LSA Lead Credits: What Google Refunds Now

• Manual lead disputes ended in 2024; Google now reviews leads and credits invalid ones automatically.
• Leads judged invalid when they arrive aren't charged, and charged leads can be credited later.
• Leads for job types you don't offer or areas you don't serve are no longer credited.
• Lead credits aren't available for health care categories, tax specialists or advertisers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• Rating bad leads gives Google feedback and can prompt another review.
• Tight service areas, job types and hours prevent most bad leads.

This guide explains how Local Services Ads lead credits work today: automatic review and credits, what no longer qualifies, which businesses get no credits at all, how to rate leads and the settings that keep bad leads from arriving. Put plainly: the refund desk closed, so prevention is now the main way to protect your budget.

Google changes Local Services Ads often. Check the current rules in your account and Google's help pages.

Leads are checked on arrival. Google assesses each lead when the customer first makes contact. Leads judged invalid or low quality aren't charged.

Charged leads are reviewed again. Google's systems reassess charged leads over time and may credit them automatically. Google says it can keep evaluating a lead for up to 30 days.

Credits take time. They can appear days or weeks after the lead.

Statuses in your lead inbox. Leads show as not charged, charged, in review or credited.

No dispute button. Since 2024, advertisers can't file manual disputes. How leads and verification work is covered in how Google Verified leads work.

Job types you don't offer. A call for a service outside your list is no longer credited.

Areas you don't serve. A call from outside your service area is no longer credited.

What this means. Leads that used to be refunded are now your cost, unless your settings stop them from arriving.

Health care categories. Google's help pages say lead credits aren't available for health care advertisers.

Tax specialists. Also excluded from lead credits.

Advertisers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Not eligible for lead credits.

Plan for it. If your category is excluded, budget for every charged lead and rely on settings and intake to keep quality high.

Rate every poor lead. Use the rating or feedback option in your lead inbox.

Choose the right reason. Spam, wrong number, or not a real customer.

Do it promptly. Ratings have a time window, so build them into your weekly routine.

What it does. Ratings help Google improve lead matching and can prompt another review, but they don't guarantee a credit.

Rate accurately. A real prospect who didn't hire you isn't a bad lead.

Service areas. Only the areas you serve, reviewed when you expand or pull back.

Job types. Only the services you offer, turning off the rest.

Business hours. Run ads only when someone can answer.

Categories. Pick the categories that match your work.

Budget. Set a weekly budget you can afford if every lead is charged.

Answer quickly. Responsiveness matters for results, as covered in speed to lead.

Missed calls can be charged. Since October 2026, Google can charge for an unanswered call when the caller stays on the line more than 20 seconds during business hours.

Qualify on the first call. Ask the questions that confirm fit.

Record outcomes. Track which leads became booked jobs, ideally by connecting your systems, as covered in connecting your CRM to your booking system.

Keep reviews coming. Reviews and responsiveness help ranking, as covered in LSA rankings.

Gross cost. What you were charged.

Minus credits. What came back automatically.

Effective cost per lead. Charges minus credits, divided by leads.

Cost per booked job. The number that decides whether the channel works.

Compare channels. Weigh Local Services Ads against search ads, as covered in Google Ads vs Local Services Ads.

Lawyers and other professionals. The same credit rules apply, with the setup advice in Local Services Ads for professional firms.

Verification first. The Google Verified badge requires checks before ads run, as covered in getting Google Verified.

Credit rate. Share of charged leads credited.

Bad-lead rate. Share your team rates as poor.

Off-target leads. Calls for services or areas you don't cover.

Cost per booked job. By month.

Answer rate. Share of calls answered live.

Confirm whether your category can receive lead credits. Review service areas, job types, hours and categories, and turn off anything you don't serve. Record your current credit rate and cost per booked job.

Rate every poor lead weekly, track which leads became booked jobs and connect lead data to your CRM where possible. Answer calls live during ad hours.

Compare credit rate, bad-lead rate and cost per booked job with the baseline. Tighten settings where off-target leads keep arriving, and adjust budget based on cost per booked job.

Astra Results Marketing manages Local Services Ads for the way credits work now. We check whether your category can receive credits, tighten service areas, job types and hours, and rate poor leads every week.

We track effective cost per lead and cost per booked job, and connect lead outcomes to your CRM. Engagements begin with an account and settings review through our Google Ads and LSA team.

Related reading

• Local Services Ads: How Google Verified Leads Work
• Google Ads vs Local Services Ads: Which Fits Your Firm
• Getting Google Verified: Checks and Timelines

No. Manual disputes ended in 2024. Google now reviews leads itself, doesn't charge for leads it judges invalid on arrival and credits some charged leads automatically later.

Leads for job types you don't offer and leads from areas you don't serve. Settings that match your real services and areas are the main protection.

No. Google's help pages say lead credits aren't available for health care categories, tax specialists or advertisers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Not always. Rating poor leads gives Google feedback and can prompt another review, but credits aren't guaranteed. Rate accurately and promptly.

Limit service areas and job types to what you offer, run ads only during hours someone can answer, choose accurate categories and set a budget you can afford if every lead is charged.

On cost per booked job, using effective cost per lead after credits, compared with other channels such as search ads.

Ready to run Local Services Ads for how credits work now? Astra Results Marketing tightens your Local Services Ads settings, rates poor leads every week and tracks effective cost per lead and cost per booked job, so your budget goes to real customers. ▸ CALL (786) 321-2866 · ▸ REQUEST YOUR CONSULTATION