essentras

Last updated · reviewed by the Essentras editorial team

Reviews on every platform

How to remove bad reviews: every platform’s real rules

The short answer

A bad review comes down only if it breaks the platform’s own rules, and the platform decides. Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Glassdoor, Indeed, BBB, the App Store and Google Play each act on reports of fake, abusive or off-topic reviews. None lists an honest negative opinion as a reason for removal.

Checked on 19 Oct 2026 against each platform’s own help pages, policies and enforcement reportsWritten by the Essentras editorial team

Essentras is not affiliated with any platform on this page. Each platform decides every removal; every route here is free.

Start here in 1 click Get a free case read

Free decision table

Start here in 1 click

Click a platform to jump to its steps, or the last column for our full guide or the free Google policy checker. Every cell comes from the platform’s own pages, read on 19 Oct 2026.

PlatformWhat it removesHow a business reportsWho decidesIf it says noGo deeper
Google (Maps reviews)Breaches of its named rules: fake engagement, conflicts of interest, harassment, personal information, off-topicBusiness Profile: Read reviews, Report; or the Reviews Management ToolGoogle: automated systems and analysts1 appeal, up to 10 reviewsFree policy checker
YelpConflicts of interest, reviews not about the reviewer’s own experience, inappropriate contentBusiness account: Reviews, the 3 dots, Report ReviewYelp moderatorsAsk Support to look again; reversals are uncommonYelp review guide
TripadvisorWrong location, suspicious or illegal reviews, reviews by people tied to the propertyManagement Center: Reviews, the review, Report ReviewTripadvisor moderatorsAppeal options come with the decisionTripadvisor steps
Trustpilot5 flag reasons, from harmful or illegal to not a genuine experienceTrustpilot Business: Service reviews, Inbox, flag iconTrustpilot’s Content Integrity teamReply to the decision email, then the appeal linkTrustpilot review guide
FacebookRecommendations that break the Community Standards; star-only ones cannot be reportedPage: Reviews, See all, Options, Report postMetaA second review, then possibly the Oversight BoardFacebook review guide
Amazon product reviewsCommunity Guidelines breaches, such as compensated reviewsThe Report button under the reviewAmazonNot statedAmazon review guide
Amazon seller feedback6 reasons; FBA delivery complaints are struck throughFeedback Manager: Request review, within 90 daysAmazonAppeal Decision before the deadline shownSeller feedback guide
eBay feedbackFeedback policy grounds: threats, the wrong item, extortion, issues outside the seller’s controlSeller Help, within 90 days of the transactioneBayA revision request within 30 days, and 1 replyeBay feedback guide
GlassdoorFake, duplicate, incentivized or coerced reviews, harassment, confidential informationThe report link next to the reviewGlassdoor, at its sole discretionNo negotiation; EEA complaints get a human reviewGlassdoor guide
Indeed (company reviews)Threatening, abusive or defamatory statements, personal details, paid or pressured reviewsThe 3 dots, Report review, a reason, SubmitIndeedNo outcome is sent to youIndeed steps
BBBPublishes no anonymous, incentivized or non-customer reviewsBusiness Account: Manage BBB Customer Reviews, not-a-customer formBBB, which asks the reviewer for proofNone stated; only the customer can retractBBB steps
Apple App StoreOffensive, spam, incentivized, dishonest or irrelevant reviewsApp Store Connect: Ratings and Reviews, Report a ConcernAppleAn EU complaint route; elsewhere not statedApp Store steps
Google Play10 Comment Posting Policy categories, from spam to conflicts of interestPlay Console: Reviews, flag icon, ReportA Google specialistNo second report; EU: 1 appeal per reportGoogle Play steps

Only the author or the platform can remove a review. No platform here gives a business a delete button; the closest are Facebook, where a Page can switch Recommendations off, and the App Store, where a developer can reset the star rating with a new version while written reviews stay.

Not sure which rule fits?

Send us the link to the review. A specialist replies by email with an honest read: which rule applies and how to report it, or that it will stay and how to reply. Free, with no obligation. We never ask for passwords or log in to your accounts: you file every report yourself.

Get a free case read

There is no paid shortcut

No payment changes a platform’s decision, and Yelp says firms that claim to remove reviews for a fee can’t. Essentras sells review removal for Google reviews only, where Google decides; on every other platform here, the free steps on this page are the route.

Key facts: what the platforms say they remove, checked on 19 Oct 2026

The common rule

The rule every platform shares: a review comes down for breaking a rule, not for being negative

Every platform here removes the same kinds of reviews and keeps the same kind: an honest account of a real experience, however harsh. A report works when it names the platform’s rule and shows proof.

