Getting your Google Merchant Center (GMC) account suspended can be devastating for any eCommerce business. In this detailed case study, I walk you through how we helped one of our clients recover their GMC account after being hit with a double suspension—first for misrepresentation, then for website needs improvement.
Let’s dive into the exact steps we took to restore the account and get their products approved and live again on Google Shopping.
🧨 The Problem: Suspension for Misrepresentation
The account was initially suspended due to “Misrepresentation”—a vague but serious Google policy violation. Later, it was flagged for “Website or Online Store Needs Improvement”. These types of suspensions are common but tough to fix due to Google’s evolving and strict compliance standards.
🔍 Our Approach: Audit, Fix, Comply
We started with a complete compliance audit of their Shopify store. Here’s what we fixed:
✅ Website Improvements:
- Header/Footer alignment
- Contact info consistency
- Broken & dead links
- Missing pages: Return policy, Privacy policy, About Us
- Working vs Business Days misalignment
- Empty categories & products triggering auto-flags
🛡️ Policy Checks:
- Correct refund and return policies
- Visible and working terms and conditions
- Consistent email address across all pages
- Clear shipping methods and timelines
- Added Google Business Profile
🧑💻 Technical Fixes:
- Robots.txt optimization
- Removed duplicate contact forms
- Increased mobile site speed
- Resolved inconsistent product availability
📬 Identity Verification & MCC Access
Even after using our Google Partner MCC, the client still needed to go through Identity Verification and policy alignment. This included rewording disclaimers, product descriptions, and ensuring zero misleading claims.
✅ The Final Outcome: Approved!
After weeks of hard work and several rounds of fixes, the account was fully restored. Products are now approved, live, and the account is receiving clicks.
🔧 What You Can Learn from This:
- Never ignore small compliance details — they matter to Google.
- Use sample checkout & test purchases for full experience validation.
- Have consistent info (business days, shipping time, emails) sitewide.
- Always be ready for identity verification, especially post-suspension.
- Hire an expert if things get overwhelming — suspension recovery isn’t guesswork.
🚀 Need Help with Google Ads or Suspended Accounts?
We’ve helped 100+ clients recover their Google Ads, GMC, and GBP accounts. If you’re facing a suspension or need a Google Ads strategy that works, contact us today.
