Signs Your Google Ads Agency Is Ripping You Off
Not every underperforming account means you’re being ripped off — sometimes it’s just inexperience. But there are specific, checkable signs that an agency is putting their interests ahead of yours.
The tell-tale signs
- Wasted spend they never mention. The average account wastes 25–30% of budget. Here’s how to find it.
- Conversions that don’t match revenue. A 90% “conversion rate” usually means the tracking is wrong.
- Brand-name bidding dressed up as performance.
- No account access for you. What to do if they won’t give you access.
- Refusal of an independent review.
Run your free Google Ads audit
Connect your account and Kestrel runs all 40 checks in plain English — your health score, wasted spend, and the fixes that matter. It’s read-only, free forever, and needs no credit card.
Check it yourself, free
Kestrel’s free audit reads your account and grades all 40 checks independently. No agency spin. See how to tell if your agency is any good next, or the full list of agency red flags. Popular with roofers, hvac & air conditioning, real estate agencies, mortgage & finance brokers.