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I have been going back & forth with Google re: my account "misrepresentation" suspension with free listings for over a year now with my primary site (there are 3 others that have been affected until this one gets fixed) which is jeffscuriosityshoppe.com . As most who have been down this road are very aware, they simply point to their rule book and say "find the issue." I have resisted getting outside help because I have never -- as far as I am concerned -- misrepresented anything. I recently revisited/clarified my policies, checked (and deleted/replaced) any verbiage I think could EVER be construed as misleading with my products. I have felt all along I could fix this myself, but my latest request for a check by Google was just completed a couple of days ago, and their response suggested my concentrating on the Shopping Ads or Free Listings policies, again with no specifics. I even trimmed down the content of my store (talk about counter-productive) to narrow the chance possible suspect listings, but for all I know I may have gotten rid of acceptible ones and kept "flawed" ones.
Any words of wisdom out there? Wild guesses? I'll look at anything at this point.
To fix your Google Merchant "misrepresentation" suspension, start by removing any hidden, test, or outdated pages on your website, including old templates or staging content that may still be accessible. Review all your policy pages—Shipping, Returns, Terms, and Privacy—to ensure they are accurate, up to date, clearly written, and match your actual business practices. These pages should be easy to find, ideally linked in your site footer.
Make sure your site shows full business transparency, including a visible physical address, working phone number, and recognizable payment method icons like Visa, MasterCard, or PayPal. Product listings must include clear pricing, availability, and identifiers like SKUs or GTINs that exactly match the information in your product feed. Any mismatches—even small ones—can trigger a suspension.
When you're confident everything is aligned, submit a single, detailed appeal through your Merchant Center account. Explain what you changed and why, showing that you understand Google’s policies and have addressed them directly. Be professional and precise in your tone—avoid emotional or vague appeals.
If my reply is helpful, kindly click like and mark it as an accepted solution.
Thanks!
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Thanks so much for the great suggestions! I will go through them and let you know if I hit the jackpot. I am really very grateful! Thanks again!
If my reply is helpful, kindly click like and mark it as an accepted solution.
Thanks!
Sorry to hear you’ve been dealing with this frustrating issue for so long — misrepresentation suspensions from Google can be extremely vague and tough to diagnose, especially without clear feedback from their team.
Here are a few steps and suggestions that might help:
Even if you feel everything is accurate, Google flags perceived issues. Some common culprits include:
Missing or unclear refund, return, and shipping policies – ensure these are clearly visible in your footer and not hidden behind popups.
Mismatch between product listings and landing pages – product titles, prices, and availability must match exactly.
Incomplete business information – including missing About Us content, lack of contact info (phone/email/address), or missing social proof.
Low-quality or placeholder images/descriptions – especially for products that look generic or dropshipped.
Sometimes, small clues are hidden there. Go to your Google Merchant Center > Products > Diagnostics tab to look for red flags. Also, ensure your business info (in the “Business information” section) is fully filled out, including logos and contact details.
Make sure these are:
Not copy-pasted from templates
Written in simple, honest language
Clearly outlining expectations and customer rights
Google offers a Misrepresentation Troubleshooter which can help you identify missing components.
At this point, since you’ve been through so much back-and-forth, it might be worth having an expert or agency with Google Shopping experience do a full audit. Sometimes, a fresh perspective can spot subtle issues you’ve overlooked.
Happy to take a look if you’d like to share a bit more info here or via DM.
Stay persistent — many merchants have been through this and come out on the other side. You’re not alone.
Hello @websensepro
If my reply is helpful, kindly click like and mark it as an accepted solution.
And if you have any questions please let us know.
Thanks
When you see posts that look too perfect with bulletpoints and bold text, that is A-I generated content.
Here is a human reply:
You are missing your business details in the footer of all pages, such as business address, email, phone, business hours.
Your contact page is missing a contact form.
You have 2 different contact pages, this will confuse Google.
You have pages that are empty: https://jeffscuriosityshoppe.com/collections/elvis-presley-records
Missing in or oout of stock info on the product landing page.
If you are selling used products, make sure the condition is set to used, not new.
THe view cart button is unreadable, because you have black text on a black backgrounds.
Same for the cart, lots of text that is unreadable.
You will have more issues, so make sure to read:
https://support.google.com/google-ads/community-video/318699100
https://support.google.com/google-ads/community-guide/304792695
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150127
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6363310/follow-the-merchant-center-guidelines
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7052112
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/4752265
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/13693865
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6149970
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/9158778
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150244
https://support.google.com/google-ads/community-guide/241068758
Wow. Not nearly as close to acceptable as I thought!
Emmanuel, thank you for the very detailed and specific issues with my site.
Obviously, there is still work to be done. I will address your comments specifically and give it another go when the dust settles.
Again, your reply is incredible.
Thanks so much!