What the platforms say about reviews they keep

PlatformIts position, in shortSource
GoogleDo not report a review just because you disagree with it; respectful negative experiences are allowedGoogle Business Profile Help
YelpLets users stand behind what they write and does not take sides in factual disputesYelp Support
TripadvisorDisagreeing with content is not enough to justify removalTripadvisor Help Center
TrustpilotDoes not remove reviews because a business finds them unfair or criticalTrustpilot guidelines
GlassdoorNever removes or hides content because it is unfavorableGlassdoor Trust pages
AmazonDoes not remove seller feedback that complies with its policiesAmazon Seller Central
eBayIs not in a position to contradict buyers’ opinions of itemseBay Feedback policy
Google PlayRemoves only reviews that break its Comment Posting PolicyPlay Console Help

The same 6 grounds, in each platform’s words

If the review fits a row, report it under the platform’s own label. If it fits none, it needs a reply, not a report.

GroundWhat platforms call itEvidence that works
Not a real customer or experienceGoogle: Fake engagement. Yelp: not the reviewer’s own experience. Trustpilot: not a genuine experienceA dated search of your bookings, orders or CRM that finds no match
Conflict of interestGoogle: Rating Manipulation. Yelp and Google Play: conflict of interest. Tripadvisor: anyone affiliated with the propertyEmployment dates, or the reviewer’s public link to a competitor
Paid or incentivizedGoogle: paid reviews. Apple: compensated reviews. BBB: incentivized reviews. Glassdoor: perks for reviewsThe offer or message that paid for it
Threats, hate or profanityGoogle: Harassment, Hate speech. Trustpilot: harmful or illegal. Amazon and eBay: profanity, hateThe text itself, with a dated screenshot
Personal informationGoogle, Trustpilot, eBay, Amazon, Google Play and Apple all list itThe text itself; never repeat the details in public
Wrong business, item or placeGoogle: Off-topic. Trustpilot: a different business. Amazon and eBay: another seller or item. Tripadvisor: the wrong locationThe other name or address, exactly as written

Usually removed after a report

  • A review from someone who was never a customer, with a records search to show it
  • A competitor, employee or relative reviewing you
  • Threats, slurs, or a private person’s details
  • A review of a different business, item or location
  • A review that was paid for

Usually stays up

  • A real customer’s bad experience, however harsh
  • An unfair or exaggerated account of a real visit
  • An old review about something you have fixed
  • A low star rating with no text, from a real customer
  • A dispute about facts the platform cannot check

For reviews that stay, the levers are a calm reply, fixing the problem, and more honest reviews. Our guide to negative Google reviews has 14 reply templates.

Step by step

How to report a review so the platform can act: 6 steps

The steps are the same everywhere; each platform’s buttons are in its card below.

How to report a bad review on any platform

  1. 01Claim or verify your business accountA verified Google Business Profile, a claimed Yelp or Trustpilot page, the Tripadvisor Management Center, a BBB Business Account, App Store Connect or Play Console access.
  2. 02Pick 1 ruleRead the review against the platform’s own list and choose the 1 rule it breaks. Trustpilot, for example, takes 1 reason per flag.
  3. 03Collect proof the platform can checkA dated screenshot, a search of your records, or messages inside the platform. Never attach other customers’ data.
  4. 04Report through the platform’s own routeFrom your own account, with a short factual note (template 1). Amazon warns that other channels may lead to account deactivation.
  5. 05Wait for the decisionDo not file the same report again: Google Play, for example, refuses a second report on a rejected review.
  6. 06Appeal once, then replyWhere an appeal exists, lead with new evidence. When the review stays, post 1 calm public reply.

Timelines the platforms state (and only those)

Where a platform states no time, guides that quote one are guessing.

PlatformWhat it states
GoogleReview evaluation typically takes several days
YelpMay take several days; the result comes by email
TripadvisorThe outcome and your appeal options within 3 to 5 working days
TrustpilotNo deadline; the reviewer gets 3 days to respond to some flags
FacebookA second review usually within 24 hours; 15 days to go to the Oversight Board
Amazon seller feedbackRequest within 90 days of the feedback; no decision time stated
eBayRequest within 90 days of the transaction; removal within 24 hours once it qualifies
GlassdoorNo US timeline; EEA complaints aim for 2 business days
IndeedRemoval within 1 to 2 business days if the review breaks its rules
Google PlayA specialist reviews the report within a few business days
Apple App StoreNo time stated for Report a Concern
BBBReviews: not stated. Complaints: 14 days for the business to respond

The platform’s own pages:Google: report inappropriate reviewsTripadvisor: owners reporting a reviewTrustpilot: flag reviewsPlay Console: report inappropriate reviews

Platform by platform

Platform by platform: where to report, who decides, how to appeal

Each card comes from the platform’s own pages. Where we have a full guide, the card links it.

