Resolving Google Ads Ownership Problems

Google Ads ownership problems occur when someone sets up a Google Ads account for your business using their personal email address, then refuses to transfer account control to you. This creates significant risks for your business and marketing efforts.

• Unauthorized individuals can access sensitive account data including customer interactions, conversion data, and campaign performance metrics.
• They may retain visibility into future marketing strategies, budget allocations, and targeted audiences even after your professional relationship ends.
• You risk losing historical performance data, custom audiences, and optimized campaigns if you need to create a new account.
• The situation creates potential compliance issues with data privacy regulations like GDPR or CCPA.

• Contact Google Ads Support: Reach out to Google's support team to report the unauthorized access and request assistance in regaining control of your account.
• Provide Ownership Proof: Gather documentation that verifies your business ownership, such as business registration documents, domain ownership records, and payment history for the Google Ads account.
• Remove Tracking Codes: Temporarily remove Google Ads tracking codes (like the global site tag or conversion tracking pixels) from your website to prevent unauthorized data collection.
• Document Communications: Keep a record of all communications with the unauthorized account holder and Google support for potential legal proceedings.

• Account Verification Process: Be prepared to answer security questions about your business and the account to verify your legitimate connection to it.
• Ownership Dispute: Google may initiate an ownership dispute process where both parties must provide evidence of their claim to the account.
• Patience Required: The resolution process can take time, especially for complex cases or when the other party actively contests your claim.
• Escalation Options: If initial support doesn't resolve the issue, ask to escalate to a higher-tier support representative who specializes in account ownership disputes.

• Legal Consultation: Consult with an attorney specializing in digital property rights to understand your options and the applicable laws in your jurisdiction.
• Cease and Desist: Your attorney may recommend sending a formal cease and desist letter to the unauthorized account holder, demanding transfer of ownership.
• Contractual Review: Examine any contracts or agreements that may exist between your business and the person controlling the account for clauses related to digital assets or work product ownership.
• Data Privacy Implications: Highlight potential violations of data privacy laws if the unauthorized holder has access to customer data through your Google Ads account.

If regaining control proves impossible, you may need to create a new Google Ads account. Here's how to minimize disruption:

• Business Email Setup: Create a new account using a business email address on your company domain, ideally a role-based address like marketing@yourbusiness.com rather than a personal email.
• Multiple Administrators: Add at least two trusted employees as administrators to prevent future access issues.
• New Tracking Codes: Implement fresh tracking codes across your website, replacing all instances of the old codes to ensure accurate data collection.
• Campaign Recreation: Methodically recreate your campaigns, using screenshots or exports from the previous account if available to maintain continuity in your advertising strategy.

• Clear Ownership Policies: Develop explicit policies about digital asset ownership and include them in all contractor and employee agreements.
• Account Structure: Use Google's Manager Account (formerly MCC) structure to allow agencies or contractors access to your account without giving them ownership.
• Access Control: Regularly review and update user access permissions, promptly removing access for departing employees or contractors.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of account credentials, setup information, and ownership documentation in a secure location accessible to authorized personnel.