when do you get the $500 in free ads?

Hello Phelps,

Thank you for using our Microsoft Advertising Community Forum! 

Based on what you've explained on your post, if your spend has reached or surpassed a certain minimum requirement ($250 by 8/26/2023) within a given timeframe, then you should be eligible for receiving your promotional offer (coupon). I hope the information shared below will be of use to you.

Microsoft Advertising occasionally runs promotional offers, sometimes called coupons. Typically geared for new customers, promotional offers require you to spend money on your advertising campaigns first, and then we give you a credit toward advertising at no additional cost to you. Although you can't request a promotional offer, you can find them through Microsoft Advertising promotional events, online marketing drives, or other special offers.

Requirements for a promotional offer

• Before you can redeem your promotional offer, you must have a primary payment method for your account.

• Promotional codes can be redeemed only once. You or someone else cannot reuse a promotional code.

• Check the details of the promotional offer for the start and expiration dates. The date on the promotional offer must be current.

• You cannot use a promotional offer to pay for an existing balance.

• After a promotional offer has expired or the promotional amount runs out, your ads will continue to run, and we'll charge your primary payment method (postpay account) or deduct funds (prepay account). If you have a prepay account and no funds are available, we'll pause the account.

• Only one promotional offer can be active at any time.

• A promotional offer may contain other restrictions. Be sure to read the details of your offer for terms and conditions.

How to add a promotional offer

1. From the top menu, select Tools > Billing & Payments > Billing summary.

2. In the section called Payment methods, select View promotional offers.

3. Select Add promotional code, enter the promotional code, and then select Save.

If you haven't added a payment method yet:

1. From the top menu, select Tools > Billing & Payments > Payment methods.

2. Select Add card.
   (You may also choose a different payment method, such as bank transfers or PayPal. If you want to use PayPal instead of a card, see how to add a PayPal account.)

3. Enter your promotional code.

4. Select the country/region of your card's billing address and select Next.

5. Enter your payment information, and select Next.
   We may make a small authorization charge (for example, $1 USD) to verify your card. This charge will be removed.

What happens after you redeem your promotional offer (coupon)

1. After you add a promotional code, you will get a notification that the code was successfully added and you will receive a confirmation email.

2. Typically, a promotional balance appears once you fulfill the offer's requirements, such as a minimum spend.

3. It can take up to 10 minutes for your offer to appear in your account.

4. Once your promotional balance appears on the Billing tab, we will deduct your advertising costs from the promotional balance until the offer is used up or it expires.

5. At that point, we will start charging your primary payment method (postpay threshold account) or start deducting funds (prepay account). If you do not have a prepay balance, we will pause your account until you add funds. Learn how to Add funds to a prepay account.

6. Please note that promotional balances are nonrefundable. Any remaining promotional balance is forfeited at the end of the promotional period.

How to review the details & status of your promotional offer

1. From the top menu, select Tools > Billing & Payments > Billing summary.

2. In the section called Payment methods, select View promotional offers.

An offer can have one of the following of statuses:

1. Active: Your promotional offer is successfully redeemed, and you can track your credit balance or the amount of money you need to spend to receive your credit. You can't have two active offers at one time.

2. Expired: The offer has expired and is no longer valid.

3. Depleted: You have exhausted your promotional credit.

4. Needs payment method: You must have a payment method on file to redeem a promotional offer. For a limited-time offer, you'll see this status along with the cutoff date to add a payment method. The status will switch to "Active" once you add a valid payment method.

5. Standby: If you have multiple valid offers, the offer with the earliest expiration date will activate first. Offers with later expiration dates, will remain on standby until the active offer is expired or depleted.

Our support teams are happy to discuss your account in more detail via phone, chat or email to provide review assistance, please see our support page to reach out! 

I hope the information provided here was helpful to you. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our support. I have also sent you a private message asking for further details. You are more than welcome to respond to me privately so that I could check your promotional offer(s) on your account.

Kind regards, 

Vahid | Microsoft Advertising Support Specialist | 800-518-5689