Suspended due to a policy violation: find the policy, fix it, appeal
Updated 3 Oct 2026 by TopOnMaps team
Quick answer
Start by finding which policy Google applied. The appeals tool shows the reason and links to the policy. For local businesses it's usually the name, address or eligibility rules, or the rules on fake reviews. Fix the profile so it follows that policy exactly, stop anything that broke the rules, then appeal with proof that the business is real and the details are correct.
Why it happens
Business name rules
Google's guidelines don't allow extra words in the name, such as services, locations, taglines or phone numbers.
Address and eligibility rules
Virtual offices, PO boxes and online-only businesses aren't eligible. Service-area businesses should hide their address.
Fake or rewarded reviews
Reviews bought in bulk, swapped with other businesses, or given in exchange for a discount or gift break Google's rules. They can lead to the profile being restricted.
Phone and website rules
The phone number should be under the business's direct control. Links shouldn't send people to another business.
How to fix it
Open the appeals tool and note the policy
Sign in with the owner account, open the Business Profile appeals tool, and click through to the policy it names.
Read the policy against your profile
Go through the policy line by line and compare it with your name, address, phone, category, website and reviews.
Fix or stop what broke the rule
Clean up the name, correct or hide the address, switch to a number the business owns, and stop any review offers or review-exchange groups.
Check if it's a review restriction instead
If Google's email talks about fake reviews and limits on new reviews rather than a suspended profile, that's a separate restriction with its own appeal form, linked from Google's help page on policy restrictions.
Appeal with evidence
Submit the appeal and add documents and photos that match the corrected profile. Keep your explanation short and factual.
For businesses in India
- Review-exchange WhatsApp groups and "review for discount" offers at the counter are common in India. Both can count as fake or rewarded reviews. Stop them before you appeal.
- Doctors and clinics listed on Practo should use their real clinic or practitioner name on Google too, with no added speciality keywords.
Questions
Will removing fake reviews myself fix the suspension?
Business owners can't delete reviews themselves. What you can do is stop the practice, fix the profile and appeal honestly. Google decides what happens to the reviews.
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