Google play store displays home address.

Solar2D Android
#1

Hey all,

I’ve just had my first game approved by Apple, it’s all ready to go. It all went without a hitch…

I’ve been going through the comparative Hell of testing licensing on Google play.

First of all they don’t have promo codes, you and your testers actually have to buy your application. Then when we finally get that sorted out I notice my home address, as well as name, and email there on the store for all the world to see.

A bit of googling and it seems to be a new policy. That’s my frickin home address man.

So do you guys all put up with that?

I’m seriously considering just sticking with the App store and not bothering with Android. It’s a pain from start to finish [/rant]

tastymushroom.

#2

Ya… I recently noticed that as well and I am not a big fan of this new policy. I am deciding what I want to do… I don’t get enough sales from the google play store,but I don’t really want to drop it. I wonder if a PO Box would work?

#3

Ooooo thats a good idea Schizoid2k. I’m going to give that a go.

It really annoyed me last night when I found that out… I’ll let you know how I get on.

#4

OK so you can’t use a PO box. It has to be a bricks and mortar address. Plus a PO Box isn’t cheap!

One option might be to use the address of your accountancy (if you have one). Mine offers a service for £5 per month whereby all business mail goes to them. I’m just checking it out at the moment, but for that cost its a lot cheaper than a PO box.

A friend of mine also suggested the address of the business solicitor… if you have one. I don’t.

Basically if I can’t use my accountants then I’ll probably just ditch Play and look at Kindle and Windows versions. 

I could make an ad supported version and give it away on Play but I want to keep the costing consistent across platforms really…

Bloody idiots! Really annoyed me that has.

#5

Thanks for looking into this…

I am going to spend a little time, read over their policy, and check out some options.  I noticed it is on all of my apps, whether it’s paid, free, or IAP driven.

#6

I just checked and both my apps don’t show my personal address. Did you guys registered as developers or a company? @Schizoid2k, does this happen with old apps as well?

#7

undecode,

My address is showing up on all my games, old and new.

I read through some help files on Google Developer and found this:

Physical address

To comply with consumer protection laws, developer accounts with paid apps or apps with in-app purchases need to add a physical address to their accounts.

After you’ve added an address, it will be available on your app’s detail page on Google Play. If your physical address changes, make sure to update your information on your Settings Page.

 

I found out that this policy change occurred late last year… I must of missed the announcement.

 

I do notice addresses on other games/apps as well.  Not all, but if you read the developer terms, your games are subject to removal if you fail to provide an address.  I can remove it, but I am flagged with red text “you must provide an address”, so I am afraid to leave it that way.  I do think a PO Box may work, but I haven’t tried it, and it is another expense.

–john

#8

I just had a conversation with support at google. Here’s a transcript. Make of it what you will, but it sounds like theres ways around it.

Still not sure I want the additional cost of a PO box tbh, it’s not ideal but its better than having my home address on the store.

Google_Dev_Address_Conversation.png

#9

This is simply stupid, not even Apple asks for such silly requeriments.

I don’t mind giving Google my address, as far as they dont publish it. But this is just too much, i don’t want as well to everybody know where I LIVE. That’s plain stupid, if you registered as a single developer you shouldn’t be forced to do this…

When did they change this? I can’t seem to find forums with people talking about this problem.

#10

I was thinking of putting the address of google UK in the address box. According to that transcript I posted above from google support, it just has to be a bricks and mortar address where you can be contacted. Not related to your billing address or anything.

Well google has my address.

The feeling I had from the chat was that they seem be complying with some European consumer law, but actually aren’t that bothered… he even said, if you are breaking any federal or local laws that’s not their problem.

Apple and MS act as an intermediary so you don’t need to, where as google just seem to be letting you use their store front.

The more I think about it, the more I’m thinking they are just ticking a box somewhere, a pain in the backside to be sure though.

#11

If you’re in the U.S., get a UPS Store box. It’s not a PO Box; it’s a street mailing address. Google allows this.

Considering all the horrific things you have to do as an iOS developer (provisioning profiles, TestFlight delay to approve, app store longer delay to approve, TestFlight builds timing out, 100-device non-TestFlight limitations, $100/year fee), this one requirement on Google’s part seems easy to comply with.

#12

If you’re not in the U.S. a PO Box costs around £250 per year ($400ish) so I’d say that makes the $100 for Apple’s developer program an absolute bargain, especially as they don’t expose you to the world!

#13

Ya… I recently noticed that as well and I am not a big fan of this new policy. I am deciding what I want to do… I don’t get enough sales from the google play store,but I don’t really want to drop it. I wonder if a PO Box would work?

#14

Ooooo thats a good idea Schizoid2k. I’m going to give that a go.

It really annoyed me last night when I found that out… I’ll let you know how I get on.

#15

OK so you can’t use a PO box. It has to be a bricks and mortar address. Plus a PO Box isn’t cheap!

One option might be to use the address of your accountancy (if you have one). Mine offers a service for £5 per month whereby all business mail goes to them. I’m just checking it out at the moment, but for that cost its a lot cheaper than a PO box.

A friend of mine also suggested the address of the business solicitor… if you have one. I don’t.

Basically if I can’t use my accountants then I’ll probably just ditch Play and look at Kindle and Windows versions. 

I could make an ad supported version and give it away on Play but I want to keep the costing consistent across platforms really…

Bloody idiots! Really annoyed me that has.

#16

Thanks for looking into this…

I am going to spend a little time, read over their policy, and check out some options.  I noticed it is on all of my apps, whether it’s paid, free, or IAP driven.

#17

I just checked and both my apps don’t show my personal address. Did you guys registered as developers or a company? @Schizoid2k, does this happen with old apps as well?

#18

undecode,

My address is showing up on all my games, old and new.

I read through some help files on Google Developer and found this:

Physical address

To comply with consumer protection laws, developer accounts with paid apps or apps with in-app purchases need to add a physical address to their accounts.

After you’ve added an address, it will be available on your app’s detail page on Google Play. If your physical address changes, make sure to update your information on your Settings Page.

 

I found out that this policy change occurred late last year… I must of missed the announcement.

 

I do notice addresses on other games/apps as well.  Not all, but if you read the developer terms, your games are subject to removal if you fail to provide an address.  I can remove it, but I am flagged with red text “you must provide an address”, so I am afraid to leave it that way.  I do think a PO Box may work, but I haven’t tried it, and it is another expense.

–john

#19

I just had a conversation with support at google. Here’s a transcript. Make of it what you will, but it sounds like theres ways around it.

Still not sure I want the additional cost of a PO box tbh, it’s not ideal but its better than having my home address on the store.

Google_Dev_Address_Conversation.png

#20

This is simply stupid, not even Apple asks for such silly requeriments.

I don’t mind giving Google my address, as far as they dont publish it. But this is just too much, i don’t want as well to everybody know where I LIVE. That’s plain stupid, if you registered as a single developer you shouldn’t be forced to do this…

When did they change this? I can’t seem to find forums with people talking about this problem.