If you are logged in to your AWS account there should be a button for Select an AWS Support Plan. Choose the Basic (free). Then if you are in the AWS dashboard, in the upper right, the Support dropdown should have a link to the Support Center which allows you to open new cases.
Do you currently have any AWS services running? Maybe the free support only works if you have a service currently running. I can't see why, but that is the only reason I can think of why it may not work for you.
and choose technical support. the textarea for the support question disappears.
It says this:
At the Basic Support level, you can create account and billing support cases and service limit increase requests, but you cannot create technical support cases. For information about features and pricing of support plans that include technical support cases, one-on-one technical assistance, and additional support resources, see AWS Support.
This is rather surprising as there are many basic technical support questions that should be resolved without a 50 fee.
Oh, got you. I thought you weren't seeing anything for support. Yes, you are right technical support isn't available under the free plan. However, I have used the Account and Billing Support questions for basic technical questions. For more technical questions their forums have worked well for me in the past.
What happens when you go to this page:
https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/
If you are logged in to your AWS account there should be a button for Select an AWS Support Plan. Choose the Basic (free). Then if you are in the AWS dashboard, in the upper right, the Support dropdown should have a link to the Support Center which allows you to open new cases.
Do you currently have any AWS services running? Maybe the free support only works if you have a service currently running. I can't see why, but that is the only reason I can think of why it may not work for you.