The Google Spam Team has made great strides over the past year in the US. Businesses that use UPS, Virtual, Mail forwarding address are suspended from Google Maps, yet even when reporting Business Spam listings directly to the Spam team for UK listings, they seemingly can’t seem to get a grip on the situation.
Is language localization to blame? Yes the UK uses different terminology, like Mail Forwarding ( this should be a no brain’er ) but there are also Secretary services, Business forwarding, Address Services, Virtual ( another no brain’er ) and of course the use of UK address lines, which can be slightly changed to get around Spam filters.
A Very Crowded Building in London
This unassuming building in London has around 1,270 businesses operating inside.
After reporting this address and other to the team, a rather large amount of businesses were left unaffected from an Auto Parts Store ( yup really ), builders, health consultants, Afternoon tea guides, stock brokers, a lazer tag center ( must be next to the auto parts store ) a software company and the odd post office courier service.
So why were only a few removed, that is a question for the Spam team. Could it be the businesses that were left un-suspended were using the answerphone service, which when called rattle of the name of business and will confirm the correct postal address?
View a list of Businesses at Address
Thousands of Service Providers
There are hundreds of these services available in London and the UK, the services are quite legitimate, just not when used for a Google Business Page, which stipulates that:
In order to qualify for a Google My Business listing, a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours.
Use a precise, accurate address to describe your business location. PO Boxes or postboxes located at remote locations are not acceptable.
Make sure that your page is created at your actual, real-world location.
Could It Be US – UK Terminology
It may be the fact that these service providers use different terminology to US providers and also offer different packages, together with legitimate physical office locations.
Virtual Office and Mail Forwarding
Some Store Front Locations but also Virtual Services
Mailing Address Services with part Physical Offices
Whatever the reason, if you find a businesses in Maps that is not at the location then please report the business and help actual businesses at that location get found.