A Google review from your ex boyfriend or girlfriend: getting it read under the right policy

Google's content policy lists “Content that is based on a conflict of interest” as prohibited. It says a conflict of interest may include current or former employment, a contractual or consultory relationship, “or other professional or personal affiliations that demonstrate a conflict of interest (such as industry competitors, familial relationships, etc.).” A former partner is a personal affiliation. Google also says contributions to Maps “should reflect a genuine experience at a place or business.” A review written because of a breakup is not a review of a visit.

• Conflict of interest: the review says or shows the relationship, such as “we were together”, “my ex”, or details only a partner would know.
• Fake engagement: the writer was never a customer. Google bars content “not based on a real experience.”
• Harassment: Google bars content posted “to harass other people or businesses”, and lists claims about a person’s sexual activities among its examples.
• Personal information: a full name, last name, home address, private number or health details posted without consent.
• Off topic: a rant about the relationship. Google does not allow “general, political, or social commentary or personal rants.”

One review can meet more than one clause. The case is built on the one its words meet most plainly, and the others are named as support.

• A screenshot of the full review with the reviewer's name, profile photo, date and star rating.
• The reviewer's profile page and any other reviews on it.
• Anything that ties the account to the person: the same name or photo, or a message where they said they would post.
• The dates that matter, such as when the relationship ended and when the review went up.
• A search of your customer records showing no purchase under that name.

These records back the case. They do not belong in a public reply, and private messages stay private.

1. 01

   Open your Business Profile

   On Google Search or Maps, select Read reviews.

2. 02

   Find the review

   Next to the review, select Report.

3. 03

   Pick the reason

   Select the reason that matches the clause the review's words meet, not the one that sounds strongest.

4. 04

   Send it

   Select Send report. You can also report from the Reviews Management Tool and check the status there later.

If Google finds no violation, you have one appeal. The guide to Google's appeal message explains what happens next.

Silence is a fair choice. If you reply, keep it to one or two lines about the business, with no names and nothing about the relationship. For example: “We have no record of serving this reviewer, and we have asked Google to look at this review.” Use the first part only if it is true. Never answer a personal attack with a personal detail. Readers judge the reply as much as the review.

If the review threatens you or anyone at work, treat it as a safety matter before a listing matter. The guide to threatening reviews covers what to do first.

The case sheet shows the review as posted, the clause cited, the reasoning, and the supporting record. The fee is per removed review, set by a fixed class that depends on the work the case needs, and it is on the sheet before anything is filed. Nothing is filed until you accept. If Google declines, the case is filed a second time at the same fee.

Exes sometimes ask friends to post as well. Google lists content “posted from multiple accounts by or at the request of one person” as fake engagement. The free audit reads every low review on your listing, so a second or third review from the same circle shows up next to the first.