Google (Maps and Business Profile)

Our guide: How to remove a Google review

What it removes

  • Breaches of its named rules: fake engagement, rating manipulation and conflicts of interest, harassment, hate speech, personal information, off-topic rants, advertising.
  • Unsubstantiated allegations of crime fall under Offensive content; respectful negative experiences are allowed.

How to report

  1. 1Verify your Business Profile and select Read reviews.
  2. 2Next to the review, select Report, pick the reason, then Send report.
  3. 3Or use the Reviews Management Tool, which also tracks each report’s status.
Who decides
Google, with automated spam detection and analysts.
Timeline
Typically several days.
If it says no
1 appeal from the Reviews Management Tool, up to 10 reviews at once. In the EU, then a certified out-of-court body.
Public reply
Yes, once the profile is verified.

The platform’s own pages:Google: prohibited contentGoogle: report reviewsGoogle: EU DSA options

Yelp

Our guide: How to remove a Yelp review

What it removes

  • Reviews with a conflict of interest, or not about the reviewer’s own experience (for example rebuttals, or only your hours or policies).
  • Inappropriate content such as threats, hate speech or private information.

How to report

  1. 1Claim your page if you have not.
  2. 2In your business account, open Reviews, select the 3 dots next to the review, then Report Review.
  3. 3Hover over the flag icon to see the status.
Who decides
Yelp’s moderators; automated software separately decides which reviews are recommended.
Timeline
May take several days.
If it says no
Ask Support for a second evaluation; Yelp says reversals are not common. A final court order goes to Support. EU users can appeal within 6 months.
Public reply
Yes, in public or by direct message.

The platform’s own pages:Yelp: report a reviewYelp: when to reportYelp: second evaluation

Tripadvisor

What it removes

  • Reviews in the wrong location, suspicious or illegal reviews, reviews by anyone affiliated with the property, and reviews that only dispute a stated policy.
  • Reviews more than 1 year after the experience, profanity, private information, promotional content and AI-written reviews.

How to report

  1. 1In the Management Center, open the Reviews tab and the review.
  2. 2Select Report Review, give the reason, add a comment and Submit.
Who decides
Tripadvisor’s moderators, after automated checks.
Timeline
Outcome and appeal options within 3 to 5 working days.
If it says no
Options come with the decision; EU residents have 6 months, then out-of-court settlement.
Public reply
Yes, 1 management response per review, posted within up to 2 days.

The platform’s own pages:Tripadvisor: report a reviewTripadvisor: management responsesTripadvisor: EU appeals

Trustpilot

Our guide: How to remove a Trustpilot review

What it removes

  • Harmful or illegal content, personal information, advertising, reviews about a different business, and reviews not based on a genuine experience.

How to report

  1. 1In Trustpilot Business: Manage reviews, Service reviews, Inbox.
  2. 2Select the flag icon, choose 1 reason, confirm and Submit.
  3. 3Track it under Flagging activity.
Who decides
Its Content Integrity team, with automation, people or both.
Timeline
No deadline. Reviews flagged as harmful or illegal are hidden during the check; the rest stay online.
If it says no
Reply to the decision email for a manual review, then use its appeal link. A flag cannot be edited once sent.
Public reply
Yes, from a claimed profile.

The platform’s own pages:Trustpilot: guidelines for businessesTrustpilot: flag reviewsTrustpilot: after you flag

Facebook (Page Recommendations)

Our guide: How to remove a Facebook review

What it removes

  • Recommendations that break Meta’s Community Standards, including spam. Star-only Recommendations cannot be reported.

How to report

  1. 1On the Page: Reviews, then See all.
  2. 2On the Recommendation: Options, then Report post.
Who decides
Meta.
Timeline
Not stated; a second review usually within 24 hours.
If it says no
Support Inbox, Reports About Others, See Options, request another review; then possibly the Oversight Board within 15 days.
Public reply
Not stated. A Page can switch Recommendations off in Settings, Page and tagging, which Meta says removes the rating and reviews from the Page.

The platform’s own pages:Facebook: report a RecommendationFacebook: switch Recommendations offFacebook: request another review

Amazon product reviews

Our guide: How to remove an Amazon review

What it removes

  • Reviews that break the Community Guidelines, such as reviews written for compensation, and comments about sellers that belong in seller feedback.

