Google Ads revoked promotional credits after advertisers spent them; Google escalated the incident

PPC consultant David Melamed reported that Google Ads invalidated $3,200 promotional credits on at least two client accounts more than a month after the credits had been fully spent, leaving the advertisers liable for spend they believed was covered. Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin acknowledged the reports and said she had passed them to the team.

Melamed said Google pushed a generous credit to get advertisers spending and then invalidated it after thousands of dollars had gone out, with no appeal process for an invalidated credit and no way to recover the spend. Google's Advertising Program Terms let Google extend, revise or revoke credit at its sole discretion at any time, so the clawback is contractually permitted; what advertisers flagged was the timing and the absence of recourse. Advertisers affected also spent beyond the credit amount competing for impressions the credit had encouraged them to chase.