Merchant Center Misrepresentation Checker
Scan your store for the trust signals Google looks for before it flags an account for misrepresentation.
What Google means by misrepresentation
Google's misrepresentation policy covers stores that hide who they are, leave out costs or make claims they can't back up. A missing returns policy or no way to contact you is often enough for a flag, even when the business is genuine.
The checker reads your homepage, then follows your footer links to the contact, returns, shipping, about and terms pages. It checks each against what Google's guidelines ask for:
| Area | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Secure checkout | HTTPS everywhere, a redirect from http, no insecure files, payment methods shown |
| Contact details | A contact page plus at least one of email, phone, address, form, chat or social profile |
| Returns policy | Public page with a return window, conditions, how to return and when refunds arrive |
| Shipping policy | Costs and delivery times stated |
| Business identity | About page, business name in the page data, legal entity or registration details |
| Claims | Miracle or cure claims, guaranteed results, discounts of 80% or more, unproven “official” claims |
How the score works
Each check has a weight from 1 to 3. The ones Google treats as essential (HTTPS, visible contact details, a returns policy) weigh 3. A pass earns the full weight, a warning half, a fail nothing.
Worked example
- Checks passed
- 18 points
- Warnings
- 4 points, counted as 2
- Fails
- 3 points, counted as 0
- Total possible
- 25 points
(18 + 2) ÷ 25 × 100 = 80
Fixing the gaps on Shopify and WooCommerce
- 01
Shopify policies
Go to Settings → Policies and fill in the returns, shipping, privacy and terms policies. Shopify links them in the checkout footer; add them to your footer menu too.
- 02
WooCommerce policies
Create each policy as a page, then add them to the footer under Appearance → Menus or in the Site Editor footer.
- 03
Contact page
Show at least an email and, ideally, a phone number and business address. Use the same details as Business info in Merchant Center.
- 04
Request a review
Once everything is fixed, request a review in Merchant Center, so the reviewer sees the finished site.
What this check can't see
- Your Merchant Center settings. Google also compares your business info, shipping and return settings with the site.
- Checkout itself. We don't place orders, so hidden fees added at checkout won't show up here.
- Pages built with JavaScript. If a policy loads after the page, we may miss its text.
- Product-level claims. We scan the homepage and About page, not every product description.
Questions people ask
Why was my Merchant Center account suspended for misrepresentation?
Google rarely says exactly why. The usual causes are missing contact details, an unclear or missing returns policy, no business identity, and claims or discounts that look too good to be true.
Is an email address enough contact information?
Google asks for at least one reachable contact method before checkout, so email meets the minimum. Adding a phone number and business address makes the business easier to verify.
Does my returns policy need to allow returns?
No. You can sell final-sale items, but the policy has to say so clearly. Google looks for the time limit, conditions, process and refund timing.
How long after fixing things should I request a review?
Once every item on the list is fixed. A review looks at the site as it is at that moment, so finish the fixes first.
Does passing this check guarantee approval?
No. It checks the signals visible on your site. Google also reviews your Merchant Center data, product listings and business details.
Related tools
Want this builtinto your store?
I'm Emmanuel, a Shopify and WooCommerce developer. If this tool pointed at something you'd rather have fixed for you (a faster store, cleaner product data, a migration, a custom feature), send me a note.
Emmanuel Asika
Shopify & WooCommerce developer, Dublin
I build and fix online stores: new builds, migrations, speed, SEO and the custom bits apps can't do.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
Sources: Google Merchant Center Help: Misrepresentation · Google Merchant Center Help: Follow Merchant Center guidelines · Google Merchant Center Help: Missing contact information · Shopify Help: Store policies