How to report

  1. 1Select Report below the review and choose the reason.
  2. 2Sellers facing a competitor’s attack can use Report Abuse.
Who decides
Amazon, at its discretion.
Timeline
Not stated.
If it says no
Not stated.
Public reply
See our Amazon review guide.

The platform’s own pages:Amazon: Community GuidelinesAmazon: answers about reviews

Amazon seller feedback

Our guide: How to remove Amazon seller feedback

What it removes

  • 6 reasons: profanity, hate speech, personal information, another seller’s product, your own brand’s product, or a comment that is entirely a product review.
  • FBA delivery complaints and on-time Buy Shipping orders are struck through and stop counting.

How to report

  1. 1Seller Central: Performance, then Feedback.
  2. 2Select Request review next to the order, pick the reason, add evidence, Submit.
Who decides
Amazon. Other channels may lead to account deactivation.
Timeline
Within 90 days of the feedback.
If it says no
Appeal Decision before the deadline shown.
Public reply
Yes: Post a public reply, which cannot be edited.

The platform’s own pages:Amazon: Can Amazon remove buyer feedback?Amazon: request feedback review

eBay feedback

Our guide: How to remove negative feedback on eBay

What it removes

  • Threats, hate, personal information, comments about another item, and feedback used for extortion.
  • Issues outside the seller’s control eBay can see, such as disclosed flaws, unpaid orders or on-time tracking.

How to report

  1. 1Seller Help, within 90 days of the transaction, pointing to proof eBay can see.
Who decides
eBay: automation for clear cases, a review on request.
Timeline
Removal within 24 hours once it qualifies.
If it says no
No US appeal stated; a revision request to the buyer within 30 days; EU and UK appeals within 6 months.
Public reply
Yes, once, with no edits.

The platform’s own pages:eBay: Feedback policyeBay: responding to feedback

Glassdoor

Our guide: How to remove a Glassdoor review

What it removes

  • Fake or duplicate reviews, impersonation, reviews written for a perk or under pressure, harassment, and breaches of a legally enforceable confidentiality restriction.
  • Never a review because it is unfavorable, or because an employer asks or pays.

How to report

  1. 1Use the report link next to the review and name the rule.
  2. 2Point to what Glassdoor can check itself: it declines evidence from parties with a vested interest.
Who decides
Glassdoor, at its sole discretion; moderators cannot see whether a company is a client.
Timeline
No US timeline; EEA complaints aim for 2 business days.
If it says no
Glassdoor does not negotiate decisions; EEA users can ask for reconsideration.
Public reply
Yes, free, from a free employer account.

The platform’s own pages:Glassdoor: when content is removedGlassdoor: authentic reviewsGlassdoor: Terms of Use

Indeed (company reviews)

Our guide: Indeed compared with Glassdoor

What it removes

  • Unlawful, threatening, abusive or defamatory statements, slurs, personal details, factual claims instead of experience, and paid or pressured reviews.

How to report

  1. 1Select the 3 dots on the review, Report review, a reason, then Submit.
Who decides
Indeed.
Timeline
Within 1 to 2 business days if the review breaks its guidelines.
If it says no
Not stated; Indeed does not tell you the outcome.
Public reply
Yes, from a claimed company page, with no threats and no attempt to identify the author.

The platform’s own pages:Indeed: company review guidelinesIndeed: employer response policy

BBB (Better Business Bureau)

What it removes

  • BBB does not accept anonymous or incentivized reviews, or reviews from people who did not deal with you, and it scrubs bad language and personal details before publishing.
  • Reviews do not count in the BBB Rating; complaints can.

How to report

  1. 1In your BBB Business Account: My Complaints and Customer Reviews, then Manage BBB Customer Reviews.
  2. 2Use the form to say the person was not your customer; BBB asks them for proof.
Who decides
BBB.
Timeline
Not stated for reviews.
If it says no
None stated; a local BBB help center says only the customer can retract a review.
Public reply
Yes, and BBB suggests explaining your position.

The platform’s own pages:BBB: customer reviews FAQBBB: how reviews are handledBBB: not a customer of mine

Apple App Store

What it removes

  • Objectionable, deceptive or harmful content, others’ private information, spam, compensated reviews, and dishonest, bad-faith or irrelevant reviews.

How to report

  1. 1App Store Connect: Apps, the app, Ratings and Reviews.
  2. 2Report a Concern on the review, choose a concern, describe it, Submit. The reviewer is not told.
Who decides
Apple, with automated filters and human review.
Timeline
Not stated.
If it says no
In the EU, a complaint route and certified out-of-court bodies; elsewhere not stated.
Public reply
1 reply per review, editable; keep it free of personal information and marketing.

