Meta Directs Non-Political Advertiser to 'Political Ads' Verification Path, Requiring Physical Mail for Account Access

A user seeking to resolve an issue with their Meta Ads account, Dan Loewenherz, has detailed a convoluted and unexpected verification process, which included being instructed to register as a political advertiser despite not running political content. Loewenherz, who subscribed to Meta Verified for enhanced support, described a multi-step procedure culminating in a physical mail verification. This incident highlights the complex and sometimes opaque nature of Meta's account security protocols.

Loewenherz initiated the process by paying for Meta Verified, a service priced at $20 per month, specifically "to get access to a human" for his Instagram and Facebook ad accounts. After opening a chat and being transferred between representatives twice, he was asked to join a call and share his screen via Webex to reproduce the issue live. This extensive engagement underscores the difficulty users can face in resolving platform-related problems.

The most unusual instruction came when Meta support directed him to the "identity confirmation" section within the accounts center. Here, he was told to select that he was running "political or social ads," a category he explicitly stated he was not involved with, and then to add his home address. This deviates significantly from standard business account verification, which typically focuses on business registration and payment methods.

Meta's official policies outline a stringent authorization process for advertisers running political or social issue ads, often requiring government-issued ID and proof of address, sometimes through mailed codes, to ensure transparency. However, this process is generally reserved for campaigns influencing elections or public discourse. The redirection of a non-political advertiser into this specific pathway raises questions about the platform's automated systems or support agent guidance.

Following these instructions, Loewenherz was informed that he would receive a letter with a code at his home address within 3-5 days, which he would then need to input into the accounts center, followed by submitting a photo ID. This multi-layered verification, forcing a non-political advertiser through a political ad verification channel, illustrates the challenges users face in navigating Meta's evolving security and support landscape. The outcome of this verification remains "to be continued."