---
title: "Google Business Profile Now Penalises Misuse of Its Support Channels"
description: "Google Business Profile's new policy on misuse of support channels says repeated false or bad-faith complaints can get all further complaints rejected."
tldr: "Google's Business Profile third-party policies now include a Misuse of support channels section. It names false or misleading reports and bad-faith reports as unfounded, and warns that repeated unfounded submissions can get all further complaints rejected without assessment. Google does not define repeated or unfounded, or say which forms the rule covers."
publishDate: 2026-10-01
author: "Liam Hayward"
---
Google has added a "Misuse of support channels" section to its Business Profile third-party policies. It names "False or misleading reports" and "Reports made in bad faith" as unfounded complaints, and warns: "Repeated unfounded submissions can result in rejection of all further complaints without assessment." The section addresses "all Google Business Profile users", not only agencies. Search Engine Roundtable reported it on 29 September 2026.

Google does not say which forms the policy covers. Its documented support routes include:

- **Reporting a review** that breaks Google's content policies, with one appeal if the report is rejected. A negative review alone is not grounds for removal.
- **The Business Redressal Complaint Form**, for business names, phone numbers or websites on Maps that suggest fraud.
- **The appeals tool**, for a suspended profile or rejected content.
- **An ownership request**, when someone else holds the verified profile for your business.

Submit each complaint once, with the evidence attached, rather than resubmitting until something sticks. Google does not define "repeated" or "unfounded", or say whether a rejection applies to one profile, one user or a whole agency account, so assume the broad reading.

## Sources

- [Business Profile third-party policies, Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/7353941?hl=en)
- [Report inappropriate reviews on your Business Profile, Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=en)
- [Report a business on Google Maps, Google Maps Help](https://support.google.com/maps/answer/16109801?hl=en)
- [Appeal Business Profile content and profile restrictions, Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/13597551?hl=en)
- [Request ownership of a Business Profile, Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/4566671?hl=en)
- [Google Business Profiles Policies Adds Misuse Of Support Channels, Search Engine Roundtable](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-misuse-of-support-channels-42175.html)