Google will not tell you what you did. This will narrow it down.

Questions about diagnosing a suspension

Why does the order of the causes matter?

Because an appeal has to lead with the trigger that actually caused the suspension. Most suspended profiles have two or three things wrong, and a case that opens on a minor issue while the real violation sits unmentioned reads as though you have not understood the problem. The diagnostic ranks what you tick so the strongest explanation goes first.

Can I appeal before fixing what the diagnostic finds?

You can, and it will be denied. An appeal submitted while the violation is still live is an automatic denial, and it spends one of only two attempts before the appeal button disappears. Fix first, appeal once.

Nothing on the list applies to me. What now?

That usually points at one of the two least visible causes: an account-level flag carried in by a manager whose Google account was restricted elsewhere, or a mismatch between the profile and your ASIC registration. Both are worth checking carefully before you appeal.

What is the difference between a hard and a soft restriction?

A hard restriction removes the profile from Search and Maps entirely, and needs a formal appeal with documentation. A soft restriction leaves the listing visible but locks you out of managing it, which usually points at an account-level flag or a verification failure. Soft is still urgent, because an unmanaged profile accepts suggested edits from anyone, including competitors.

How wide can my service area actually be?

Keep it to what you can realistically reach: about 90 minutes drive from base, and at most 2 hours, checked against real peak-hour travel times rather than ideal conditions. You get up to 20 service areas, so name specific suburbs rather than selecting a whole metro region.

Does being in a high-risk category mean I did something wrong?

No. Google periodically sweeps categories with historically high rates of fake listings, including locksmiths, plumbers, HVAC, garage doors, towing and personal injury law. Being caught in a sweep means heavier scrutiny, not wrongdoing. The documentation requirements are the same, the review is just slower and more manual.

Is this the same as the triage tool on your suspension guide?

This is the fuller version. The guide carries a quick eight-signal triage inline; this one runs 16 signals across all 12 documented causes, weights them, and ranks the result rather than listing everything you ticked.

What if I would rather not do any of this myself?

Our done-for-you reinstatement is $550 including GST, paid upfront, and it is reinstated or refunded: if we do not get the profile back you are refunded in full. That covers all four stages including manual escalation. We have reinstated 295 of 300 Australian profiles since early 2025.