# Google Ads Account Suspended? Reasons, Appeals and What to Fix | Certanza

> Why Google Ads accounts get suspended, what suspension means for your ads and linked accounts, how to appeal properly, and the website problems to fix before you do.

Web page: https://www.certanza.app/guides/google-ads-suspended

# Google Ads account suspended? What it means and how to appeal

When Google suspends an Ads account, every ad stops and the account turns read-only. Some suspensions are about payments, some about policy, and many come back to your website. Here's how to tell which you're dealing with, and how to appeal properly.

Google Ads guide · updated 29 October 2026 · 10 minute read

## The short version

- There are three main kinds of suspension: serious policy violations, repeated violations (strikes) and billing or payment problems.
- A suspension stops ads everywhere, and related or new accounts can be suspended too, so don't open another account.
- Appeal from the notification in your account, one appeal at a time, after fixing the cause. You have at least 6 months.
- Policy suspensions such as unacceptable business practices or misrepresentation usually mean fixing your website first.

## Key numbers

- **3**: strikes before a repeat-violation suspension
- **6 months**: minimum time you have to appeal
- **7 days**: appeal pause if the appeal form is misused
- **3**: attempts at identity verification

## Why Google suspends Ads accounts

| Type | Examples | Warning first? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Serious (egregious) violations | Circumventing systems, unacceptable business practices, counterfeit goods, malicious software, coordinated deceptive practices | No, immediate |
| Repeated violations | Breaking the same ad policy again after warnings, tracked as strikes | Yes, holds after the first and second strikes |
| Billing and payments | Suspicious payment activity, unpaid balance, chargebacks, promotional code abuse | Sometimes temporary |
| Unauthorised activity | Someone else accessed your account | Temporary, to stop unauthorised charges |

For repeated violations, Google says the first and second strikes bring temporary holds of three and seven days, and a third strike leads to suspension, with notice at least 7 days before.


## What a suspension means

- Your ads stop running in every location until the account is reinstated.
- The account becomes read-only. You can still view it, download reports, make payments, update security settings and appeal.
- Related accounts, and any new accounts you create, may also be suspended.
- Google treats a suspension as permanent unless an appeal succeeds.

> **Don't open a new account.** Opening a new account to keep advertising is exactly what "circumventing systems" means. It usually gets the new account suspended too, and makes the original much harder to recover.


## When your website is the problem

Suspensions for unacceptable business practices, misrepresentation or circumventing systems often start with what Google sees on the page your ads link to. Common website causes:

### Hidden business identity

No business name, address or company details, or a site that looks like it's hiding who runs it.

### Unrealistic claims

Guaranteed results, miracle health benefits or earnings promises your landing page can't back up.

### Hidden costs and conditions

Subscriptions, fees or delivery charges that only appear after someone has committed.

### Landing pages that behave differently

Redirects, cloaking, or showing Google's crawler something different from what visitors see.

### Broken or unfinished pages

Errors, placeholder text or pages that don't load, which can look like a site built to mislead.

### Ad text that doesn't match the site

Promising something in the ad that the landing page doesn't offer or mention.

A [free scan](https://www.certanza.app/) checks your landing pages for these problems, and the full report can also compare your ad text against your site.


## How to appeal

1. **Work out the reason.** Open the suspension notification in your Google Ads account. It names the policy, such as unacceptable business practices or suspicious payment activity.
2. **Fix the cause first.** For policy suspensions, fix your website and ads. For billing suspensions, sort out the payment issue or verify your payment method. Google reinstates accounts only in compelling circumstances, so the appeal needs real changes behind it.
3. **Complete verification if asked.** Some advertisers must verify their identity to appeal. If identity can't be verified after 3 attempts, Google won't accept appeals.
4. **Submit one appeal.** Select the Contact us link in the notification to open the appeal form. Be thorough, accurate and honest. Explain what happened and what you've changed.
5. **Wait for the result.** The account shows "Appeal pending" while it's reviewed, and you'll get an email with the outcome. Sending several appeals for the same suspension can slow things down, and misuse can pause appeals for 7 days.
6. **If it's rejected.** You can appeal again, but only once you've found and fixed what was missed. Look again at every page your ads link to.

> **One account, one appeal.** If you have several suspended accounts, Google asks for a separate appeal for each. If your account was suspended because it shares identity documents with another suspended account, it's reinstated automatically once that account's appeal succeeds.


## Your Google Ads appeal checklist

Tick these off before you send the appeal. Your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] I know which policy the suspension is under
- [ ] Landing pages show who runs the business and how to contact you
- [ ] No guarantees, miracle results or claims I can't prove
- [ ] All costs, subscriptions and conditions are clear before purchase
- [ ] Landing pages load properly and show the same content to everyone
- [ ] Ad text matches what the landing page offers
- [ ] Payment details are up to date and any balance is paid
- [ ] Identity verification is complete if Google asked for it
- [ ] I haven't opened a new account to get around the suspension
- [ ] I've written down every change, ready to explain in the appeal

**What a checklist can't catch** (problems most often missed by eye):

- Code that treats Google's crawler differently from real visitors, which can look like cloaking
- Scripted (JavaScript) or meta-refresh redirects sending visitors to another site
- Redirects from your ad's domain to a different domain
- Hidden spam links or injected content from a hacked site
- Hidden third-party frames and suspicious obfuscated code
- Whether your site is on Google's malware or phishing list
- Google's ads crawler (AdsBot) blocked in robots.txt
- Ad text promising something your landing page doesn't mention (add your ad text when you scan)
- Tracking scripts running without cookie consent
- Subscription or recurring charges without clear cancellation terms


## Common questions

### How long does a Google Ads appeal take?

It varies. While it's being reviewed the account shows "Appeal pending", and Google emails you the outcome. Sending more appeals for the same suspension can slow things down.

### How long do I have to appeal?

Google says you have at least 6 months from the date of the suspension.

### What does circumventing systems mean?

Trying to get around Google's enforcement, for example opening new accounts after a suspension, hiding what a landing page really does, or misleading the review process. It's treated as a serious violation and suspends accounts without warning.

### My account was suspended for suspicious payment activity. Is that about my website?

Usually not. It's a billing suspension. Verify your payment method and business details as Google asks. If your appeal is about a policy suspension instead, your website matters a lot more.

### Can an agency guarantee my account back?

No. Google decides, and it looks at your account history and things no outside tool or agency can see. What helps is fixing every real problem and writing an honest, specific appeal.

## Sources

- [Google Ads: Account suspensions overview](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9841640)
- [Google Ads: Billing and payment suspensions](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/13704200)

Check your own website for these problems with a free scan: https://www.certanza.app/

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