Google Ads 'Unreliable Claims' Disapproval: How to Fix It

What this means

"Unreliable claims" is one of the subpolicies of Google's Misrepresentation policy. Google prohibits inaccurate claims and claims that present an improbable result as the likely result, even if that result is technically possible for some customers.

The important detail: Google reviews the whole experience, not just the 30-character headline. A perfectly tame ad can still be disapproved because the product page says "lose 10 pounds in a week" or "clinically proven to cure acne".

Misrepresentation also includes related subpolicies that often appear alongside this one on store accounts, such as Dishonest pricing practices (not disclosing the full cost), Unavailable offers (promoting products or deals you can't find on the landing page), and Misleading representation (unclear business identity). Read the exact policy name on each disapproval, because the fix is different.

Why it happens

Patterns that trigger it on e-commerce accounts:

• Results-based health and beauty claims. "Guaranteed weight loss", "reverses aging", "grows hair back in 30 days", before-and-after images implying typical results.
• Absolute performance claims. "100% effective", "never breaks", "works for everyone", "instant results".
• Unsupported superlatives. "#1 rated", "best-selling in America", "doctor recommended" without a clear, verifiable source on the page.
• Financial outcomes. Products or courses promising earnings, "passive income", or "make $5,000 a month".
• Fake urgency or savings. Countdown timers that reset, "was" prices that never existed, or "90% off" when the discount isn't real. (These can also fall under Dishonest pricing practices.)
• Inherited supplier copy. Dropshipping and wholesale product descriptions often contain claims the original manufacturer couldn't support either.
• Reviews used as claims. Featured testimonials promising medical or dramatic results count as your claim when you display them prominently.

How to fix it

1. Read the exact disapproval. In the ads table or Policy manager, hover the status and confirm it says Misrepresentation, and which subpolicy. Note whether it's on an ad, an asset, or (for Shopping and Performance Max) a product.
2. Audit the ad text and assets. Remove guarantees, absolutes, and promised outcomes. Swap "Lose 20 lbs fast" for factual descriptions such as "Plant-based protein, 20g per serving". Run your copy through our ad copy checker to catch risky phrases before resubmitting.
3. Audit the landing page. Search the product page for the same claims, including in images, badges, review widgets and FAQ accordions. Google can read text in images and expanded sections.
4. Qualify or substantiate what you keep. If a claim is true and important, state it precisely and support it on-page: link the study, name the award and year, or say "results vary" and describe typical results honestly. A small footnote doesn't fix a headline that promises the improbable.
5. Clean up product data.
   • Shopify: Edit product descriptions, metafields, and any theme sections or apps that inject badges or "as seen on" banners. Check bulk-imported product copy from supplier apps.
   • WooCommerce: Check both the long and short descriptions, plus any page-builder blocks and review plugins.
6. Fix pricing presentation. Make sure compare-at or "was" prices are real recent prices, and that shipping, subscriptions and recurring charges are clear before checkout.
7. Check your feed. If the product titles or descriptions in Merchant Center contain the same claims, update them too, or Shopping and Performance Max listings will stay limited.

How to request a review

Once ads and pages are corrected, edit the ad (which resubmits it automatically) or appeal from the ad's policy status, selecting that you made changes. For many ads, appeal from the Policy manager in bulk. In the appeal, be specific: "Removed 'guaranteed results' from headlines and product page; added clinical study reference." Reviews usually take about a business day, sometimes longer for Misrepresentation. If an appeal is rejected, re-read the page from a skeptical customer's point of view; there's usually a claim left in an image or review widget.

How to prevent it

• Write a claims policy for your store: what you can substantiate, and words you don't use (cure, guarantee, instant, 100%).
• Rewrite supplier copy before publishing products.
• Review promotions so discounts, timers and stock messages are accurate.
• Keep brand info visible: clear business name, contact details, returns and shipping policies. These don't fix a bad claim, but they support trust in Misrepresentation reviews.
• Be extra careful in health, beauty, supplements and finance, where Google's reviews are strictest and several other policies (like Healthcare and medicines) may also apply.

If you keep getting Misrepresentation disapprovals and aren't sure what Google is reacting to, Mercantads can review your ads, product pages and feed together and resubmit cleanly. Get in touch or see our Performance Max management for stores.