Searching for garage door repair companies and other home services on the internet is a more convenient and efficient way to find local service companies from anywhere, at any time of day. Users have access to a wide range of service providers, including those in different cities or countries, that may not be easily accessible through traditional methods. Prices, services, and reviews from multiple providers can be compared more easily, which can help make more informed decisions when selecting a garage door repair company or service provider. Additionally, some platforms including Google Guaranteed, require service providers to have verified profiles, ratings, and reviews from previous customers, which can increase transparency and accountability, and help users avoid potential scams or unreliable service providers.
What is Google Guaranteed?
Google Guaranteed is a program launched by Google in 2017. The service supposed to provide customers with added protection and assurance when hiring service providers through Google Local Services Ads. When a service provider is part of the Google Guaranteed program, their services are backed by a money-back guarantee of up to $2,000 USD for eligible services.
Initially, the Google Guaranteed program was launched to help build trust between customers and service providers. By providing customers with added protection and assurance, the program was supposed to differentiate legitimate service providers from those who are not, and can help to increase the likelihood of customers choosing a provider who is part of the program.
Garage door repair companies (and other service providers) that enrolled to Google Guaranteed are identified on Google by a green badge that appears next to their business name. The green badge was initially designed to serve as a visual signal to customers that the service provider is trustworthy and reliable, and that they can have added confidence in their services. The reality however, doesn’t align with Google intentions.
Why consumers want to avoid Google’s green badge?
Many garage door repair companies that are currently enrolled to the service manipulate their ratings to improve their chances of being hired by customers. Users who use Google Guaranteed service to hire garage door companies will often find themselves being deceived and overcharged by lead generation companies and companies that have posted thousands of fake reviews on their pages. When reading through thousands of fake positive reviews, the truth suddenly becomes apparent.
One user wrote: “Garage door springs broke on Christmas Eve. Called ***** garage door repair. They sent somebody on Christmas Day who said it would cost $1100. I initially said ok but then noticed the bill was from a different company and the check was going to be made out to a third company. I called ***** garage for an explanation. They said a supervisor would get back to me but they never did. I canceled the service. Today a different company came out and did the replacement for $450. Buyer beware!”
The other wrote: “Clearly scammed. With so many 5 star reviews I thought I couldn’t go wrong.”
We argue that at least 90% of the reviews on Google Guaranteed platform are fake and intentionally written to deceive consumers.
Fake reviews on Google Guaranteed (and Google Maps) is not the only problem, same service providers are also listed under different company names and consumers find themselves calling the same person over and over again, thinking they’ve contacted a different garage door repair company.
Additionally, the Guaranteed platform provides misleading information to the user about the number of years that companies are in business. The platform lists many garage door repair companies that allegedly exist 20 to 30 plus years, however, when verifying the details on the official sources, their actual years in business can be counted on one hand.
Google is constantly failing to maintain their platforms
The company demonstrate a repeating pattern and poor management, whereby the company debuts a product but fails to design and maintain it properly. So is the case with fake garage door companies on Google. The company just refuse to address and remove fraudulent garage door repair companies and fake reviews from their platforms, deceiving millions of American consumers every year and harming legitimate garage door repair companies nationwide.
Must be regulated just like any service provider
Service providers including garage door repair companies and contractors are often regulated to protect consumers from unethical or substandard business practices. Regulations ensure that certain guidelines are followed, which helps to prevent fraud, negligence, and other types of misconduct that can cause financial harm or endanger the health and safety of consumers Ultimately, regulations are designed to promote fair and ethical business practices, while also ensuring that consumers receive good services and products that meet their needs and expectations.
Google should be regulated just like any other contractor because it provides services to consumers, and consumers rely on those services to make informed decisions.
The current legal framework, specifically Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, provides Google with too much protection from liability. This legal immunity has enabled Google to avoid responsibility for the scams and frauds that occur on its platforms, including the garage door repair and the locksmith scams. To address this issue, regulators must step in and amend Section 230 according to the FTC rules, and to ensure that platforms like Google take a more proactive and swift approach to preventing scams and protecting consumers from fraudulent activities.
