Select Language:
Google is updating its Misrepresentation policy for Google Ads regarding Dishonest Pricing Practices. Advertisers will now be required to clearly disclose the payment structure or total costs that consumers will face both before and after making a purchase. Additionally, they must clarify any misleading impressions related to the pricing of a product or service.
The enforcement of these changes will begin on October 28, 2025, with full compliance expected to be achieved over roughly four weeks. Key updates include:
1. Advertisers must prominently and transparently communicate the complete payment details and expenses associated with their offers prior to sale.
2. Practices that give a false or deceptive impression of what a product or service costs—leading to unexpected or inflated charges—are now prohibited. These include:
– Bait-and-switch schemes: Advertising a product or service at an unrealistically low price to attract customers, only to pressure them into purchasing a more expensive or inferior alternative once engaged.
– Price exploitation: Taking advantage of vulnerable or distressed individuals by demanding significantly higher payments than initially quoted—for example, a locksmith insisting on paying a higher fee immediately to avoid leaving a customer stranded.
– Claiming an app is free when a fee is required for installation.
– Offering free trials without clearly stating the duration or that charges will automatically be billed at the end of the trial.
Violations of this policy will not lead to an immediate account suspension. Instead, warnings will be issued at least seven days prior to any suspension action.
Companies are advised to review their advertisements to ensure compliance before the October 28, deadline, and remove any ads that violate the updated policies. These enhancements aim to prevent misleading pricing tactics both before and after a purchase, with warnings issued to advertisers found in violation rather than immediate penalties.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
