Overseas advertisers, particularly companies headquartered in one country and advertising in several others, see account suspensions more often than domestic advertisers. Most suspensions are not random. They follow from a small number of policy and verification issues that can be prevented. This article summarizes the triggers we see most often when helping clients open and manage Google Ads accounts.
1. Suspicious payments
Google flags accounts when payment details look inconsistent: a card issued in one country, a billing address in another, many failed charges, or a payment profile shared by unrelated accounts. Prevention: use a payment method in the company's name that matches the billing country, add a backup method, and avoid repeated failed payments.
2. Circumventing systems
This policy covers behavior such as creating new accounts after a suspension, using misleading redirects, or hiding content from reviewers. It is the most severe category. Prevention: never open replacement accounts to get around a suspension, keep destination URLs consistent, and do not cloak.
3. Unacceptable business practices and misrepresentation
Missing contact details, unclear pricing, unrealistic claims and missing refund terms can all lead to misrepresentation findings. Prevention: show company name, address and contact information, publish terms and refund policies, and keep claims verifiable.
4. Advertiser verification not completed
Google requires many advertisers to complete identity or business verification within a deadline. Missing it pauses ads. Prevention: prepare company registration documents and a responsible person's identification in advance, and assign someone to watch for verification emails.
5. Restricted categories without certification
Gambling, financial services, healthcare and some crypto-related products require certification in specific countries. Running them without certification leads to disapprovals and potential suspension. Prevention: check the policy for each country before launch and apply for certification first.
What to do if suspended
- Read the notification carefully and identify the policy cited.
- Fix the underlying issue on the site or account.
- Submit one well-documented appeal through the official channel.
- Wait; multiple appeals rarely speed up review.
The role of an agency
An experienced agency helps by structuring accounts correctly from the start, preparing verification documents and reviewing landing pages before launch. Agency accounts do not exempt advertisers from policy; they reduce avoidable mistakes. Our opening checklist and process are documented in our Google Ads account opening guide.
Conclusion
Suspensions are expensive because they interrupt learning and delay campaigns. A short pre-launch checklist covering payments, site transparency, verification and category rules prevents most of them.
References
- Google Ads Policies (Advertising Policies Help Center).
- Google Ads Help, "About advertiser verification".
- PandaWM account management records, 2025–2026 (anonymized).
Published by PandaWM, an overseas marketing team based in Hong Kong.