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how do I turn off amazon simple email in web services they are billing me for a service im not using
Nothing I was billed $20 a month for two months but I didn’t send any emails. What do I do?
If Amazon Web Services (AWS) is billing you for Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) and you’re not using it, here’s how to stop the charges and disable the service step-by-step:
๐ง Step-by-Step: Turn Off Amazon SES to Stop Billing
โ
1. Log into AWS Console
Go to: https://console.aws.amazon.com/
๐ 2. Select the Correct Region
SES is region-specific, so make sure you’re in the region where SES is enabled (e.g., US East (N. Virginia)).
๐ 3. Delete All Active Resources
In each region where SES may be active, check for and remove:
Verified domains or email addresses
Active configuration sets
Identity policies
Dedicated IPs (if subscribed)
To do this:
Go to Amazon SES โ Configuration โ Remove:
Email identities
Configuration sets
SMTP credentials
Event destinations (if set)
IP pools (under โDedicated IPsโ)
๐ธ 4. Check and Release Dedicated IPs
If you were accidentally signed up for dedicated IPs, those incur recurring monthly fees.
To release:
Go to SES > Dedicated IPs
Select IP pool(s) > Actions > Release IPs
๐งผ 5. Delete IAM SES Users (Optional)
If you created IAM users for SES SMTP:
Go to IAM โ Users
Delete any SES-related users or credentials
๐ก 6. Set Up Billing Alerts (Optional but Smart)
Avoid future surprise charges:
Go to Billing > Budgets โ Create a budget with alerts
Or go to Billing > Cost Explorer to see SES usage
๐งพ 7. Verify with Billing
If SES charges persist:
Go to AWS Support Center
Choose Account and Billing Support
Open a billing dispute or refund request
๐งจ Bonus: Shut Down All SES in All Regions (Fastest Nuclear Option)
Use the AWS CLI to list SES identities and delete them:
bash
Copy
Edit
aws ses list-identities –region us-east-1
aws ses delete-identity –identity [email protected] –region us-east-1
Repeat for each region where SES might be enabled.
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