Four years Recently, Google mistakenly included details about my restaurant business, including my phone number and address, in their “How to contact Google” search results. In the UK”.
At first, I only got a few calls from people trying to get in touch; now I get 300. I have over 130 voice messages left, including ones that arrive on my personal cell phone once a week, as well as messages and letters.
I feel obligated to answer every phone call because it could be a potential client. This situation has left me exhausted, anxious and has turned running my business into a nightmare. I have tried to contact Google multiple times but have not heard back from anyone.
D.I., London
You want customers to find your restaurant on Google, not Google, and this listing error has caused years of unnecessary harassment.
When I first contacted Google, they advised me to use the “Feedback” button that appears at the bottom of the search results. When I suggested this, they wearily replied that they had tried this many times with no success. So I contacted Google again, and this time they looked into it.
“We analyzed the issue and took action in accordance with our search policies. This phone number will no longer appear in this search,” Google said in a statement.
I am relieved that the calls from Google have finally stopped and I am grateful for my help, but I would have liked at least an apology for the inconvenience.
Letters are welcome but we cannot respond individually. Please email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or post to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime telephone number where you can be reached. Submission and publication of all letters are subject to our terms and conditions.
Source: www.theguardian.com
