ReferenceGoogle Ads account suspension
Promotional code abuse
Google can suspend an account for selling promotional codes, or for using more than one promotional code on an account. These are Google Ads promotional offer codes for ad credit, entered under Billing, then Promotions, not codes shown in your ads. Review the terms for your country, check how many codes are in use, then submit one appeal.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The account status, as suspended, with the appeal option under Appeal suspension.
- What stops
- The whole account stops serving.
- How serious
- High. It suspends the whole account.
What it means
The policy has two triggers: selling promotional codes, and using more than one promotional code on an account. The codes are Google's own promotional offers, the ad credit an advertiser enters under Billing, then Promotions. A discount code a business shows its own customers in a promotion asset is a different thing.
The country-specific terms set what a code is and how it may be shown. The page links them rather than repeating them, so read the terms for your country.
What actually triggers it
Selling promotional codes
Selling promotional codes is one of the two triggers the page names.
Two or more promotional codes on one account
Using more than one promotional code on an account is the other trigger. The account is the unit of the rule.
Mistaking it for a promotion asset problem
The name reads like the promotion asset rule, so the first instinct is to edit the promo code in an ad. The suspension is about Google Ads credit codes on the account. Editing a promotion asset changes nothing here; the Promotions page under Billing is where the codes in use are listed.
Fix it in this order
- Open the promotional code terms for your country, which the page links, and read the rules on selling and using codes.
- If you sell promotional codes, stop.
- Open Billing, then Promotions, and check which promotional offers are listed for the account. More than one listed is the condition the policy names.
- Once the account is compliant, submit one appeal under Appeal suspension.
When to appeal
Appeal once, after the account is compliant. Submit one appeal at a time, because too many appeals for the same suspension may not be processed.
Often confused with
Promo codes in Promotion assets
A rule for what goes in the promo code field of an ad asset, which holds the business's own discount code. This page covers Google Ads credit codes on the account.
A suspension for a bank reversal request. This page covers promotional codes, which share the suspended-account appeal route but not the cause.