Comments on: Does Google Hate Me?

By: Aaron Holbrook

Aaron Holbrook — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:27:47 +0000

Good idea Bart, I think that’s an interesting idea. Maybe if we get enough people together we can get them to notice that – hey, your system is not easy or convenient to use AT ALL.

By: Bart Hubbard

Bart Hubbard — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:28:58 +0000

So the next question is – what can we, as a group, do about this problem? I would like to see this problem as an entire session at the next conference, with the goal of collecting a list of recommendations to be sent to Google. Thoughts?

By: Lorie Robinson

Lorie Robinson — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:24:46 +0000

I’ve been in the same boat. Still trying to get Google to correct a few listings of ours that have been wrong for months. I did discover with the postcards that you can enter in a name or mailcode to try to direct the postcard to your office, but even after validation, no change. Someone notified me about a listing that had no ZIP code, so it’s impossible to get a postcard on that one. Even our very name (UT Southwestern) is wrong on many of the listings; sometimes it’s hyphenated, sometimes the acronym is spelled out, etc. So sorry to hear that everyone else is experiencing this too, but glad it wasn’t just that I was too dumb to figure out Google’s process.

By: Todd Stogner

Todd Stogner — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:58:15 +0000

I’ve been in the same boat. If nothing else, I now have several experiences to share with the people berating me for not being able to keep Google in check.

Three times I have had to go through the change process. I have to travel from my office, which is not on campus, to three different locations in one of our hospitals where I have to wait for a phone call. The post card option just does not work.

All those Google employees and no one can answer a phone?!

By: Neal

Neal — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:11:00 +0000

We have that problem, too. I understand why Google just won’t take our word for it, but the notification mechanism doesn’t work for organizations like ours.

By: JWalk

JWalk — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:09:16 +0000

Same nightmare over here. Right down to the physician who’s personal number is listed.

I can’t even imagine how we’ll get our arms around it. Everytime I think I make some progress, an new incorrect listing shows up.

How are any of you with multiple locations attempting to confirm you are the owner? Phone obviously won’t work for every single number listed. We tried getting the mailroom to hold any postcards from google, but haven’t had good luck with that either.

By: Neal Linkon

Neal Linkon — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:56:40 +0000

Oh, have I ever been there and done that. They really make it impossible. I actually got so far through the process that I got the postcard back and entered the code. It says it’s processed and complete, and the incorrect phone number STILL shows up. And try calling somebody there. You’ll have better luck trying to find hair on the top of my head.

By: Thomas Ames

Thomas Ames — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:24:17 +0000

Haha, you just brought back a nightmare. EXACT same situation. You can probably even find me ranting on the Google Maps boards.

I emailed them and told them which listing was incorrect and which was correct. They deleted the incorrect.. just making another incorrect take its place.

So I edited the information myself, and then had to confirm it. Problem… sure, you can call the number I put in the listing.. but good luck getting to me, the little ole Webmaster in a cubicle in the corner of the campus. So that didn’t work.

I edited again, and this time had them send me the postcard. Of course that takes a while to show up. I go online and confirm that it really is our address. And what’s the card say? It’ll be updated in something like 6-8 weeks!

It never was updated, either. Just an endless circle of canned responses and procedures that don’t work.

The people in the ambulatory clinic (the number listed) weren’t happy, but there’s literally nothing else we can do.

EDIT: Holy wahoo, I believe it’s correct now. Of course it’s after I leave. That’s the longest procedure ever.

But at least there’s hope for you guys, haha.

By: Markle

Markle — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:33:13 +0000

I’ve gone through the same process a half dozen times in the last year. The best results I’ve had have been in tracking down the ‘source’ phone number. Invariably the incorrect listing is coming from some random ‘white pages’ address consolidation directory site. Get them to correct/delete the listing and the resubmit their URL for reindexing. Two months later, check back and see if it fixed it.

Sticky, horrible and painful process. There has to be a better way.

By: Capn

Capn — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:13:13 +0000

Careful Bart … Big Brother is watching.