There are several reasons why Facebook disables ad accounts. However, the three primary reasons why ad accounts are banned are for community guidelines violations, creating negative customer experiences, and having questionable advertiser profiles.

But with millions of businesses under moderation, it is no wonder that sometimes the algorithm can get things wrong. If you think that's the case with your account, here's what you should do...

How to Retrieve Facebook Ad Manager Account Access

If you’re one of the unlucky few who have gotten their Facebook ad manager account wrongfully blocked, here are the ways that you can try to get it back.

1. Request an Ad Account Review

As it happens quite often, you can bet that Facebook already has two dedicated forms for banned advertiser account owners to request a review.

To submit an appeal, you have two options depending on what issue you think was the cause. If you suspect that your account was disabled due to a violation of ad policy or community standards, then you should go to this form.

Facebook Ad Account Disabled Due to Violation

Alternatively, if you are not aware of any possible violations that you have made, you should use this form instead. You will be asked to include details about the ad account owner, the disabled ad account, your location history, and other information that can help your case.

For example, you may include information about having multiple team members from all over the world or using a VPN that may result in inconsistencies in location data.

Facebook Ad Account Wrongly Disabled

Be sure to answer these questions truthfully to avoid any further delays. The appeal submission process is quick and will generally take less than ten minutes to fill out.

However, it is best to manage your expectations when it comes to receiving feedback. Whether it is a positive or negative result, Facebook is known to take anywhere from a few days to several months to evaluate suspended ad accounts.

Related: Facebook Allegedly Boosted Ad Reach Estimates to Gain Bigger Profits

If you don’t have the patience to wait for the result, there are two other methods that you can use to try to regain access to your disabled Facebook ad account sooner.

However, bear in mind that while both options are definitely faster than simply filling out the form, they are not readily available for all ad accounts.

2. Contact Facebook Support

The option to contact Facebook support is only available for advertisers who have other ad accounts that are still active and have a history of successful payments for previous advertising spend. In addition, there are only a select number of countries where Facebook support is currently accessible.

Unfortunately, this list is not publicly available, so this method may just as well be a matter of luck.

FB Ad Get Started

To get in touch with a Facebook live support agent, go to the Facebook Business Help Centre and scroll down. If the feature is available in your region, you'll see a banner that says "Still Need Help?".

Click Get Started > Get Support > Chat. Then, fill out the form as requested and select Start Chat. A Facebook ad specialist will then contact you regarding your concern.

Facebook Ad Account Chat SupportForm

3. Get in Touch With Your Facebook Account Representative

Should you be unable to get in contact with a live support agent, there is one last way to request access to your disabled ad account—talking to an account representative.

Facebook account representatives help their assigned ad account holders learn how to use the platform effectively. Additionally, they can also assist if an ad account is compromised.

Whether it is to regain access to a hacked account or a request to re-enable a disabled one, a Facebook account representative can speed up the process for you.

Facebook Representative Contact Details

Unfortunately, you cannot apply to have an account representative. Facebook has its own criteria that they do not disclose publicly. However, Facebook does share how to identify if the person contacting you is really a Facebook representative.

So unfortunately, this method is only suited for those who already have an account representative. It is widely suspected that Facebook assigns representatives to its high-value clients with a history or perceived ability to have high ad spend.

If you run a small account, you should rather stick with using the previously mentioned support channels.

Missteps to Avoid Facebook When Recreating Your Ad Account

Should Facebook reject your appeal, there is not much you can do but start over.

Facebook keeps track of accounts linked to disabled ad accounts, as well as credit cards linked to non-payments. This means that re-using these details can run the risk of attracting Facebook's scrutiny to your new account.

Read more: Reasons Why Facebook Bans Ads Accounts

But ultimately, rather than trying to disguise accounts, you should avoid the missteps that resulted in your ad manager account being banned.

Set up a reliable payment method and pay your fees on time. Be receptive to negative feedback from users. And avoid using VPNs to show consistency in geographical location.

Building a strong advertiser history can make all the difference when maintaining your account access and in the face of a Facebook ad account evaluation.

Keep Your Facebook Advertiser Account Safe

Depending on the many custom audiences you have built for your campaigns, losing access to your Facebook ad account can set you back weeks or months of work. Additionally, it can be challenging to attribute campaign success when you don’t have historical data to base your future ad strategies.

Whether you’re a small business owner or an ad manager for a more established corporation, losing access to your ad account can mean significant losses. If you see your account has been disabled, file an appeal and contact support as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, remember to save yourself the stress of trying to retrieve access by sticking to the Facebook guidelines, providing a good customer experience, and building up a trustworthy advertiser account.