Google Confirms Disappearing Reviews: How To Fix It?

Google has confirmed instances of disappearing reviews affecting Google Business Profiles globally. A ‘display issue’ has caused reviews to drop out of Google local listings.

In the first week of February, complaints of missing Google reviews from business owners flooded social media. Reports on Google support forums indicate businesses losing anywhere from 3 to 500 legitimate reviews from their profiles, with many experiencing inaccurate review counts.

This massive issue has affected financial services companies, law firms, medical practices, and other local businesses worldwide.

Impact of Missing Google Reviews on Businesses

In an interview with FT Adviser, Scott Gallacher, Rowley Turton director, claimed that the search engine giant did not offer a warning or explanation behind the missing reviews, which posed a ‘real problem’ to their business.

“Google Reviews are vanishing, and firms are being left in the dark. Like many in financial services, we’ve seen genuine Google Reviews disappear overnight — without warning or explanation. That’s a real problem.”

The impact extends beyond just numbers.

Mint Mortgages & Protection lost 34 reviews without any notice. Director David Stirling stressed the importance of Google Reviews in making an impression on their clients:

“This is frustrating, as we put in a lot of effort to serve our clients, and their positive feedback often serves as one of the first impressions for potential customers. It’s disheartening that Google would make such a change without any notice.”

Google Cited ‘Display Issue’

In a statement issued on February 10, Victoria Kroll, a Google representative, cited a ‘display issue’ behind the missing Google reviews from the search engine’s results page.

“We’re aware of an issue affecting some Google Business Profiles, causing some profiles to show lower-than-actual review counts due to a display issue. The reviews themselves have not actually been removed. We’re working hard to resolve this and restore accurate review counts as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and will share updates on this thread as they become available.”

How to File a Missing Review Report on Google

While Google works on resolving the issue, it’s important to note that:

• The reviews haven’t been permanently deleted
• This is a display issue affecting the visibility of reviews
• Google is actively working on a solution

You can also file a report through Google Support by following these steps:

1. Access Google Support

Navigate to the Google Business Profile Help section then click on “Contact Us.”

2. Report Missing Reviews

Select the option to address “Missing Reviews.” Fill in the required fields:

• Your name and email address
• Contact number (optional)
• State your relationship to the business (owner, agent, etc.)
• Provide the Business Name and Address (exactly as they appear on your profile)
• Include your Business Profile ID

3. Provide Additional Details

Be as detailed as possible. In your report, indicate the number of missing reviews and when the reviews disappeared. Confirm if your profile was suspended previously.

4. Submit the Report

Submit your completed report to Google. You will receive a case ID; make sure to note it for future reference.

We’ll keep you posted with the latest updates from Google as this situation unfolds.