Hi Stéphane,
since a couple of years ago Google requires an API Key for using GMaps on any site (no need to pay for it) and since this Summer they have reinforced that policy and they now requires you not only to have an API Key, but also to introduce a credit card on your google account just in case you surpass their free limits (which are quite big actually).

Best!!

Hi Carcam,

I have seen those changes, but I could, last year, create a key without a credit card (my very old keys without credit cards account are still working...)
Are you sure that this is the only reason why the new keys are not working ?
I'll tried creating keys without having a payment account created. After the 40.000 requests per day, I do prefer they stop the service instead of adding a credit card but, maybe this is my error... this option isn't available... isn't it ?

Regards
Stéphane

Hello Stéphane,

Since about a month ago Google completely changed their API and set most free accounts onto a 1 load per day limit, unless you provide your credit card details. Once the details are provided and you assign the billing contract with that site you will load again. Noting you do get a $200 credit a month. It's not good though really to force this on it's users :-(.

Many thanks
Tony

Hi Tony,

It's not good though really to force this on it's users :-(

You are right Tony

Have you thought about using another maps provider (Bing Maps, OpenStreeMap, etc.) as JoomUnited on their extension MyMapsLocations (https://www.joomunited.com/products/my-maps-location) ?

Would be a great alternative. As I have seen (YouTube, etc) a lot of users will go with another map supplier and leave Google as fast as possible...

Could I suggest you to propose different maps suppliers ?
On one of my sites, I've changed the way of showing the location on a map :

• putted the link of the place on Google maps in the link entry of a location
  
• changed the layout in order to propose a link to that map opening on a new tab/window
  

I really do not want to enter a credit card info onto any Google Service

Regards,
Stéphane

Hello Stéphane,

For sure we are moving to provide an option for OpenStreet maps soon :-).

Many thanks
Tony