According to a report by Android Authority, a Reddit user named Alopez1024 has revealed that YouTube cancelled his YouTube Premium membership out of nowhere.
Other Reddit users also reported that their YouTube Premium subscriptions were also cancelled. The common factor among these cancelled memberships seemed to be the use of a VPN to subscribe at lower rates offered in different countries.
Why users run VPN for cheaperYouTube Premium membership
YouTube offers different Premium prices based on regional purchasing power and consumer expectations. Some users have exploited this by masking their location with a VPN to subscribe from countries like Ukraine, where the subscription is significantly cheaper (99 UAH or ~$2.44 per month) compared to the US ($13.99 per month).
Once subscribed, the Premium service would work without a VPN, making it a lucrative loophole. However, this workaround is now being shut down. Users who subscribe via VPN are likely to find their memberships cancelled.
What YouTube’s customer service said
Some affected users asked YouTube’s customer service to explain the cancellation of their membership. The company said that these cancellations were done due to the discrepancy between the sign-up and current locations. YouTube also advised users to subscribe to local payment methods to align with regional pricing.