The platform’s own pages:Apple: ratings and reviewsApple: report a concernApple: submission rules

Google Play

What it removes

  • Spam and fake reviews, off-topic reviews, advertising, conflicts of interest, copyrighted content, personal information, illegal, sexually explicit, hateful and offensive reviews.

How to report

  1. 1Play Console: Ratings and reviews, then Reviews.
  2. 2Select the flag icon, then Report. There is a daily report limit.
Who decides
A Google specialist.
Timeline
Within a few business days.
If it says no
A rejected review cannot be reported again; in the EU, 1 appeal per report.
Public reply
1 public reply per review, editable; do not ask for a higher rating.

The platform’s own pages:Play Console: report reviewsGoogle Play: Comment Posting Policy

Legal routes

When the platform says no: appeals, the law and court orders

The law changes the outcome only for false statements of fact or plainly illegal content, and it usually works against the author, not the platform.

United States: who you act against

Section 230 says a platform is not treated as the publisher of its users’ posts, so a defamation claim over a review generally runs against the author.

47 U.S.C. 230 (Cornell LII)

Fact or opinion

Defamation needs a false statement presented as fact; opinions are generally protected. The US Supreme Court held in 1990 that labeling a statement opinion does not protect a false fact it implies.

Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., 497 U.S. 1 (1990)

Court orders and platforms

Yelp asks for a final court order. In Hassell v. Bird (2018), the California Supreme Court held that an order against a reviewer could not require Yelp, not a party, to remove the reviews.

Hassell v. Bird, 5 Cal.5th 522 (2018), California Supreme Court opinion

Gag clauses are void

The Consumer Review Fairness Act voids customer form-contract terms that bar reviews, fine reviewers or take their rights; offering them is unlawful. It does not cover employment contracts.

FTC: Consumer Review Fairness Act, what businesses need to know (Feb 2017)

European Union

A Digital Services Act notice must explain why the content is illegal and give its exact URL, your name and email, and a good-faith statement. You can complain to the platform within 6 months of its decision, then use a certified out-of-court body.

Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, Digital Services Act (EUR-Lex)

England and Wales

A business must show serious financial loss. Website operators keep a defence if they follow the 2013 notice-of-complaint process, which includes contacting the poster within 48 hours.

UK Defamation Act 2013, section 5 (operators of websites)

Essentras is not a law firm

This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer before any legal step, and never threaten a reviewer: under the FTC rule, an unfounded legal threat aimed at removing a review is itself unlawful.

When suing over a fake review is worth it

Stay on the right side

What not to do: the FTC fake review rule and platform penalties

Removing a review the wrong way can cost more than the review.

The FTC rule, 16 CFR Part 465, in force since 21 Oct 2024

SectionWhat it bansIn practice
465.2Writing, creating or selling fake consumer reviews, or buying reviews you knew or should have known were fakeNo fake 5-star reviews to bury a bad review
465.4Incentives for reviews that express a particular sentimentNo discount for a 5-star review
465.5Reviews by officers or managers without disclosing the relationshipManagers do not review their own business
465.7Unfounded legal threats, intimidation or knowingly false accusations used to stop or remove a reviewNo threatening letters to reviewers

The FTC says you can still reply publicly and threaten legal action when you have a legitimate basis, and that paying consumers to change or remove truthful negative reviews may violate the FTC Act. Penalties reach $53,088 per violation for knowing violations.

What the platforms do to businesses that manipulate reviews

PlatformPenalty it describes
GoogleWhen spam reviews spike, it can pause new reviews and show a banner on the profile
TripadvisorA red penalty notice, a lower ranking and loss of award eligibility
TrustpilotFor flag misuse: limited account access and a Consumer Warning on the profile
GlassdoorRemoval of the reviews and an Inflated Reviews alert on the employer’s profile
AmazonPermanent loss of selling privileges, withheld funds, public disclosure of the seller
eBayRemoval, warnings, restrictions or suspension
ApplePossible expulsion from the Apple Developer Program

Outside the US

EU law has banned commissioning false consumer reviews since 28 May 2022. In the UK, since 6 Apr 2025, fake reviews and misleading review publishing, including removing genuine negative reviews while keeping positive ones, are banned outright.

UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Schedule 20

The platform’s own pages:16 CFR Part 465, Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (eCFR)FTC: Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, questions and answers (Nov 2024)Directive (EU) 2019/2161, fake reviews in EU consumer law (EUR-Lex)CMA: Fake reviews guidance (CMA208, Apr 2025)

Templates

8 copy-ready reports and replies

Templates 1 to 4 fit any report box; 5 and 6 are replies; 7 and 8 are for the legal route. Replace everything in [square brackets].

Before you send anything

  • Name 1 rule in the platform’s own words, and quote only the words that break it.
  • Give the platform something it can check: a date, a record search, a link.
  • No threats, no accusations you cannot show, nothing offered for a change.
  • Never share another customer’s data, or repeat personal details in public.

Template 1: Report text (any platform, any rule)

When to use it: The report box of any platform.

Report text

Review: [link], posted by [display name] on [date], [rating].
Rule it breaks: [the platform's exact rule].
Why: [1 or 2 factual sentences].
Evidence: [dated screenshot]; [record search with dates]; [link or message].
Please review this report against [rule].

Template 2: Not a real customer

When to use it: Your records show no visit, order or booking.

Report text

We searched [booking system / orders / CRM] for [reviewer name] from [start date] to [end date] and found no booking, order or contact. The review describes [the event], but our records for that date show [fact]. It does not reflect a genuine experience with our business.

Never attach other customers’ records.

Template 3: Conflict of interest

When to use it: A competitor, an employee or another conflict.

Report text

[The reviewer worked for us as (role) from (date) to (date) / The reviewer's public profile (link) shows them as (role) at (competitor)]. The review was posted on [date]. This is a conflict of interest under [the platform's rule]. Evidence: [employment dates only / screenshots].

Template 4: Personal information, threats or hate

When to use it: The text itself breaks the rule.

Report text

The review contains [a private person's details / a threat / a slur]: "[quote only what is needed, without the personal details]". This breaks [the platform's rule]. A dated screenshot is attached.

Template 5: Reply to a genuine bad review

When to use it: A real customer had a bad experience.

Public reply

Hi [first name], thank you for telling us. We are sorry [the problem] fell short. [What you changed.] Please contact [name] at [phone or email] so we can put it right.

Health, legal and financial businesses: never confirm the person is a client.

Template 6: Reply to a review you cannot match

When to use it: Report first, then reply.

Public reply

Hi [name], thank you for the feedback. We could not match your name to a visit or order and would like to understand what happened. Please contact [name] at [phone or email].

No accusations in public: the platform decides.

Template 7: EU notice of illegal content

When to use it: Through the platform’s Digital Services Act notice form.

Notice text

Content: [exact URL of the review].
Why it is illegal: [the statement, quoted] [which law it breaks and why, with the facts that show it].
Notifier: [your name], [business], [email].
I confirm in good faith that this notice is accurate and complete.

Platforms can suspend people who often send unfounded notices.

Template 8: Cover note for a final court order

When to use it: Only with a real, final order, where the platform asks for one.

Message

Subject: Final court order: review at [link]
Attached is a final order from [court], case [number], dated [date], finding the review at [link] defamatory. [What it orders.] We reported the review on [date].
Contact: [name], [owner / attorney], [email].

Have your lawyer check it first.

Mistakes

10 mistakes that keep bad reviews up

Each comes from a platform’s own pages or the FTC rule.

MistakeWhat the platform or the law saysDo this instead
Reporting a review because it is negativeGoogle tells owners not to; Trustpilot says disliking a rating is not a reasonName 1 rule, with proof
Several reasons, or the wrong oneTrustpilot takes 1 reason per flag, and flags cannot be editedPick the rule your proof supports
Reporting again with nothing newGoogle Play refuses a second report; Yelp reversals are uncommonAppeal once, with new evidence
Using the wrong channelAmazon says other channels may lead to account deactivationUse the platform’s own report tool
Offering a refund or gift for a changeAmazon and Tripadvisor ban it; the FTC warns about paying to remove truthful reviewsFix the problem for everyone, with no condition
Threatening the reviewerUnfounded legal threats to remove a review break 16 CFR 465.7Report it; talk to a lawyer first
Asking only happy customersApple forbids filtered feedback; Amazon bans it; Yelp asks businesses not to ask at allFollow each platform’s rule for requests
Arguing or sharing details in a replyApple and Google Play bar personal information; eBay and Amazon replies cannot be edited1 calm, factual reply
Suing the platform instead of the author (US)Section 230; Hassell v. BirdAsk a lawyer about the author
Paying a firm that promises removalPlatforms decide; Yelp says such firms can’tUse the platform’s route, or a free case read

Optional

Often added

Optional. Only the first removes anything, and only on Google, where Google decides.

Optional

Not ready yet?

