods or services. A KPMG UK survey found that over two-thirds of respondents with recent payment issues were more inclined to carry cash, with 22% having experienced such problems.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Lloyds and Halifax banking app customers urged ‘do not make repeat payments’

Customers of Lloyds and Halifax faced disruptions with their banking applications, primarily related to difficulties in making and receiving payments. Reports of issues began around 7 a.m. on Monday, affecting several hundred users. Lloyds acknowledged the problems on social media and assured customers that online banking and telephone services remained operational. This incident follows a significant outage at Barclays attributed to a technology issue, which left many customers unable to access funds. Lloyds Banking Group announced plans to close 136 high street branches between May 2023 and March 2026, raising concerns about the reliability of digital banking services. Industry experts expressed worries regarding the resilience of financial infrastructure amid these technological disruptions.