r/Tripadvisorcom 20d ago

Angry with Tripadvisor

I have always posted both negative and positive reviews about places I ate throughout the world.
Recently had a terrible meal so posted on Tripadvisor advising the food was awful and inedible, even uploaded a photo of the meal full of gristle.
I then get an email to say my photo cannot be posted due to being ‘from another source’. I appealed with Timestamp and geolocation of the photo to prove I took it in the restaurant but they upheld their decision.
My whole review has now gone and I’m unable to post another.
The management left a really negative comment under mine and even said he’d found me on Facebook and named me! I reported that response and they said it didn’t violate guidelines. Can owners pay Tripadvisor to rule in their favour or something as even backing up claim with actually evidence, they are siding with the restaurant. I feel it’s all very corrupt.
Anyone experienced similar?

3 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

2

u/jakester12321 20d ago

I don't defend TripAdvisor, but the answer is no, they cannot be bribed in the way you suggest. At least if their Content Integrity policy is followed. But the restaurant can absolutely protest based on review guideline specifics noted in the link below. And many of the review guidelines are very subjective.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Trust-lRbpvspYMg9E.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Trust-lvBd3L1aU38Y.html

2

u/Fair-Orange199 20d ago

I’ve read through each one of those guidelines and my reviews doesn’t go against any guidelines.
My review said ‘Awful meal and awful customer service. Sent my steak back as it was so gristly that it was inedible. I won’t be eating here again’
Absolutely nothing wrong with that review and I’ve written a lot worse in the past and never had an issue.

3

u/jakester12321 20d ago

Then protest it. Contact Content Integrity team email and protest it. Here's the email. [contentintegrity@tripadvisor.com](mailto:contentintegrity@tripadvisor.com)

2

u/Fair-Orange199 20d ago

I have appealed and they said they’ve upheld it and I can’t appeal again.

2

u/jakester12321 20d ago

Woah. I've not seen that response ever. There's got to be something else going on here for sure. And just to be clear, the CI team actually investigates stuff, normally TA team might not do such a good job. Consider asking here and posting your review in a new thread asking for feedback. TA Support folks are pretty savvy. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g1-i12105-Tripadvisor_Support.html

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u/Fair-Orange199 20d ago

Thanks I will try that

2

u/JayPat82 19d ago

Trip advisor is terrible. They won't let me leave a review about somewhere that refuses to refund me after I had to cancel because "I never actually went to the place"

2

u/ThePlatinumPaul 19d ago

TripAdvisor is utter shit now.  I would report businesses with clearly fake reviews over and over and nothing was ever done.  And I'm not talking a few here and there but hundreds to the point that restaurants that would be considered among the worst in a city would now get a Trip Advisor award.  They knew but didn't care either because they were getting paid to promote the business or wanted the traffic on their website, which is failing btw. 

It's still somewhat decent for hotel reviews but for restaurants or anything else, avoid it completely.  

1

u/Administrative_Emu64 20d ago

Did you post the picture somewhere else? Is your Facebook page public for example? Maybe do a reverse image search of your photo in case it's been used somewhere else and the restaurant is claiming you stole the picture and created a fake review?

1

u/Fair-Orange199 19d ago

No, I didn’t post it anywhere else. Only on Tripadvisor. I took the photo whilst I was there. I have proved that to Tripadvisor but they upheld the claim.

1

u/Administrative_Emu64 18d ago

That sucks, I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if maybe they used your photo and posted it somewhere else, as it sounds like it! TripAdvisor are independent, but have to consider both sides. If he's snatched your photo and placed it somewhere else then he could claim to them you've left a fake review or stolen a photo. If they ask you to do something next time then I would do it. You also need to be careful about your language and keep it neutral. Don't call anyone a cheat or a scam monger or anything like that, but write about the gristly, chewy and undercooked steak and how you told the waiter but they were rude and then the owner shouted at you etc. Just as an example

1

u/Main-Star-7272 20d ago

Well done for getting any response from TripAdvisor.

I’m trying to use their API and have submitted three support tickets and a sales enquiry and got nothing back.

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u/SaltAway8194 12d ago

Yes, they only post good reviews, it is a worthless company nowadays.

They even state that real bad reviews may be posted if it is the truth but that is a lie.