Start with the free steps.

FAQ

Removing bad reviews: FAQ

Can you remove a bad review?▾

Only if it breaks the platform’s own rules, and the platform decides. Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Glassdoor, Indeed, BBB, the App Store and Google Play each act on reports of fake, abusive or off-topic reviews. An honest negative review stays: reply calmly and fix the problem.

Can a business delete reviews about itself?▾

No platform here gives a business a delete button for someone else’s review. You can report it and reply. Facebook lets a Page switch Recommendations off entirely, and the App Store lets a developer reset the star rating with a new version; written reviews stay.

How long does a platform take to remove a review?▾

Only some say: Google typically several days, Yelp several days, Tripadvisor 3 to 5 working days, Google Play a few business days, Indeed 1 to 2 business days, and eBay within 24 hours once feedback qualifies. Trustpilot, Amazon and Apple state no time.

Can I appeal if the platform keeps the review?▾

Often once. Google offers 1 appeal for up to 10 reviews, Amazon an Appeal Decision before a deadline, Facebook a second review, Trustpilot a reply and an appeal link. In the EU, the Digital Services Act gives 6 months to complain about a decision on your notice.

Can a company remove reviews for a fee?▾

No outside company can remove a review: each platform decides, and Yelp says firms that claim to remove reviews for a fee can’t. Essentras sells removal for Google reviews only, through Google’s own routes, with Google deciding and a pro-rata refund for any review Google keeps.

Can I sue the platform over a fake review?▾

In the US, generally not: Section 230 says a platform is not treated as the publisher of users’ posts, so claims run against the author. In the EU and UK, notice routes exist for illegal content. Talk to a lawyer first.

Is it legal to ask a customer to change or remove a review?▾

It depends on the platform, and incentives are out everywhere. Amazon bans asking for removal; Yelp asks businesses not to request reviews. The FTC bans threats and intimidation to remove reviews and says paying to change truthful negative reviews may break the FTC Act.

What counts as a fake review?▾

Under the FTC rule, a review that misrepresents that the reviewer exists or used the product or service. Platforms add their own rules, such as Google’s fake engagement and Trustpilot’s not based on a genuine experience, and ban conflicts of interest such as competitors or employees.

Will closing my page or account remove the reviews?▾

Usually not. Yelp and Glassdoor keep business pages and their reviews when an owner closes an account. On Facebook, switching Recommendations off removes the rating and reviews from the Page. On BBB, only the customer can retract a review.

What works when a bad review stays up?▾

A short, calm reply that names the fix, fixing the problem, and more honest reviews from all your customers, following each platform’s own rules for asking. Our negative Google reviews guide has 14 reply templates.

Next steps

  1. 01Find your platform12 platforms in 13 rows, each linked to its steps.Open the decision table
  2. 02Check a Google review freeThe policy checker matches it to Google’s rules.Open the checker
  3. 03Report with proofTemplates 1 to 4, from your own account.Copy a template
  4. 04Reply to the restCalm, specific, once.14 reply templates
  5. 05Unsure? AskSend the review link for a free, honest case read.Get a free case read

Every review guide on Essentras

Sources and method

Sources, read on 19 Oct 2026

Checked on 19 Oct 2026

Every platform fact here comes from the platform’s own pages, read on 19 Oct 2026. Pages that block automated readers were read from Internet Archive copies (marked); Glassdoor’s Trust pages through its own api.glassdoor.com host. Help pages carry no date, so the read date is the stamp. Platform wording is paraphrased.

