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Google Merchant Center Account Suspended: Causes and Next Steps

By Sam · Last updated · 6 minute read

An account-level suspension turns off your whole Google product channel at once. Specialists say it is usually triggered by the misrepresentation policy, which checks whether your business can be trusted. Check the message in Merchant Center, make sure your website clearly shows who you are, how to contact you, and your shipping, returns and payment information, fix what Google names, and then request a review.

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Contents

What a suspension means

A suspension is different from a single disapproved product. It affects your whole account, so none of your products show. Read the exact message in Merchant Center, because it names the policy involved and what Google wants fixed.

Common reasons

Specialist guides report these causes:

  • Misrepresentation: Google could not confirm that your business is real, trustworthy and clear about who you are and what you offer.
  • Missing or unclear website information: no contact details, delivery or returns information, or unclear payment details.
  • Widespread product problems: many products breaking the same policy, for example mismatched prices.
  • Policy violations: selling restricted products or using misleading claims.

The exact policy in your case is in the message, so use the list as a guide and not a diagnosis.

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Steps

  1. Read the message and note the policy and any examples.
  2. Check your website against the checklist below.
  3. Fix the causes, on the website and in the product data.
  4. Keep evidence of what you changed and when.
  5. Request a review through Merchant Center, once the problems are fixed. Do not request before you have fixed them.
  6. Wait and check, and avoid repeated requests.

Website checklist

  • Your business name, address if you have one, email and phone number are easy to find.
  • Delivery costs and times, returns and refund policy, and payment details are clear.
  • Prices and stock on the site are accurate and match your feed.
  • The checkout is secure and works.
  • Product pages are real and complete, with original descriptions and images.
  • Terms and conditions and privacy pages are present.

See what a small business website costs in the UK for what a trustworthy site should include.

Illustration for Website checklist

What not to do

  • Open a new account to get round the suspension. It can make things worse.
  • Request a review before you have fixed the problems.
  • Ignore the message and wait.
  • Hide or alter evidence.

While you wait

Products will not show in Google Shopping, so rely on other channels where you can. Clean your product data in the meantime; see selling online from one product database and our product feed health check. For the full set-up, see Google Merchant Center setup for UK sellers, and for product-level problems, why products are disapproved.

Frequently asked questions

Why was my Merchant Center account suspended?

Usually because of a policy such as misrepresentation, which checks that Google can trust your business, or because of widespread product problems. The message names the policy.

How long does a review take?

We could not find a published timeframe. Fix the problems first, request one review and check Merchant Center.

Can I open a new account?

Not as a way round a suspension. Fix the causes and request a review.

Will my Google Ads account be affected?

A suspended Merchant Center account stops Shopping ads from that account. Check Google’s messages for other effects.

What proof will Google want?

What the message asks for. Typically a clear website that shows who you are, how to contact you and your delivery, returns and payment terms.

Sources

Sam, Editor at Clariti Digital

Sam, Editor at Clariti Digital.

Need help with this?

Clariti Digital is a UK digital growth agency for established local businesses. We start with a diagnostic, then fix what holds back visibility, enquiries and trust. Call +44 7435 063827 or email sam@claritidigital.com.

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