What TripAdvisor will remove
Reviews TripAdvisor's content guidelines qualify for removal
- Fake reviews: Reviews believed to be written by someone who did not visit or experience the business (a competitor, the business itself, or someone paid to write a review)
- Incentivised reviews: Reviews written in exchange for a discount, free item, or payment
- Personal attacks: Content targeting individual staff members by name with personal insults rather than reviewing the business experience
- Inappropriate content: Profanity, discriminatory language, or sexually explicit content
- Wrong business: A review clearly describing a different business (wrong location, different name)
- Private information: Reviews containing personal details such as phone numbers, email addresses, or home addresses of staff
- Extortion or threats: Reviews written as leverage for a refund or other demand ("remove this review if you give me a refund")
- Promotional content: Reviews that appear to be marketing for the business or a competitor
How to report a review through the Management Centre
Access your Management Centre
Log in to the TripAdvisor Management Centre at tripadvisor.co.uk/owners. If you have not claimed your listing, claim it first — the reporting process requires owner access.
Find the review and click "Report a problem"
Navigate to the review in question within the Management Centre. Click the flag icon or "Report a problem" link next to the review.
Select the violation category
Choose the most accurate description of why you believe the review violates TripAdvisor's guidelines. Selecting the correct category is important — vague reports are less likely to be acted upon.
Provide supporting evidence
If you have evidence — for example, reservation records showing the reviewer never visited, screenshots of a threat or extortion attempt, or evidence the review was written by a competitor — include it here. Reports with specific evidence are significantly more likely to result in removal.
Submit and wait for TripAdvisor's response
TripAdvisor typically responds within 3–24–72 hours. You will receive notification of their decision through the Management Centre. If they decline, the reason will be stated.
When TripAdvisor declines to remove the review
If TripAdvisor declines your report, your options are:
- Write a professional public response — A measured, factual reply that acknowledges the concern and invites direct contact. Other readers evaluate your response as much as the original review
- Build more positive reviews — A 1-star review among 200 4- and 5-star reviews has minimal impact. Focus on building review volume with satisfied guests
- Submit new evidence — If you obtain new evidence after the initial decline (for example, confirmation that a reviewer did not visit), you can resubmit with that evidence
- Legal route — Where a review is demonstrably defamatory and TripAdvisor has not removed it, legal advice may be appropriate. This is a last resort and involves significant cost
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove a TripAdvisor review I think is unfair?
No. TripAdvisor does not remove reviews because a business believes they are unfair or inaccurate. Only reviews that violate TripAdvisor's content guidelines qualify for removal. A negative but genuine opinion about your business — even one you believe is exaggerated — stays on the platform.
How long does TripAdvisor take to respond to a report?
Typically 3–24–72 hours for standard cases. Complex cases (fraud investigations, legal matters) may take longer. You will be notified through the Management Centre when a decision is made.
A reviewer threatened to leave a bad review unless I gave a refund. What can I do?
Review extortion is a violation of TripAdvisor's content guidelines. Document all communications — screenshots of messages, emails, or any record of the threat. Report the review through the Management Centre and select "Extortion or blackmail" as the violation type. Include your evidence. This is one of the clearer-cut cases where TripAdvisor typically acts.
Understand your review landscape
Focusing on removal is often less effective than understanding what your reviews are saying — and making the changes that lead to better reviews. A $99 ReviewsBlender report identifies the patterns across all your TripAdvisor and Google reviews and tells you what to improve.
Order intelligence report — $99 Monitor from $59/moRelated guides
Remove Google Review · Remove Booking.com Review · Negative Review Templates
Document the issue and follow the current platform route
Keep a source reference, the review text and relevant evidence. Identify the specific policy ground rather than simply stating that the account is unfair. A platform determines whether its own rules justify removal.
Current interface labels and response times can change. Use the official guidance linked below and the available account support/reporting route. No removal outcome or fixed processing deadline is guaranteed.
A record not matching a customer name is not conclusive proof of inauthenticity. Genuine experiences can include interactions that do not result in a completed purchase or stay. Keep any public response factual and avoid publishing private records.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed by ReviewsBlender on 1 November 2026. External policies and product terms can change; consult the linked official source for the current requirements.