Azure for Free - First 20 Days - Still getting charges deducted from $200

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Azure for Free - First 20 Days - Still getting charges deducted from $200

Michael Fuszner 20

I have an Azure for Free account and am still within the first 30 days and using the $200 credit. I have deleted all resource groups. I set up Azure File Sync but have deleted its resource group including the Vault. I see nothing in the portal that is being used - no resource groups, no networks, no storage, etc. But I am still being charged a few pennies a day for something.

When I look at the cost analysis for my Azure for Free subscription, the charges are occurring under the Resource group name: Others. And in the US East region. It's a general category Azure has - not an actual resource group that shows up under the Menu for Resource Groups.

I know these are nominal charges, but what is causing it?

Also, please correct me if necessary. I thought that if I deleted the Resource Group for anything, that would stop all charges. I discovered that FileSync sets up some storage with end points, and I've learned how to turn all of that off in addition to deleting the resource group - for FileSync itself and the storage vault. Is there anything else that can leave charges once the resource group is deleted?

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TP 141.6K Volunteer Moderator

Hi Michael,

Please navigate to your subscription -- Cost management -- Cost analysis blade. At the top select View -- CostByResource, then once it displays the resource list click on the date filter at top, click Custom date range, select single day or range.

The above should allow you to narrow down the source of the charges. If you drill down into the resources listed, what does it show for Service name and Meter?

Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful.

Thanks.

-TP

Michael Fuszner 20 Reputation points

2025-10-21T22:26:36.46+00:00

This was helpful to drill down further to determine where the charges are coming from. It indicates the charges relate to vault-mgxx4e88. When I click on vault..., it says it can't be found. I did, in fact, delete the vault file that was under my resource group after following the lengthy process it outlined. The resource group and the vault file have both been deleted.

When I go to the vault and Backup items, there's a message that says: "The vault and the backup items in it are currently in a soft deleted state. You can undelete the vault and move it to an active state". When I click Undelete vault, it tries but fails with the message that the resource group it was part of was not found.

The vault resource service name that is being charged is Backup. The Meter is Azure Files Protected Instances. When I open the Backup service and check for both Recover Services vaults and Backup vaults, there are none to display.

So we know where the charges are coming from, but we can't access it to stop them.
TP 141.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-21T22:46:14.9633333+00:00

Please try to create resource group with exact same name in same region, then try to undelete your Recovery Services Vault. Once restored, see if you can disable soft delete and delete the soft-deleted backup data.

Please reference article below:

Soft delete for Azure Backup

https://free.blessedness.top/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-security-feature-cloud?tabs=azure-portal

If you don't get rid of the soft deleted data charges will continue until the retention period expires.
Michael Fuszner 20 Reputation points

2025-10-21T23:49:27.0366667+00:00

I think I deleted the soft delete by moving the slider to 0. We'll see if charges continue.

Thanks.

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Azure for Free - First 20 Days - Still getting charges deducted from $200

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