Direct Answer
Google asks that your website clearly display: a return and refund policy (with conditions and timelines, or an explicit statement that you don't accept returns), a shipping policy, a privacy policy, and your full contact details — legal business name, physical address, phone number and email — matching those declared in Merchant Center. The site must also use HTTPS, contain no placeholder text or broken links, and have a working checkout.
These are the items Google lists to check before requesting a re-review of a suspended account. Missing or inconsistent information is a frequent cause of suspension under the "Misrepresentation" policy.
For a French e-commerce site, French legal requirements apply on top: legal notice (mentions légales), terms of sale and information about the 14-day withdrawal right.
Last updated: October 9, 2026.
Table of Contents
- Direct answer
- Checklist of items Google requires
- French legal requirements to add
- Inconsistencies that trigger a suspension
- Evidence and sources
- FAQ
Checklist of Items Google Requires
| Item | What Google expects | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Return and refund policy | Conditions, timelines, process; or a clear statement if no returns are accepted | Missing page, or timelines different from those set in Merchant Center |
| Shipping policy | Accessible link, costs and timelines | Costs shown only at checkout |
| Privacy policy | Linked from the site | Generic page not linked from the footer |
| Legal business name | Visible and matching the account | Trade name on the site, different legal name in the account |
| Physical address | Visible and matching the account | Missing address or P.O. box only |
| Phone and email | Easy to find | Only a broken contact form |
| HTTPS | Across the whole site | Checkout or contact pages on HTTP |
| Working site | No placeholder text, no broken links, complete checkout | "Lorem ipsum" left in the theme, empty pages |
Google notes that a contact form or social media links can count as contact methods, but consistency of the legal name, address, phone and email between the site and the account is still required.
French Legal Requirements to Add
These obligations come from French law, not Google's rules, but they apply to any store selling to consumers in France:
| Requirement | Legal basis | Minimum content |
|---|---|---|
| Legal notice (mentions légales) | Law on confidence in the digital economy (LCEN, 2004) | Publisher identity, contact details, registration, hosting provider |
| Withdrawal right | French Consumer Code, article L221-18 | 14 days for a distance contract |
| Terms of sale (CGV) | French Consumer Code | Price, delivery, payment, warranties, withdrawal |
Informational summary, not legal advice. Check the current text on Légifrance.
Watch out: the return window stated on your site must match the one configured in Merchant Center. See our guide to Google Merchant Center return policies.
Inconsistencies That Trigger a Suspension
Google's Misrepresentation policy covers, among other things, presenting a false identity, business name or contact information, not disclosing the total price (including taxes and fees), and concealing refund or shipping terms. For some violations considered egregious, Google states that the account is suspended upon detection, without prior warning.
In practice, the most common inconsistencies are:
- a different address between the legal notice, the contact page and the Merchant Center account;
- shipping costs revealed only at checkout;
- a 14-day return window on the site and 30 days in Merchant Center (or vice versa);
- a legal name that doesn't match the documents provided for identity verification.
Learn more: Google Merchant Center misrepresentation.
Evidence and Sources
- Items to check on the site before a re-review (return policy, consistent contact details, policy links, HTTPS, checkout, placeholder text): Fixing Merchant Center warnings and account suspensions (accessed October 9, 2026).
- Definition of misrepresentation and suspension without warning for egregious violations: Google Merchant Center Help, Misrepresentation (accessed October 9, 2026).
- 14-day withdrawal period: French Consumer Code, article L221-18, available on Légifrance.
- Automated check: MyGoogle's LEGAL_PAGES and CONTACT_VALIDATION categories detect legal pages, return policy and contact details from a product page.
FAQ
Which pages are required for Google Merchant Center? A return and refund policy, a shipping policy and a privacy policy, accessible from the site, plus a page or section showing the business's full contact details.
Is a physical address required on the website? Google asks that the legal name, physical address, phone and email be easy to find and match the Merchant Center account. For a French store, the address also appears in the legal notice.
Can I refuse returns and stay compliant with Google Merchant Center? Google accepts that a merchant may not accept returns, as long as this is clearly stated on the site. In France, however, the 14-day withdrawal right applies to most distance sales to consumers.
Is a contact form enough? Google states that a contact form or social media links can count as contact methods, but also asks that business contact details be visible and consistent with the account.
How can I quickly check that my site displays this information? A product page audit like MyGoogle checks for legal pages, return policy and contact details in seconds; then manually confirm they match your Merchant Center account information.
Next Step
Run an audit on MyGoogle to check that your legal pages, return policy and contact details are detectable from your product pages. If your account is already suspended, follow our guide on appealing a Google Merchant Center suspension.