I've heard stories about how irrational Google can be sometimes in over zealously monitoring ads and sites to ensure compliance with their TOS, but this one is so far out that I had to relate it to everyone. I was promoting a weight loss program a few years ago and was using Google Adwords as my promotion tool. After a few weeks of not so stellar results, I got a notice from Google that my account was suspended for a violation of their terms of service. Apparently they thought I was making misleading statements on the site. Since I wasn't doing very well anyways, I just left it. Shortly thereafter, I quit the program and killed the website. Now, I have a new website (squeeze page) with a free giveaway, etc. So I decided to see what I could do to get my Adwords account back online. So I went into my Adwords account and deleted any ads I had in there from before and I then called Google using the number that was on the Adwords site. I got a perky young girl on the line who went through the usual preamble and asked how she could help me. I then explained what had happened and that the offending website no longer existed and any ads pertaining to the website were also gone. Could I now please have the suspension lifted so I could start clean with an entirely new product. "Sir" came back the reply, "the only way we can lift your suspension is for you to fix the problem on your website so that we can reanalyze it." Now I'm thinking perhaps she didn't hear me the first time, so I repeated the fact that the website no longer existed and therefore the problem must not exist anymore. "I'm sorry sir, the only way we can lift the suspension is for you to fix the problem on your website." "How can I fix something that doesn't exist?" "I'm sorry sir, but until you fix your website, you will not be able use your Adwords account." I was stunned. Not knowing what to say next, I hung up. Has anyone ever heard or experienced anything this ridiculous? For a company the size of Google and with all their technical know how, this is the kind of insane treatment I get? I have since joined the Microsoft/Bing ad network and will never use Google again. To Your Success JCMarketer
Nice story and thanks for letting us all know it makes for a very interesting read and insight IMHO. The girl you spoke to still got paid that month we can take it even if she is just a robot only able to do as she / it is told it seems...
Definitely not a robot, but she might as well have been, obviously reading from a script. Heaven forbid that she should actually think and then make a decision. Thanks for the feedback.
Oops my bad I somehow put the word "if" in there where it shouldn't have been LOL I meant more that they have her acting like one with her hands tied and completely detached like one and with her hands tied even if she was allowed to think for herself at all. It's quite scary if you think about it and how things are fragmented in such ways across companies and companies inner systems. And like you say she might just as well have been a robot as that's how detached the systems seem to have people acting these days, as so long as they do as they are told they get paid at the need of each month, so are unlikely to rock the boat or upset the apple cart.
Yes EA Support chat My query was quite simple - delete an account (linked to a game character), so that I can create a new one. I was repeatedly lied to - they claimed it was not possible (it was, I had and still have proof) or that they would do it right away. Repeatedly put on hold or forwarded to a "superior" (they just forwarded me to someone that also had no idea). Some couldn't write legible (outsourcing?) Many just closed the chat on me after I wrote my request Some ignored my question
First of all, I have experience this type of situation many times as I worked on the Google AdWords Support Team for a couple of years and just recently left to consult on AdWords free lance. I understand it is frustrating to run into issues with a suspended account, and it seems your frustration is rightfully placed more on Google and their policies more than the representative who most likely would have been very pleased to help if she could. Now that I no longer work there, I can say, that policy is a source of frustration for the representatives as well. I will also say that there are many advertisers who will violate policies and then just delete everything when they get suspended so I understand why the policy exists. My suggestion to anyone who has been suspended for similar reasons and have a new product or service they wish to advertise with AdWords, is once you have a new site that is fully compliant, go to the AdWords help center and visit the policy center and try to contact the policy team direct with your new website and ask for them to reconsider the suspension. It may not work out, but Google AdWords is the best program out there for a reason. Their policies are part of that reason and they will sometimes reconsider if they believe it is an honest request. Again, I am not speaking on Googles behalf, I no longer work there. But it may be worth a try.
They are 'suspend happy' and it is terrible! They give no warning, and poof! You're out of business. They seem to not care about your $$, or as you being a customer. While, I understand policy is necessary, they are way over the top with their 'power trip'. PS: JC, went through this exact thing now twice. Currently going through it again, and trying to play by their rules this time. I had no way to fix the sites the first time, so had an account in a friends name started. And now they suspended my new account for what they call 'false claims' wow...unreal
I can't believe. The company like Google have such kind of people or the company itself has lost it's common sense. Any way, have you tried second time? It would probably have been any other person to answer your query.