# Strikes and warnings

A first minor slip is a warning. A confirmed rule break is Strike 1, which cuts payouts by 20% for 90 days. Strike 2 cuts them by 40% and drops your tier. Strike 3 suspends the account. Fraud is an immediate ban.

| Level | When | Effect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Warning** | A first minor issue. | A notice only. It expires after 30 days. |
| **Strike 1** | A confirmed rule break. | Payouts reduced by 20% for 90 days. |
| **Strike 2** | Another break while Strike 1 is active. | Payouts reduced by 40%, and you drop one tier. |
| **Strike 3** | A further break. | The account is suspended pending review. |
| **Ban** | Bot views, bought engagement, fake accounts or stolen content. | Immediate and permanent. Unpaid earnings are voided. |

## Good to know

- A brand dispute never creates a strike on its own. A person reviews every case.
- Enforcement is currently lenient: a first minor slip is a warning rather than a strike. Clear fraud is a ban either way.
- Active strikes and when they expire are shown on **My profile**.
- When a strike expires, your payout rate returns to normal automatically.

If you think a strike is wrong, see [Disagreeing with a decision](/help/disagreeing-with-a-decision).