🔍 Overview
Some customers on annual Search Atlas plans have reported unexpected charge attempts for the Google Ads addon — even though it is already included in their subscription. This article explains why this can happen, what steps to take immediately, and how to get the issue resolved quickly.
⚠️ Why This Happens
This issue is linked to a known billing migration bug. During the transition to an updated billing system, some accounts were incorrectly flagged as missing the Google Ads addon, triggering automated charge attempts through Stripe. This can result in:
- Repeated daily charge attempts of $199 to your saved payment method
- Your card being blocked by your bank due to multiple declined attempts
- The addon appearing as inactive inside the platform despite being part of your plan
Our engineering team has identified this issue and fixes are actively being rolled out. However, if you are currently experiencing charge attempts, follow the steps below right away.
🛠️ Immediate Steps to Take
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Do not cancel your plan. Cancelling your subscription will not stop the erroneous charge attempts and may disrupt your active campaigns and data.
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Check your plan details. Log in to Search Atlas and navigate to Avatar (top-right) → Billing → Plans & Top-ups to confirm your current plan and included addons. If the Google Ads addon appears as inactive or missing, this confirms the billing migration issue is affecting your account.
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Contact support immediately. This issue requires manual correction by our billing team. Open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team. Provide the following details so we can resolve it faster:
- Your account email address
- The date you first noticed the charge attempts
- The charge amount shown (e.g. $199 or $201)
- Whether your Google Ads addon appears active inside the platform
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Notify your bank if needed. If your card has been blocked due to multiple failed attempts, contact your bank to explain the situation and request that the block be reviewed. Once our team corrects the billing record on our end, no further charge attempts will be made.
✅ What Our Team Will Do
When you reach our support team, here is what happens next:
- We will verify that the Google Ads addon is correctly included in your annual plan
- We will manually correct your subscription record in our billing system to stop further charge attempts
- We will confirm the addon is re-applied to your account so your campaigns and quota are fully restored
- If any charge was incorrectly processed, our team will initiate a refund
📊 Verifying Your Addon Is Active After the Fix
Once our team has corrected your account, you can verify the Google Ads addon is working properly by checking the following:
- Your Google Ads campaigns should be accessible without a "Limit of 0 campaigns" error
- Your billing summary should reflect the addon as included at no extra charge
- No further charge attempts should appear on your bank or card statement
If you still see errors after the fix has been applied, please reach out to support again so we can investigate further.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be charged for the addon twice? No. Our team will ensure the addon is correctly recorded as part of your annual plan with no additional fees.
Are my Google Ads campaigns safe? Yes. Campaign data is not deleted during billing corrections. Once the addon is re-applied, you will have full access to your campaigns with the addon's expanded quota of up to 100 campaigns.
How long does the fix take? In most cases, our billing team can correct the issue within one business day of you contacting support.
What if my bank has already charged a dispute fee? Let our support team know. We will do our best to assist and document the issue for any bank communication you may need.
🆘 Still Need Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.