My Microsoft ads account got suspended before I even created a campaign .

Anonymous
2023-02-27T08:57:28+00:00

I got this message 30 mins after creating the account and loading 100$ into it,

"Your access to Microsoft Advertising is currently blocked

We have detected unusual activity in your Microsoft Advertising account. As a security precaution, we have suspended your account and blocked your access.

You can no longer sign in with this user name or email address.

To resolve this issue, please contact Support."

I have never used microsoft ads before, this is insane. I feel like they robbed me of my money. I didn't even do anything.

When i contact support they say they cant even tell me what the issue is.

Can someone please help me resolve this issue?

Thanks,
Matt

Microsoft Advertising | Accounts, profiles, and login | Account access

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-01-08T18:28:19+00:00

    I wanted to follow up on this. I had sat on hold with the Ads support team, for the 3rd time, for 2 hrs. getting nowhere. I literally sat on the phone for the 2 hrs., repeatedly asking for a supervisor every 10 min or so, until they found one. My specific ask to the supervisor was for them to tell the account review team that I will offer to make any change required, if they would just tell me what I did wrong.

    While I sat on hold, and out of frustration, I penned a note to Satya Nadella. I did not ask him to fix my account, but rather to consider a change to their policies such that ads would be suspended until the issue could be fixed. With the suspended accounts, nothing can even be fixed. Although I don't know what I did wrong, at least I could try random things till something worked, and since humans don't seem to be involved, it would not be a burden on Microsoft.

    While I expected no reply, amazingly I got one!

    Of course, not from Mr. Nadella himself, but someone from the "executive support team" offering to help. I explained my issue, noted that my account was under review from the ads team for the 3rd time, and that my goal was really for policy change. Suspend all ads till fixed, but do not suspend the account. After a good bit, I had not heard back from the executive support team person, but the ads team came back and said my suspension was upheld, again with no explanation. I sent a note back to the executive support team person, again asking for any help or explanation. Again, no response. I sent a 3rd note, and finally received a reply from someone else, not the original person who contacted me, informing me that since my account suspension was upheld there was nothing else that could be done, and no discussion of any policy change was ever really had.

    That was it. Still suspended. For life apparently. I still don't know why.

    Now I can see that these issues, what everyone is complaining about here, is clearly policy supported all the way up the chain, to the very top. One thing I learned in my day job is that if management wanted something done, they would give staff the tools do that. The Ads team does not have the tools to fix the problem and the executive team does not care to investigate or change that in any way. Feel free to continue to fight the system. I wish you luck. But I prefer swimming downstream, not up. I am done.

    And Microsoft still owes me money from the prepaid account. I guess that's next on my list, trying to get that back. But otherwise, no more,

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-10-11T18:27:43+00:00

    This just happened to me too! I had advertised with Microsoft in the past so the credit card that was on file was expired. Put in the new card so I could start some new ads and I was instantly banned for fraudulent payment activity. Spoke with someone who couldn't do more than read off a screen- points that had very little to do with what actually happened.
    I guess I will keep my not small ad spend with google and Meta. Just wanted to give microsoft money to advertise a product their customer clearly likes as I get a lot of organic Bing traffic. Oh well!

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-09-08T19:11:20+00:00

    Same here. I run the site on www.askwoody.com and decided to try out Microsoft advertising. Before I even started the account was closed. When I tried to appeal I was told that I violated Egregious violations rule:

    1. Obfuscation of advertiser or payer identity, to include providing inaccurate identity information or documentation.
    2. Use of the service to facilitate illegal practices or content.
    3. Malicious software codes (e.g., malware, phishing, scareware, ransomware, pirated software).
    4. Counterfeit, malicious, or disingenuous content or services, or any other content which poses a threat to the security of our users or our service.
    5. Any landing page or downloadable content which removes user control.
    6. Ad content which obfuscates the intention or functionality of any downloaded product or provided service.
    7. Circumventing or evading system service safeguards or monitoring.
    8. Any content or action designed to facilitate gaining unauthorized access to any user, advertiser, or data, or manipulate the Microsoft Advertising service.
    9. Deceptive or obfuscated content, cloaking, or spoofing.
    10. Impersonation, manipulation or deceptive media, or deceptive use of name or brand to imply endorsement.
    11. Excessive collection of personal information unnecessary to fulfill ad promise.
    12. Emotionally manipulative or coercive content.
    13. Attempting to circumvent our account suspension or other measures intended to enforce our policies or terms by creating a new advertiser account or Manager Account.

    Then I was told if I wanted to speak to anyone to call "our Brazil support team". I live in the USA. My newsletter discusses Microsoft software and provides security information and guidance regarding Microsoft patches and possible side effects. To lump my site as one that provides "Malcious software codes including malware, phishing, scareware, ransomware and pirated software" is beyond the pale and I'm insulted. My goal in the newsletter is to ensure that Microsoft customers are informed, protected and secure. I will be seeing if I can contact someone to see what is going on because clearly this is potentially libelous behavior.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-17T02:35:48+00:00

    Ya, it just makes no sense. I just have a normal Shopify Store selling Kitchen Products & Appliances and I never even ran an Ad & I got suspended. So absolutely no clue?

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-05-15T23:08:01+00:00

    Same issue here.

    Created an account, accepted the auto-generated ad from Microsoft, and within hours of entering payment information (but pausing all campaigns), account is suspended. No one from support is able to give anything but the scripted answer.

    Given the number of people with the same issue, this matter is not being "taken seriously" or "thoroughly investigated" despite what the emails state.

    Is someone able to please raise appeals for myself and others on this thread? Or, at the very least, provide guidance on how these terms have been breached?

    Cheers,

    D.

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