Getting a negative review on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to remove it if it violates guidelines or if the reviewer agrees to remove it. Follow these straightforward steps to manage and delete a BBB review.
Can You Delete a BBB Review?
Yes, but only under specific conditions:
- The review breaks BBB rules: If it contains false, offensive, or irrelevant information.
- The reviewer agrees to remove it: They can log in and delete their review.
BBB generally doesn’t remove reviews just because they’re negative.
Steps to Remove a BBB Review
1. Check the Review for Violations
Reviews may be eligible for removal if they:
- Contain offensive language, hate speech, or personal attacks.
- Include false information or lack a marketplace relationship with your business.
- Violate BBB’s guidelines (e.g., anonymous reviews or buyer’s remorse).
2. Flag the Review
If you believe the review violates BBB guidelines:
- Log In: Access your BBB account.
- Locate the Review: Find the problematic review on your profile.
- Report the Review: Use the “Flag as Inappropriate” option to highlight specific guideline violations.
Provide detailed reasons why the review should be removed, referencing BBB’s Complaint Acceptance Guidelines if applicable.
3. Contact the Reviewer
If the review doesn’t break rules, try reaching out to the reviewer:
- Acknowledge their concerns: Apologize and address their issues.
- Resolve the issue: Offer refunds, discounts, or fixes.
- Request removal: Ask them politely to delete or update the review.
Reviewers must log in to BBB and use the same email they used to post the review.
4. Work Through BBB’s Dispute Resolution
If the review is part of a complaint:
- Respond Promptly: BBB asks businesses to reply within 14 days. Cooperation, even for non-accredited businesses, demonstrates good faith.
- Propose a Resolution: Address the customer’s concerns professionally. Mediation or arbitration may be available in unresolved cases.
Deleting a BBB review is possible if you follow the proper steps. Whether by reporting violations or resolving issues with reviewers, taking quick action can minimize the impact of negative feedback. For persistent issues, consider professional services to maintain your business’s reputation.
When BBB’s standard process leaves a review in place despite a clear violation, Erase.com’s review removal team handles formal escalation across BBB and the other major review platforms under a pay-after-success model.
