Many developers feel frustrated whenever they mention having their accounts banned, often with a “here we go again” expression.

It’s especially painful when you finally manage to register an account, but before you can even launch or review an app, the account is suspended due to some obscure association issue. This is especially challenging for those banned due to “high-risk” abusive behavior associations, which many believe makes a successful appeal impossible.

However, I’d like to share some good news today—don’t give up hope just yet. Though Google’s suspension policies can be frustrating, it’s not impossible to appeal successfully.

One developer friend mentioned, “I was able to appeal successfully by identifying the cause of the association, then explaining it in detail with evidence and even a bit of sympathy.”

Another friend shared, “A friend of mine also got their account reinstated after two appeals. My personal account was also reinstated after one appeal. Sometimes, Google makes mistakes with these bans.”

After talking to several people in the industry, I’ve compiled some effective appeal tips, and I hope they’ll be helpful for you.

Email Appeals: Play the Sympathy Card + Provide Solid Evidence

Email appeals are one of the most common methods. You might feel that emailing Google is like talking to a wall, with only generic responses in return. But, in fact, if done correctly, this method has a decent success rate.

Firstly, make sure your appeal email is well-reasoned and evidence-based. In other words, identify the exact reason Google banned your account and address it specifically. You can investigate factors like account registration information, login environment, app code, and behavior patterns to find possible reasons for association. Explain that your account or app is not operated by the same person as any associated accounts, clarifying that your account has no issues. Additionally, playing the sympathy card can help. Remember, real people handle suspensions, and people generally have some empathy. In the email, you can describe how the ban has impacted your business as a new developer. Lastly, it’s important to assure them that you’ll take extra care to avoid similar issues in the future.

Phone Appeals: Direct Communication for Greater Efficiency

Some developers who successfully appealed over the phone reported that phone calls were faster and more effective than emails. However, the main prerequisite for this approach is proficiency in English.

If you’re comfortable with English, call Google’s support line and explain your issue in detail. The advantage of phone communication is that you can answer questions in real time and receive immediate feedback. Many developers have successfully recovered their accounts this way.

In both email and phone appeals, pinpointing the cause of the association and providing targeted explanations and evidence to prove you are a responsible developer is essential.

Locating the reason behind the association may seem challenging to many developers. However, given the experience developers now have with Google’s suspension policies and association restrictions, most are familiar with these guidelines and isolation measures by now.

Some developers, looking to save time, choose to buy pre-made developer accounts. But remember, these accounts often come with more problems. Without complete registration details for the account, it becomes almost impossible to provide solid evidence for an appeal.

So, if possible, it’s best to register the account yourself and ensure all information is clean and independent. This not only improves your appeal’s success but also helps you maintain account security.

In summary, while Google’s suspension policies are strict, it’s still possible to appeal successfully. With reasonable explanations and sufficient evidence, you can certainly have a chance to recover your account.

If your first appeal doesn’t succeed, don’t lose heart. Keep investigating the problem, and try different appeal methods. Remember, giving up on the appeal means you lose this account permanently, and Google does make mistakes in suspensions.