Misrepresentation in Google Merchant Center: what it means and how to prepare a review

Examples Google gives of unacceptable practices

1. Presenting a false identity, business name or contact information.
2. Hiding or misrepresenting your real business location, headquarters or fulfillment source.
3. Not clearly disclosing the full cost: total price, taxes, fees, recurring costs and all shipping costs.
4. Hiding transaction conditions, such as restocking fees or return freight fees.
5. Denying returns or refunds despite a clear policy that allows them.
6. Promising products or offers that are not available.
7. Unreliable claims, such as promising improbable results.

Time limits Google states

For most account violations, Google gives you 7 or 28 calendar days after a warning email to fix the issue. For some practices, such as unavailable offers, manipulated media and unreliable claims, a warning comes at least 7 days before any suspension. Egregious practices can lead to suspension without warning. Google says account reviews typically take 7 business days.

What to do

1. Read Google’s Shopping ads and listings policies.
2. Audit your website: the legal business name, address, phone number and email should be consistent on the site and in Merchant Center, and your policies should be easy to find. Remove placeholder text, fix broken links and keep checkout working and secure.
3. Remove violating products from your data source, or fix them, and update your product data in Merchant Center.
4. Request a review if you fixed the issue, or appeal if you disagree. Do not request a bulk appeal before you have removed every violating offer, since Google warns it can fail at once if violations are found.