Accounts suspended email from Adwords

confused about this email

[Jettie]

I run Adsense ads on my site for 2 years now.
Two days ago I tried to open an AdWords account, made a text ad, but when it comes to the payment methods, I stuck. So I wrote AdWords helpdesk with the quesion if there are other payment options....

I got this confusing email back:

<snip>

It tells me both my Adsense and Adwords accounts are suspended?! I didn't even used my Adwords account.
I can still login to both my accounts and the Adsense ads are still running on my site and are still counting money :-p
I am sure this is an automated email...

Has this happen to anybody here before?

[edited by: Jenstar at 8:19 pm (utc) on May 3, 2005]
[edit reason] No email quotes as per TOS, thanks! [/edit]

[elsewhen]

i have not heard of this before. i can think of at least two possibilities... any indication as to which it was:

1) by opening a new account, they used the opportunity to analyize all the sites associated with your account, and found something that they didnt like

2) was your adwords ad directing users to a site that solely generates its revenue from adsense? i have read that some here are using this strategy without problem, but perhaps your experience is the beginning of a change in google policy.

[Jettie]

Yes, I opened my Adwords account for a site displaying an Adsense banner on top of it, but couldn't find anything in the TOS about that.
Wish I never opened that Adwords account!

[hyperkik]

There is another possibility, albeit a small one - Google uses boilerplate responses to answer inquiries, and on occasion the person responding to an inquiry selects the wrong canned response.

[ncw164x]

If your login has not been terminated then login to your adsense account and use the contact us link at the top right hand side to explain what has happened, only google can answer this for you

[Jettie]

Hyperkik, that crossed my mind, but I'm to confused right now to email them back.
I'm almost sure this is an automated email and it comes from the AdWords Team and not the Adsense Team.
BUT they are talking about my accountSSSSS. Maybe they have the possibility to cancel an Adsense account too.

[jomaxx]

That email doesn't unequivocally say your AdSense account will be terminated.

If you're certain they're mistaken you could call or write back and ask for clarification, but frankly I would personally just kind of lay low and hope it passes (meanwhile rereading and conforming to the AdSense TOS in great detail).

[fischermx]

2) was your adwords ad directing users to a site that solely generates its revenue from adsense? i have read that some here are using this strategy without problem, but perhaps your experience is the beginning of a change in google policy.

I'd like to know where in the TOS is anything against this. I run directories which admit free listings and my only income is from adsense.
I also have an adwords campaing to send users to my site.
Is this wrong?

[Jettie]

Now, 5 days later, nothing happened.
My Adsense account is working fine, money is counting and ads are up and running.
Even my total earnings for the month of april are showing up in my payment history.
I guess I lay back and relax :-)

[alika]

But did you actually email and ask them to clarify the email you received?

[Jettie]

Alika, no I did not ... yet ... :-P

[sailorjwd]

Perhaps if you didn't pick an appropriate payment method and so then the account (adwords) was cancelled. Maybe try again and make sure all entries are legitimate.

Whatever you do don't mess with them and don't try to trick them. (not saying you did)

[photo200]

My advice - do not contact them.
I think it was a mistake and
if you will contact big G-
they can come and check your sites.

But it is unpleasand situation.

[Jettie]

Sailorjwd, that's true.
I needed a creditcard to pay and I don't have one. I don't want a creditcard so I emailed AdWords if I can pay with Paypal or something.
I will not try again because my whole Adwords adventure was just a try out. I just wanted to know how things works on the publishers side of the road and maybe ... maybe ... use it. They first let me make an ad! Then came the part to fill out the payment method. That, I think is a strange order.

Photo200, that's what I do!
We in Holland say: Don't wake up the sleeping dogs :-)