When you change the specifications of a PolarDB cluster, the billing adjustment depends on your billing method: pay-as-you-go or subscription.
Pay-as-you-go
Pay-as-you-go clusters are billed hourly. After a configuration change takes effect, the cluster is charged at the new price on an hourly basis.
Subscription
Upgrade specifications or add nodes
You pay the price difference between the new and original configurations for the remaining subscription period.
Formula:
Payment = (Monthly price of new configuration / 30 / 24 × remaining hours) − (Monthly price of original configuration / 30 / 24 × remaining hours)
Example:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| New configuration monthly price | USD 14,400 |
| Original configuration monthly price | USD 7,200 |
| Remaining subscription period | 50 days |
Payment = (14,400 / 30 / 24 × 50 × 24) − (7,200 / 30 / 24 × 50 × 24) = USD 12,000
Downgrade specifications or delete nodes
You receive a refund for the price difference between the original and new configurations for the remaining subscription period.
Formula:
Refund = (Monthly price of original configuration / 30 / 24 × remaining hours) − (Monthly price of new configuration / 30 / 24 × remaining hours)
Example:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Subscription period | 3 months |
| Original configuration price | USD 3,500 |
| Amount paid (after coupons) | USD 3,000 |
| Remaining fees for original configuration (after 2 months) | USD 1,000 |
| New configuration fees for the remaining month | USD 800 |
Refund = USD 1,000 − USD 800 = USD 200
This refund applies to the downgraded configuration only, not the entire cluster. To request a full refund for the cluster, Submit a ticket. If approved, the cluster is frozen and deleted after 14 days.
FAQ
Why is my refund less than the amount I calculated?
The refund is based on the actual amount you paid, not the listed price. Two common reasons:
Discounts: Subscriptions of one year or longer on the International site (alibabacloud.com) receive a 15% discount. For example, if the listed price was USD 1,000 and you paid USD 850, the refund is calculated on USD 850.
Coupons: If you applied coupons and paid USD 500, the refund is calculated on USD 500.USD 500USD 500