Skip to content
English
www.commissionfactory.com
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

What happens if I bid on brand terms without approval?

Unauthorised brand bidding is a serious compliance breach. It's classified as a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) violation within Commission Factory's compliance framework.

Why is it treated so seriously?

Unapproved brand bidding can:

  • Interfere with an advertiser's paid search strategy
  • Inflate their marketing costs
  • Misattribute conversions that would have occurred organically

For these reasons, it's treated as a high-risk activity with immediate consequences.

One strike policy

Commission Factory operates a one strike policy for unauthorised brand bidding. This means action can be taken immediately upon detection. There's no requirement for repeated offences before enforcement applies.

If your account is placed on probation as a result of a violation, the Commission Factory compliance team will contact you directly. See What is probation? for more on how that process works.

H4: What actions can be taken?

If unauthorised brand bidding is detected, you may face:

  • Immediate removal from the advertiser's program
  • Voiding of affected transactions and commissions
  • Placement on non-payable status
  • Account suspension or termination from the platform
  • Ongoing monitoring or escalation for severe or repeat breaches

                For a full list of violation types and their consequences, see the Suspension Catalogue.

                H4: How does enforcement work?

                Once a violation is identified:

                1. Evidence is gathered (e.g. search results, ad copy, tracking links).
                2. You'll be contacted and given a short window to respond.
                3. If the issue isn't resolved, enforcement actions are applied at the program or platform level.

                      Failure to respond or continued non-compliance may result in escalation.

                      The best way to protect your commissions and account is simple: always check the policy, get written approval before you bid on brand terms, and monitor your campaigns regularly.