Google Agrees To Pay $20 Million To Search Marketers Over AdWords “Daily Budget”

MediaPost reports that Google has settled on a class action lawsuit brought by search marketers for exceeding the daily budget within the AdWords system. The settlement means Google can pay up to $20 million, including over $5 million to the plaintiff’s lawyers.

The suit was over how Google allegedly charged advertisers 120% of their maximum daily budget. Two advertisers are receiving $20,000 worth of AdWords credits for this daily budget excess: Minnesota printing company CLRB Hanson Industries and New Jersey resident Howard Stern (not related to the radio show).

Google argued that the excess is often used in the following days. A Google spokesperson said:

Google believes the claims are without merit, but we are pleased to have the litigation behind us and to move forward with our business objectives.

I often see advertisers complain that Google exceeded their budgets. I have never seen Google credit advertisers for this.