A misrepresentation suspension means Google found a gap between what your listings promise and what shoppers actually find. This is one of the most common suspension types but fixing it requires identifying the exact discrepancy before submitting an appeal.
Google defines misrepresentation as creating a false impression about your product, your business, or the transaction. The policy applies at three levels:
The most common cause. If the price in your feed is $29.99 and the landing page shows $34.99 due to an expired sale, currency conversion, or regional pricing, Google flags this as misrepresentation.
Fix: Audit every product URL for price consistency. Implement a feed update schedule that syncs within 24 hours of any price change.
Shipping costs, handling fees, or taxes that only appear at checkout are treated as hidden fees. All mandatory costs must be included in the listed price or disclosed via the feed's shipping and tax attributes.
Fix: Add accurate shipping costs using the shipping attribute. Disclose all mandatory fees before the user adds to cart.
Listing a refurbished item as "new" or a used item as "refurbished" triggers misrepresentation. Open-box items, returns, and floor models must be correctly classified.
Fix: Audit the condition attribute for every product. "New" applies only to items in original, unopened packaging.
A business name that does not match your website, a disconnected phone number, or a non-existent address triggers misrepresentation at the account level. Google cross-references your Merchant Center information against your website's contact page and structured data.
Fix: Ensure your business name, address, and phone are identical across Merchant Center, your website footer, contact page, and Google Business Profile.
Stock photos showing a different color or configuration than what is actually sold, or lifestyle images where the product is a minor element, can trigger this violation.
Fix: Use images of the exact product in the exact configuration it ships in. Show the item on a white background as the primary image.
Phrases like "50% off" or "free shipping" in product titles that are no longer true at the time of the ad create misrepresentation. These claims continue running after promotions end.
Fix: Remove promotional language from product titles and descriptions. Use Google's Promotions feature for time-limited offers instead.
If your landing page redirects users to a different product page, or the product shown differs from the product in the ad, Google treats this as misrepresentation.
Fix: Ensure every product URL in your feed points directly to the specific product page with no redirect chain.
| Check | Where to verify | Pass criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Feed price matches page price | Merchant Center Diagnostics + URL | Exact match |
| Shipping costs accurate | Feed shipping attribute + checkout | No checkout surprises |
| Condition attribute correct | Feed audit | Accurate classification |
| Business info consistent | GMC settings, website footer, contact page | Identical across all sources |
| Images match actual product | Feed image URLs + product pages | Exact item shown |
| No expired promotions in titles | Feed title attribute | No promotional language |
| Landing page URL loads directly | Test each URL | No redirect chain |
Misrepresentation means your product listings, website, or business information creates a false impression about what you sell, how much it costs, or who you are. Google suspends accounts when the information shoppers see in ads does not match what they find when they click through.
Standard reviews take 3-5 business days. If denied, manual review takes 7-14 business days. Accounts with a history of violations may face longer periods.
No. Creating a new account to circumvent a suspension is itself a policy violation and results in the new account being suspended as well. You must resolve the issues on the original account.
Price mismatches between the feed and the landing page are most common, including expired promotional prices and undisclosed checkout fees.
Yes. Google reviews the account as a whole. Any remaining violations result in denial regardless of how many other issues you fixed.
State the specific violations you identified, describe each fix with dates, and confirm full account compliance. Vague appeals are almost always denied.
Policy violations relate to specific product rules. Misrepresentation is about inaccurate or misleading information across listings, website, or business identity.
Run a Free GMC Misrepresentation Audit
Related: GMC Suspension Appeal Guide | Price Mismatch Fix | Fake Reviews Suspension