Can an Agent Delete a Review?
No, agents and agencies do not have the ability to hide, edit or remove any reviews from their profile.
Situations Where RateMyAgent May Remove a Review
Situations Where RateMyAgent May Remove a Review
Content guidelines violations: If the review contains prohibited content such as profanity, abuse, defamatory material or it is completely unrelated to an agent's professional practice.
Fraudulent reviews: The review was not left by a legitimate buyer or seller of property (or someone authorised on their behalf).
User-initiated removal: If the original reviewer chooses to edit or delete their own review
4. Matching IP Address: If a review shares the same IP address as the reviewed agent or agency, it is classified as a conflict of interest even if the review is genuine.
5. Use of Disposable or Temporary Email Addresses: Reviews submitted using temporary or disposable email domains are flagged and remain unpublished until corrected.
6. Agency-Associated Email Domains: Reviews from email addresses linked to the agent or agency violate verification standards and are removed.
7. Relocation of Reviews: Occasionally, a review is mistakenly listed under a profile other than the one it mentions, resulting in its relocation to the correct profile.
IMPORTANT
Reviews will not be removed unless for the reasons specified.
RateMyAgent would risk breaching Consumer Law in Australia or the Fair Trading Act in New Zealand if a review was removed and it did not meet the above criteria.
How does a review get removed?
How does a review get removed?
Before it goes live:
Every "not recommended" review comes through to Customer Support and is read BEFORE going live onto the site.
- In some cases, we may not publish a review on RateMyAgent due to one of the reasons listed above if it clearly breaches one of our content guidelines.
If the review is flagged by our system:
All reviews, positive or negative, once published onto our website, go through an automated verification processes to maintain platform integrity. Some reviews may be removed for this reason. This encompasses reasons 2-7.
If you believe a review contains defamatory material:
Get in touch with our team for further information.
Note that just because you receive a negative review, it does not mean that the review is defamatory. Statements that are true or reflect an honest opinion, including those found in negative reviews, are not usually enough to support a claim of defamation. You should carefully consider the facts before you make a claim and seek legal advice if necessary, as a false claim may expose you to liability.
What if the client wants to edit or remove their review?
What if the client wants to edit or remove their review?
If the person who has submitted a review (good or bad) wishes to have it removed or edited, they can use the review confirmation email to go in and edit/remove their review.
Alternatively, the reviewer can ask to connect with a team member; this request must be sent from the same email address that the original review request was sent from. Make sure to include the address of the listing, the agent they are reviewing and their requested changes. Our support team can be contacted by the chat icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Reviews cannot be edited once an agent has replied to the review
How can an agent Edit his/her reply to a Review?
How can an agent Edit his/her reply to a Review?
To edit a reply to a review, go to "Reviews" section, select "Completed then click on "Edit Reply" next to the relevant review.
Please note: Once you've replied to a review, the original review cannot be edited by the client. This means that editing your reply will not unlock the review for further client edits.
Best Practices for Avoiding Review Removal
To avoid your reviews being flagged or removed:
Always use valid, permanent email addresses.
Submit reviews via distinct networks unrelated to the agent's agency.
Follow RateMyAgent's verification guidelines for submitting reviews.
If your review has been flagged and removed, what can be done?
If your review has been flagged and removed, what can be done?
Once a review has been removed due to integrity reasons listed above, the review cannot be reinstated. A new review will need to be requested, or the review can be Imported, when doing either of these, a different email address will need to be used. An email address cannot be used again for the same property if a review has been flagged and removed.
How Can Grammatical Errors in Client Reviews Be Corrected While Maintaining Authenticity?
Client reviews are an essential part of building trust and credibility. However, there may be instances where grammatical errors in a review need to be corrected. This article explains the policies and steps involved in editing client reviews while ensuring their authenticity.
Overview of Review Editing Policies
At Renowned, the authenticity of client reviews is a top priority. To maintain this authenticity, only the original author of a review has the authority to make edits, including grammatical corrections. This policy ensures that the review reflects the genuine thoughts and experiences of the client.
Importance of Review Authenticity
Editing a review without the original author’s permission could compromise its authenticity and credibility. For this reason, any changes to a review, including minor grammatical corrections, require explicit approval from the original author. This approach safeguards the integrity of the review process and ensures that all feedback remains genuine.
Steps to Request Edits
If you identify grammatical errors in a client review and wish to have them corrected, follow these steps:
Contact the Original Reviewer: Reach out to the client who authored the review and inform them of the grammatical errors.
Obtain Explicit Approval: Secure the client’s explicit approval to make the necessary edits. This approval should be documented, such as through an email or written communication.
Submit the Request: Once you have the client’s approval, submit the request for edits to Renowned, including proof of the client’s consent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Renowned edit reviews on behalf of the client?
No, Renowned cannot edit the wording or grammar of a review without the original author’s permission. Only the review’s author has the authority to make edits.
What constitutes explicit approval from the client?
Explicit approval means documented consent from the client, such as an email or written confirmation, authorizing the requested edits.
Why is it important to maintain the authenticity of reviews?
Authenticity ensures that reviews are a true reflection of the client’s experiences and opinions, which is crucial for building trust and credibility.
Related Topics
How to Request a Client Review
Guidelines for Writing Effective Client Reviews
Managing Negative Reviews Effectively