Not All Reviews Are Forever
Bad Google reviews can hurt your business. But contrary to what many think, you can get some of them removed—if they break the rules.
Google has strict content guidelines that define what reviews are and aren’t allowed. If a review crosses the line, you can report it and request removal. But here’s the catch: most reviews don’t qualify, and reporting the wrong ones wastes time.
This article breaks it down. You’ll learn the top 5 reasons Google will actually remove a review—plus 3 common mistakes that will never work, no matter how angry or unfair the review feels.
We’ll also explain how services like Reputation Galaxy can help when you’re stuck.
Top 5 Reasons Google Will Remove a Review
These are the situations where Google is most likely to step in and take action.
1. The Review Is Fake or Spammy
If someone leaves a review and was never a customer, it may be removed.
Signs of a fake review:
- No name or profile photo
- Generic complaint that doesn’t match your services
- Copy-pasted text
- Sudden surge in negative reviews (review bombing)
- The reviewer left similar reviews for multiple businesses in the same area
What to do:
Flag the review and choose “Spam” or “Fake content.” Include any proof you have that the reviewer was not a customer.
Pro tip: If the reviewer used a fake name but mentioned something specific, screenshot your records showing no matching transaction.
2. It’s From a Competitor or Ex-Employee
Google prohibits reviews that come from people with a conflict of interest, including:
- Competitors trying to harm your business
- Ex-employees trying to get revenge
- Owners reviewing their own business or a friend’s business
What to do:
Flag the review and select “Conflict of interest.” If you know who wrote it, explain the relationship in your report (e.g., “This was a former employee who left the company last month”).
Bonus: If the reviewer mentions a competitor by name (“Go to Joe’s Auto instead”), that’s a clear violation.
3. The Review Contains Hate Speech or Harassment
Google has zero tolerance for offensive, discriminatory, or threatening language. Reviews that include:
- Racial or gender slurs
- Personal attacks
- Bullying
- Profanity or sexual content
- Threats of violence
…can and should be flagged immediately.
What to do:
Choose “Offensive or sexually explicit” as the reason. Take a screenshot in case the review gets edited later.
4. The Review Is Off-Topic or Irrelevant
Reviews must be about a real customer experience. If the content doesn’t relate to your business, product, or service, it can be removed.
Examples:
- Political rants
- News commentary
- Complaints about unrelated companies or people
- “Never been here but heard bad things”
- One-word posts like “Trash” with no explanation
What to do:
Flag and select “Off-topic.” Include a note that the review doesn’t mention any actual visit or service.
5. The Reviewer Mentions Criminal Activity Without Evidence
Accusations of illegal conduct can be damaging—and Google will sometimes remove them, especially if they:
- Mention crimes like fraud, theft, or abuse
- Use words like “scam,” “stole,” or “criminal”
- Provide no evidence or proof
These reviews fall into a gray area. While Google won’t police customer opinions, defamatory accusations often cross the line.
What to do:
Choose “Legal issue” or “Offensive” depending on the language. You can also escalate through Google Business support.
Or… use a professional service like Reputation Galaxy to handle it for you.
3 Common Reasons That Never Work
Now that you know what will work, let’s talk about what doesn’t.
🚫 1. The Review Is Negative, But True
Google doesn’t remove reviews just because they make you look bad.
If the review reflects a real experience—even if it’s exaggerated or rude—it usually won’t qualify for removal.
“Terrible customer service. Waited an hour and no one helped me.”
If this actually happened, even partially, Google will leave it up.
Your move: Respond professionally, take responsibility, and encourage positive reviews to balance it out.
🚫 2. The Customer Didn’t Leave Enough Detail
Many business owners want vague reviews removed because they seem suspicious.
“Wouldn’t recommend.”
While annoying, short reviews aren’t a violation. Google doesn’t require full explanations.
Your move: Ask for more info in a calm reply, and demonstrate your willingness to help.
🚫 3. You Fixed the Issue Later
Even if you solved the customer’s problem, Google won’t remove the review unless the reviewer does it themselves.
“We called them, refunded them, and they said they were happy. Why is the review still there?”
Because Google won’t edit or remove a review unless it violates policy.
Your move: Politely ask the reviewer to consider updating or removing their post.
How to Flag a Review for Removal
If the review fits one of the 5 valid reasons above, here’s what to do:
Step-by-Step:
- Go to Your Google Business Profile
- Search your business name on Google
- Click “Reviews”
- Search your business name on Google
- Find the Offending Review
- Click the three dots on the right side
- Click the three dots on the right side
- Select “Report Review”
- Choose the reason that best applies
- Choose the reason that best applies
- Add Context (Optional)
- Use Google’s Business Support form for detailed cases
- Use Google’s Business Support form for detailed cases
- Wait
- Review decisions usually take 3 to 10 business days
What If Google Says No?
Google doesn’t always get it right. If your flag is denied:
- You can appeal through Google Business support
- Submit a more detailed report with screenshots or evidence
- Or… hire a service like Reputation Galaxy to handle it
How Reputation Galaxy Helps
Reputation Galaxy specializes in identifying and removing harmful Google reviews that violate policy. Here’s how they support your case:
- Policy Review: They assess whether a review qualifies for removal
- Case Building: They collect proof, documentation, and violation flags
- Professional Submission: They know exactly what language to use and which support paths to follow
- Appeals & Escalation: If the first try fails, they don’t stop there
- Suppression Strategies: If removal isn’t possible, they help push the review down with positive content
Their approach is fast, compliant, and focused on protecting your brand.
Bonus: How to Prevent Bad Reviews Before They Happen
While you can’t stop every bad review, you can reduce the chances of one showing up.
Proactive Tips:
- Train staff to de-escalate issues early
- Send follow-up emails asking for feedback before asking for a review
- Resolve complaints in person or by phone before they go public
- Make it easy for happy customers to leave reviews (QR codes, links, texts)
The more positive reviews you collect, the less impact one bad one will have.
Know the Rules, Use the Right Tools
If you’ve received a damaging review on Google, don’t panic. First, check if it breaks any of the rules above. If it does, flag it. If Google doesn’t act, don’t waste weeks trying to fight it alone.
Know when to call in help.
Reputation Galaxy offers real solutions to remove fake, abusive, or unfair reviews—and they can help you build a stronger online presence going forward.