US Mobile CEO blasts Google for trying to strong-arm company into switching billing process

US Mobile CEO Ahmed Khattak isn’t holding back, accusing Google of trying to strong-arm his company into switching to ACH payments. This could potentially cost them over $300,000 in rewards. In a candid Reddit post, Khattak detailed how Google’s push would strip US Mobile of credit card perks that help fund customer benefits, all while offering a patronizing “solution” that boiled down to spending more on Google’s services.

In his post, Khattak detailed how Google approached US Mobile a few months ago, suggesting they adopt ACH payments instead of continuing with credit cards. The pitch framed the shift as a benefit, but according to Khattak, it would have cost his company millions in rewards. He claimed this amount is crucial to funding competitive offers and customer benefits. “We pass our savings back to you,” Khattak emphasized, referencing how US Mobile has historically used cost savings to launch affordable plans like 5GB for $15.

Khattak claimed that Google’s response to US Mobile’s pushback was dismissive.

Losing this momentum would be a real setback. While we can’t change global policies, we can adjust your campaigns to minimize the impact and potentially even exceed the $27K cashback you’re losing. I’m confident we can find a solution that works for you. Please let us know if you’re open to discussing before Sunday.

He said the company trivialized the financial impact by undervaluing the lost rewards at $27,000 instead of the actual $300,000. “Their ‘solution’ = spend more money with them while their so-called optimizations are done by people who have zero understanding of our business.”

US Mobile’s rejection of Google’s terms isn’t just about internal savings, Khattak said, it’s part of a larger resistance against dependency on tech giants. He noted that he has consistently pushed back against overreliance on platforms like Amazon and Google Ads, referring to these expenses as “Google Tax.”

The Reddit post also aimed at Google’s broader practices, referencing the company’s recent loss in a high-profile antitrust lawsuit. “Somehow, after that, they thought it was a good idea to pull this nonsense with businesses across the US,” Khattak wrote.

Instead of bowing to Google’s demands, US Mobile is launching an aggressive new referral program, offering customers up to $1,575 per year for referring friends and family. Rewards increase with each referral, starting at $25 for the first two and escalating to $225 per referral after the fourth. “We’re actually tripling down on YOU, our community, by launching a monster referral program. Not monopoly money, not store credit—cold, hard cash. Nothing like what the industry has seen before.” Khattak said that the money will come via prepaid MasterCards, none of which will flow through Google’s ecosystem.

Here’s how it works:

You can earn up to $1,575 per year just for referring friends and family to US Mobile.

$25 for the first two referrals, $75 for the third, $100 for the fourth, and a whopping $225 for every referral after that—up to ten referrals!

Khattak warned that Google’s billing changes could hit smaller businesses even harder. He wants other businesses to stand up to Google’s practices, hinting that a collective boycott of Google Ads could force a reversal.

US Mobile users seem quite happy with the company’s stance. “Way to go! This is fire 🔥,” one commenter cheered, while another called it “a boss move.” Some took the chance to vent their own frustrations with Google’s tactics, while others were hyped about the new referral program.

This whole ordeal isn’t surprising though. Lately, Google seems to be trying to force businesses to spend more on them to “win,” such as with recent changes to Google Search. With all the legal drama, this seems to be yet another step in the wrong direction. We’ll just have to see where this path leads the company.