Has your Google Merchant Center Account been suspended?
As a business owner, having your Google Merchant account closed is highly inconvenient, but it happens more often than not. It’s common for merchants, even those with over $20 million earnings per month, to suddenly receive an email from Google saying that their account has been suspended.
This disruption can prevent you from using key features like Google Shopping, causing a significant loss of business revenue.
So why does this happen? And how do we fix the issue? As an agency that has helped many businesses in New Zealand recover their suspended GMC account, here are some top FAQs we get asked and our response to them.
Why was my Google Merchant account closed?
Essentially, your GMC account was closed because you (unintentionally) violated Google’s policy. Google has since become much stricter in enforcing its rules, so it’s common for new accounts, especially if they’re suspected of violating these rules, to be suspended.
Here are the four main reasons we often see that cause an account suspension.
Reason 1: Misrepresentation
Misrepresentation is the most common reason cited by Google when suspending your GMC. This means that your Shopping ad can be misleading to customers who see it.
At Net Branding, here are the examples of ‘misrepresentation’ we’ve seen and corrected:
• Unclear pricing
• Missing contact information
• Unclear shipping and return policy
• Missing payment method information
Reason 2: Restricted Businesses
Certain types of businesses are restricted or limited on what they can sell on Google. These include:
• Firearms
• Adult services
• Gambling
• Alcohol
Selling any of these products or services may likely get your account suspended.
Reason 3: Tax & Shipping Error
The tax and shipping charges communicated on your website must match the information displayed on your Google Merchant Center account. Any information mismatch may likely lead to an account suspension.
Perhaps you entered the data incorrectly or have not updated it on Google. In any case, it’s important that your tax and shipping information is clear for Google and its consumers.
Reason 4: Suspicious Payment Activity
Any suspicious payment activity or payment methods is definitely a concern for Google and will lead to an account suspension. These can include:
• Billing address incorrect
• Merchant credit card fraud
• Using the same credit card or billing address in multiple Google Ads accounts
Understanding why your account is banned can be a challenge. If you suspect your account may be suspended for reasons other than these four, it’s best to speak to our team, who can help you identify and rectify the issue.
What happens when Google suspends your account?
Having your GMC suspended can be a huge blow, as it often means:
• Your Shopping ads won’t run
• You lose your account and product performance history
• You lose your business revenue
While it may be tempting to create a new account, this is highly inadvisable. Doing so can trigger even more red flags from Google, who will likely suspend your new account too.
The best course of action when faced with a suspension is to make an appeal.
How do I appeal a suspended Google Merchant Center Account?
Before you send in an appeal, it’s important that you identify and fix the issue with your account. Sending an appeal while your account is still unchanged will be pointless, as Google will still see the violation.
A suspended Merchant Center account doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Here’s what you can do:
• Log in to your Google Merchant Center account.
• On the navigation menu, choose Products and then click on Diagnostics.
• Click the Account issues tab.
• Find the issue you want Google to review and click Request review.
• Read the message prompt and follow the on-screen instructions on how to request a review.
Generally, Google will take 7 days to review your account and will email you the result. Merchants who are unable to resolve the issue at the first appeal can submit a second appeal. But if the second appeal is still unsuccessful, Google will impose a one-week cool-down penalty before a merchant can appeal again.
Is my Google Merchant Center Account suspension permanent?
Unless it is a serious suspension issue, Google will not permanently suspend your Merchant Center account. This happens only in severe cases where the policy team has placed a permanent ban against a person.
However, you should avoid sending in multiple appeals without taking corrective action and discovering why exactly your account has been suspended.
Is there another way to recover my Google Merchant Center Account?
Unfortunately, the only way to recover your Google Merchant Center account is to appeal to Google. If you’ve followed the steps and are still unsure why your account was suspended and how to recover it, NetBranding is here to help.
NetBranding has worked with many clients to get their businesses back online and solve any issues with their Google accounts. To recover your account efficiently and avoid losing any more revenue trading online, speak to our team today.
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