  1. Google: prohibited content (Maps) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  2. Google: report reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  3. Google: EU DSA options · Read 19 Oct 2026
  4. Google Keyword blog, 16 Apr 2026 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  5. Yelp: report a review · Read 19 Oct 2026
  6. Yelp: when to report · Read 19 Oct 2026
  7. Yelp: false or defamatory reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  8. Yelp: second evaluation · Read 19 Oct 2026
  9. Yelp: Digital Services Act · Read 19 Oct 2026
  10. Yelp: Don’t Ask for Reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  11. Yelp: reputation firms · Read 19 Oct 2026
  12. Yelp: How do I close my account? · Read 19 Oct 2026
  13. Yelp blog: 2025 Trust & Safety Report · Read 19 Oct 2026
  14. Tripadvisor: report a review · Read 19 Oct 2026
  15. Tripadvisor: review fraud consequences · Read 19 Oct 2026
  16. Tripadvisor: management responses · Read 19 Oct 2026
  17. Tripadvisor: EU appeals · Read 19 Oct 2026
  18. Tripadvisor: report content · Read 19 Oct 2026
  19. Tripadvisor: Review Guidelines (archive copy, 10 Sep 2026) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  20. Tripadvisor: Content & Community Guidelines (archive copy, 11 Sep 2026) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  21. Tripadvisor 2025 Transparency Report · Read 19 Oct 2026
  22. Trustpilot: guidelines for businesses (Sep 2026) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  23. Trustpilot: flag reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  24. Trustpilot: after you flag · Read 19 Oct 2026
  25. Trustpilot Trust Report 2025 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  26. Facebook: report a Recommendation · Read 19 Oct 2026
  27. Facebook: switch Recommendations off · Read 19 Oct 2026
  28. Facebook: request another review · Read 19 Oct 2026
  29. Facebook: Oversight Board appeals · Read 19 Oct 2026
  30. Amazon: Community Guidelines · Read 19 Oct 2026
  31. Amazon: answers about reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  32. Amazon: Can Amazon remove buyer feedback? · Read 19 Oct 2026
  33. About Amazon: fake review brokers · Read 19 Oct 2026
  34. eBay: Feedback policy · Read 19 Oct 2026
  35. eBay: responding to feedback · Read 19 Oct 2026
  36. Glassdoor: when content is removed · Read 19 Oct 2026
  37. Glassdoor: authentic reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  38. Glassdoor: Terms of Use (archive copy, 12 Oct 2026) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  39. Indeed: company review guidelines · Read 19 Oct 2026
  40. Indeed: employer response policy · Read 19 Oct 2026
  41. BBB: customer reviews FAQ · Read 19 Oct 2026
  42. BBB: how reviews are handled · Read 19 Oct 2026
  43. BBB Help Center: not a customer of mine · Read 19 Oct 2026
  44. BBB: complaints (archive copy, 3 Aug 2026) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  45. Apple: App Review Guidelines (16 Oct 2026) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  46. Apple: ratings and reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  47. Apple: report a concern · Read 19 Oct 2026
  48. Apple: Media Services terms · Read 19 Oct 2026
  49. Apple Newsroom, 20 May 2026 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  50. Apple: DSA redress options · Read 19 Oct 2026
  51. Play Console: ratings and reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  52. Play Console: report reviews · Read 19 Oct 2026
  53. Google Play: ratings and reviews policy · Read 19 Oct 2026
  54. Google Play: Comment Posting Policy · Read 19 Oct 2026
  55. Google blog: Google Play safety, 19 Feb 2026 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  56. 47 U.S.C. 230 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  57. 15 U.S.C. 45b (Consumer Review Fairness Act) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  58. FTC: Consumer Review Fairness Act guidance · Read 19 Oct 2026
  59. 16 CFR Part 465 (eCFR) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  60. FTC: reviews rule questions and answers · Read 19 Oct 2026
  61. 16 CFR 1.98 (penalty amounts) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  62. Federal Register, 15 Sep 2026 (2026 penalties) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  63. Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co. (1990) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  64. Hassell v. Bird (Cal. 2018) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  65. Digital Services Act (EUR-Lex) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  66. Directive (EU) 2019/2161 (EUR-Lex) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  67. UK DMCC Act 2024, Schedule 20 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  68. CMA fake reviews guidance (Apr 2025) · Read 19 Oct 2026
  69. UK Defamation Act 2013, section 5 · Read 19 Oct 2026
  70. Defamation (Operators of Websites) Regulations 2013 · Read 19 Oct 2026

What the platforms do not say, so this page does not either

  • How long Trustpilot, Amazon, Apple and BBB take to decide a report, and how long Google takes to decide an appeal.
  • Whether Facebook offers a public reply to Page Recommendations, and its EU notice route for them.
  • Whether BBB removes a review after the reviewer fails to prove they were a customer.
  • Glassdoor’s Community Guidelines and flag form: its Help Center blocks automated readers.
  • Tripadvisor’s 2025 moderation total (its Trust page and its report give 4.2 million for different years) and Yelp’s recommended share (about 3 quarters on its support page, 70% in its 2025 report).

Spotted an error? Tell us and we will check it against the platform’s page. Report an error

General information, not legal advice. Essentras is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any platform named here. Each platform decides every removal; nobody can promise an outcome.

Get more Essentras in your Google results

Adds us as a preferred source, so our guides surface for you in Search and AI answers. One click, and you can undo it any time.

Free tool · Authority Audit

Where does your authority actually stand?

Before you fix one piece, see the whole picture. A free Authority Audit scores your presence across Google, AI, Wikipedia, reviews, and press, and shows you exactly where to start.

Run my free audit