Google replaced manual Local Services Ads disputes with an automated credit system in 2024. You can't file a dispute anymore. This lesson explains how credits work now and how to give feedback that helps.
At a glance
- Google assesses leads when the customer first makes contact; charged leads "get reassessed by our models over time, and may be issued credits automatically if later determined to be low quality" (Google).
- Credits typically arrive within 30 days, and the original charge still appears on your invoice.
- No credits for health care verticals, tax specialists, or advertisers in EMEA; no credits for job-type or geography mismatches.
- Lead feedback is how you tell Google a lead was bad. Google alone decides whether to credit it.
How to give useful feedback
- Rate leads promptly.Do it while the call or message is fresh.
- Be accurate.Rate genuinely bad leads (spam, wrong numbers, solicitations) as bad, and good leads as good. Honest feedback is the signal.
- Pick the right reason.Use the specific reason in the feedback form, not a general complaint.
- Track credits.Note which charged leads were later credited, so your true cost per lead is correct.
- Fix setup problems at the source.Mismatched job types and areas won't be credited; change the setup instead. See How to Cut Mismatch Leads.
Common mistakes
- Looking for a dispute button. It's gone.
- Rating every lead as bad to try to get credits.
- Counting on credits in the excluded categories.
How CallRadius handles this
CallRadius classifies every lead and flags likely invalid ones to an experienced manager only at 85% confidence or higher. The manager decides what feedback to send to Google. Whether a lead is credited is decided solely by Google.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Can I still dispute an LSA lead?
No. Google replaced manual disputes with automated credits in 2024. You give feedback on the lead, and Google's system decides.
How long do LSA credits take?
Google says credits typically arrive within 30 days, and the original charge still appears on your invoice.