How to Fix GMC Misrepresentation Issues on Your Shopify Store

Getting a misrepresentation warning from Google Merchant Center can be alarming. Your products disappear from Google Shopping, your ads stop running, and you're left wondering what went wrong.

The good news? Most misrepresentation issues are fixable. In this guide, we'll walk through exactly what causes these flags and how to resolve them step by step.

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What is Misrepresentation?

Misrepresentation is Google's way of saying your store doesn't meet their trust and transparency standards.

According to Google's policies, this happens when a business:

• Doesn't accurately identify itself
• Provides misleading information about products or services
• Uses deceptive practices to attract customers
• Omits important information that users need to make informed decisions

Google takes this seriously because they want to protect shoppers. If users have bad experiences with merchants found through Google Shopping, it damages trust in the entire platform.

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Common Causes of Misrepresentation Flags

Let's break down the most frequent triggers and how to address each one.

1. Missing or Incomplete Store Policies

This is the most common trigger for misrepresentation flags. Google requires three essential policies:

Refund and Return Policy

Your return policy must clearly state:

• Whether you accept returns
• The timeframe for returns (e.g., 30 days)
• The condition items must be in
• Who pays for return shipping
• How refunds are processed

Privacy Policy

Your privacy policy needs to explain:

• What data you collect
• How you use customer information
• Whether you share data with third parties
• How customers can request data deletion

Terms of Service

While not always required, having clear terms helps establish legitimacy and covers:

• Purchase terms and conditions
• Intellectual property rights
• Limitation of liability

How to Fix It

In Shopify, go to Settings → Policies and complete all required policies. Make sure they're linked in your footer so they're easily accessible from any page.

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2. Missing or Hidden Contact Information

Google wants shoppers to be able to reach you if something goes wrong.

Your store needs visible contact information including:

• Email address — A working email that you actually monitor
• Physical address — A real business address (PO boxes are sometimes flagged)
• Phone number — Optional but adds trust signals

Common Mistakes

• Hiding contact info behind a form only
• Using a generic email like info@gmail.com instead of a domain email
• Placing contact information only on a hard-to-find page

How to Fix It

Create a dedicated Contact page with your full business details. Add your email and address to your website footer so it appears on every page.

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3. Domain and Website Issues

Your domain and website setup can trigger misrepresentation flags.

New Domains

Google is suspicious of brand-new domains. If your domain is less than 90 days old, you may face additional scrutiny or automatic rejection.

No SSL Certificate

Your site must use HTTPS. Shopify handles this automatically, but if you're using a custom domain, make sure SSL is properly configured.

Domain Mismatch

The domain in your Merchant Center account must match your actual store URL. If you've changed domains or have redirects, update your GMC settings.

How to Fix It

If your domain is new, focus on building trust signals while you wait. Ensure your SSL certificate is valid by checking for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar.

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4. Product Data Quality Problems

Misrepresentation can also stem from issues with your product listings. Review our product feed best practices to ensure your data meets Google's standards.

Price Mismatches

The price in your product feed must match the price on your website. This includes:

• Base price
• Sale prices
• Currency

Availability Mismatches

Don't advertise products as "in stock" in your feed if they're actually out of stock on your site.

Misleading Product Information

• Titles that don't match the actual product
• Images that show different items
• Descriptions with false claims

How to Fix It

Audit your product feed against your live website. Use Shopify's Google & YouTube channel app to keep your feed synchronized automatically.

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5. Checkout and Payment Issues

Problems during checkout can trigger flags:

• Hidden fees that appear only at checkout
• Shipping costs that weren't disclosed upfront
• Limited or suspicious payment methods
• Checkout on a different domain than your store

How to Fix It

Be transparent about all costs on product pages. Offer trusted payment methods like credit cards and PayPal. Keep your entire checkout flow on your primary domain.

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Step-by-Step: How to Fix Your Account

Step 1: Identify the Specific Issue

Google's warning emails are often vague. To find the real problem:

1. Log into Google Merchant Center
2. Go to Diagnostics → Account Issues
3. Look for specific policy violations listed
4. Check your email for any detailed warnings

Step 2: Audit Your Store

Use our GMC compliance checklist and go through your store as if you were a first-time customer:

• Can you easily find contact information?
• Are all policies complete and accessible?
• Does the checkout process have any surprises?
• Do product pages match what's in your feed?

Step 3: Make the Necessary Fixes

Based on what you find, update your store:

• Complete all required policies
• Add visible contact information
• Fix any product data mismatches
• Remove any misleading claims or practices

Step 4: Document Your Changes

Keep a record of what you fixed. This helps when you request a review and shows Google you've taken their concerns seriously.

Step 5: Request a Review

Once you've made fixes:

1. Go to Google Merchant Center
2. Navigate to the account issue
3. Click "Request Review"
4. Explain what changes you made

Reviews typically take 3-7 business days. Be patient and don't submit multiple review requests—this can slow down the process.

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How to Appeal a Suspension

If your account is suspended, you can appeal:

1. Don't panic — Suspensions are reversible if you address the issues

2. Review thoroughly — Make sure you've fixed everything, not just obvious problems

3. Write a clear appeal — Explain specifically what was wrong and what you changed

4. Be patient — Appeals can take 1-2 weeks

5. Don't create new accounts — This violates Google's policies and makes things worse

If your first appeal is rejected, you can try again after making additional improvements. Focus on demonstrating that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.

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Preventing Future Issues

Once you're back in good standing, keep it that way. Understanding the common reasons accounts get suspended will help you stay ahead of problems.

Regular Audits

Check your store monthly for compliance issues. Look for:

• Policy pages still accessible
• Contact information up to date
• Product feed matching your website
• No broken links or missing images

Keep Feeds Synchronized

Use automated tools to keep your product data current. Manual feeds often drift out of sync with your actual inventory and pricing.

Monitor Your Account

Check Google Merchant Center weekly for new warnings or issues. Catching problems early prevents suspensions.

Stay Informed

Google updates their policies periodically. Subscribe to their merchant blog or check the policy center for changes that might affect your store.

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Key Takeaways

Misrepresentation flags are frustrating, but they're usually fixable. The key points to remember:

1. Policies matter — Complete, accessible policies are non-negotiable

2. Be transparent — Contact information and pricing should be clear

3. Stay consistent — Your product feed must match your website

4. Act quickly — Address warnings before they become suspensions

5. Document everything — Keep records of your compliance efforts

Most misrepresentation issues come down to trust signals. Google wants to send shoppers to stores that will treat them fairly. By making your store transparent and trustworthy, you're not just satisfying Google—you're building a better business.

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Check Your Store's Compliance

Not sure if your Shopify store meets Google Merchant Center requirements?

ClearCheck scans your store automatically and identifies compliance issues before they cause problems.

Find out what's missing and get actionable recommendations to fix it—before Google flags your account.