TL;DR
Google’s “Spend X, Get X” Ads promotions are not scams, but they have strict eligibility rules that sometimes cause confusion and frustration. Spending the required amount does not guarantee receiving the promotional credit.
- The promotional credit applies to future advertising, not a refund of money already spent.
- Eligibility can be affected by previous Google Ads accounts or agency relationships related to the business.
- Timing is critical: promotions require new accounts, spending within deadlines, and usually account age under 14 days when redeeming.
Quick win: Only spend on Google Ads promotions if you would be comfortable spending that money regardless of receiving the credit, and always review all terms carefully before starting a campaign.
Google Ads advertisers are reporting an unpleasant surprise: they spend the money required for a promotional offer, then Google invalidates the credit they thought they had earned.
One recent case involved an advertiser expecting a $3,200 credit after spending $3,200. PPC consultant David Melamed said the promotion was later invalidated, and Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin said she had passed the issue along to Google’s team.
That sounds bad, and some advertisers are calling it a scam.
But the fine print matters. Google says completing the required spending does not automatically guarantee the credit. The account still has to meet the rest of the promotion’s eligibility rules.
That leads to the most important advice in this article: do not spend money on Google Ads solely because a promotional credit makes the campaign look cheaper.
Make sure you would be comfortable spending the money even if the bonus never shows up.
Why Are Some Google Ads Credits Being Invalidated?
The recent $3,200 example is not the only complaint.
One advertiser posted in Google’s own Ads Community that they had applied for a $600 promotional credit, spent the required $600, and then saw the credit marked “Invalidated.”
Another advertiser said Google denied a “Spend $500, Get $500” promotion after the required $500 had already been spent. According to that advertiser, Google support pointed to associations with other Google Ads accounts when explaining the denial.
There is also a complaint from an advertiser who said they contacted Google support before proceeding, disclosed that they managed another account, and still had the promotion invalidated later.
These are individual reports, so they do not prove that Google is systematically denying valid promotions. But they do show why advertisers are frustrated.
What Does “Spend $500, Get $500” Actually Mean?
The headline makes the offer sound simple:
- Spend $500
- Get $500 in Google Ads credit
In reality, the process is closer to this:
- Spend $500
- Meet all of the eligibility requirements
- Pass Google’s verification process
- Wait up to 35 days
- Receive $500 in credit for future advertising
It is also important to understand that the promotional credit applies to future advertising. It is not cash back or a refund of the money you already spent.
That is where a lot of the confusion starts.
What Commonly Trips Businesses Up?
Your Business Has Advertised With Google Before
This may be the biggest one for small businesses.
Google says its new-advertiser promotions are for businesses that are new to Google Ads, and prior advertising through another Google Ads account for the same business can affect eligibility.
So if an agency ran Google Ads for your plumbing, HVAC, roofing, electrical, or other service business years ago, Google may not consider you a new advertiser now, even if you personally never touched the old account.
The same issue could come up if an employee created an account in the past or your business was advertised through another Google Ads account that you forgot about.
You Wait Too Long to Claim the Promotion
Google’s current guidance says accounts using its new-advertiser offers must generally be less than 14 days old when the offer is redeemed.
So you may not be able to open an account, wait a few weeks, and then decide to use the new-advertiser promotion.
You Miss the Spending Deadline
Google says new-advertiser promotions typically require the qualifying spend to be completed within 60 days.
The exact terms can vary by offer, so the important thing is to check the deadline attached to your specific promotion.
You Make Account or Billing Changes
Account changes can also create complications.
Google provides specific instructions related to promotions and payment settings, which is one more reason to avoid making major billing changes while you are trying to qualify unless you have checked how they affect the offer.
There are also advertiser complaints involving billing changes. One advertiser reported losing a promotional credit after a billing-profile change. That is the advertiser’s account of what happened, not proof that the billing change was necessarily the sole reason for the denial.
You Try to Reuse Promotional Offers
Google’s promotional-offer policy places restrictions on how promotional credits can be used and prohibits abuse of those offers.
Creating new accounts just to repeatedly collect new-advertiser bonuses is not a legitimate workaround.
How Can You Avoid Problems With a Google Ads Promotional Credit?
Before spending extra money just to hit a promotional threshold, do a little homework first.
- Check your advertising history. Ask previous agencies or employees whether they ever ran Google Ads for the business. Prior advertising for the same business can affect new-advertiser eligibility.
- Read the actual offer terms. Google notes that promotional terms and requirements can vary.
- Claim it quickly. Current new-advertiser guidance generally requires the account to be less than 14 days old when the offer is redeemed.
- Know the spending deadline. These offers typically require the qualifying spend within 60 days.
- Be cautious with billing changes. Check how a change could affect the promotion before making it.
- Save screenshots. Keep a copy of the offer, its terms, your spending progress, and any conversations with Google support.
- Watch the Promotions page. Google provides a Promotions page where advertisers can monitor offer status and progress.
So, Is the Google Ads Promotion a Scam?
The evidence does not support calling the entire program a scam.
Google does publish eligibility requirements beyond simply hitting the spending threshold, and some denials may be explained by those rules.
At the same time, the frustration is reasonable. Advertisers can spend the required money and still end up confused about why Google rejected the promotion, especially when old accounts, agency relationships, billing setups, or other account associations are involved.
That is enough reason to be cautious.
If Google offers you $500 in ad credit after you spend $500, make sure you are comfortable spending that first $500 even if the credit never arrives.
Run the campaign because the advertising makes sense for your business. If the promotional credit gets approved, treat it as a bonus.
Google Ads Promotion FAQs
