Help Needed: Video Verification Failing for Legitimate Second Location As Service Area Business.

[Syed Amir]

Hello Guys!
We set up a second Google Business Profile for a legitimate office location. Despite multiple attempts at video verification, the process keeps failing. Here’s what happened:

• We tried the standard video verification several times, but it failed. (SAB)
• We then requested Live Video Verification twice, but due to a glitch, the live session never started both time.
• We attempted video verification again, and the profile went live on Google, but it still wasn’t verified. (Remarks from Google Support {1})
• After two more video verification attempts, we received emails saying: “Your verification failed” and mentioning “Location is different from Business Profile service area.” {2}

We're trying to verify this as a service area business GBP, not with the address public.
We are 100% certain the video and the business location meet Google’s requirements. One of our support representatives even assisted the client to ensure everything aligned perfectly with Google’s guidelines.

According to Google’s SAB guidelines, it’s not necessary to show the inside of the address (though we did).

Interestingly, when I searched on Google Maps, the exact address pin appears outside Google’s defined city limits, EVEN THOUGH THE ADDRESS IS LISTED IN THE CITY.

I am desperate for guidance. How should we proceed, and what approach can we take to successfully verify this location?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[JoyHawkins]

Is this the only location for this business?

 

[Syed Amir]

Is this the only location for this business?

This is the second location.

 

[JustinB]

If it's within 50 miles of the first sab in the same category - it's servicing the same area and considered a duplicate listing.

 

[JoyHawkins]

If it's within 50 miles of the first sab in the same category - it's servicing the same area and considered a duplicate listing.

Only if the service areas overlap. I would make sure none of the service areas on the 2 listings overlap and also that a service area listed on one doesn't match the physical city address of another.

 

[JustinB]

Only if the service areas overlap. I would make sure none of the service areas on the 2 listings overlap and also that a service area listed on one doesn't match the physical city address of another.

Doesn't G say that any service area should be considered 50 miles or 2 hours driving time? So two within 50 miles would definitely be overlapping right?
https://support.google.com/business/answer/9157481?hl=en

 

[JoyHawkins]

No, that's a really misunderstood guideline. While it's their recommendation, it's not actually a policy that is enforced whatsoever.

 

[JustinB]

No, that's a really misunderstood guideline. While it's their recommendation, it's not actually a policy that is enforced whatsoever.

@keyserholiday do you know if that's enforced?

 

[fisicx]

Doesn't G say that any service area should be considered 50 miles or 2 hours driving time? So two within 50 miles would definitely be overlapping right?

2 hours in London could be 20 miles. Out in the countryside this could be 100 miles.

And words on the support page are: 'shouldn't be'. Which is Google suggesting there is no hard rule about this.

 

[keyserholiday]

@keyserholiday do you know if that's enforced?

I wouldn’t say it’s not enforced whatsoever. I put in the same categories as businesses description, showing the address when it’s should be hidden, setting the hours to 24/7, and keywords in the name. It’s not an issue until it is. When it comes to reinstatements, I have been told that that violation could prevent a reinstatement.

When I apply for reinstatement, I always clear the additional cities or zip codes to ensure the GBP is in full compliance.

When I report businesses for violating this guideline, it’s only when they set the service areas for the entire state or country. I only report that violation if there is at least one more TOS violation.

With this all being said, I have found the team handling the redressals doesn’t always take action on legitimate violations. It’s always hit and miss.

I am working a major data study on GBPs that I hope to publish to force Google to clean up this and other TOS violations.

 

[fisicx]

I remember reading a while back about a bunch of service areas all within a relatively small radius. After much argument someone looked on the map and realised they were islands. The whole concept of driving and distance was null and void. Can't recall the outcome but the same could apply to towns either side of a river.