Has your small business recently received a phone call from a Google representative? They probably told you that you need to pay a fee to keep your Google My Business listing, or that you’re behind on your monthly fees. Or they might have threatened to stop listing your business completely. As a small business owner, this kind of call is both scary and confusing — Google is such a powerful tool for enabling customers to find you, but you didn’t even sign up to be paying for anything!
Google does not call you for money. All of Google’s paid services require a credit card saved to pay automatic payments. They would not bill you, provide services, then hound you for payment. Your credit card company would be hounding you if anything.
The service “Google My Business” offers business listings — but they are free and they never expire. Anyone telling you otherwise is lying for their own gain.
Google also does not call you unsolicited. Most communication is done via the web, but even if you did have a phone call interaction with the real Google, it would be scheduled and you would be expecting it.
There are many known scams of people impersonating Google and holding businesses “hostage”. Below are some articles about some of the Google scams floating around the airwaves.
“Is Google Calling or Is it a Scam?” — Google Safety Center
“Google Called & My Business Listing Expired” — In Front WebWorks
“Received an Unsolicited Call from Google? It’s a Scam” — Post Modern Marketing