Phone Verification Issues

11 replies
Hi All,

I am trying to understand the new changes in Google's phone verification policy.

I understood from this forum that many do not have the phone option anymore while others claim that they still do.

It is obvious that Google made some sort of change in the verification system January.

It has been claimed that you can verify only in specific areas by phone. Does anybody know what these cities are?

I have been trying to verify in Dallas and in MD for a couple of weeks now. But since I live outside the US I was wondering if using a proxy to change my IP to a local IP might help with the verifying.

Does anyone have ideas about this?
#issues #phone #verification
  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    Try it and let us know?
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  • Profile picture of the author loganquinn
    My advice:

    Go to: 800 Numbers l Toll Free Numbers l Virtual PBX l Virtual Phone System - RingCentral

    Get a virtual number for your area.

    Have it divert to your cell phone.

    Google will call and leave a message on your phone with the pin.

    It might be a good idea to use a US proxy as you suggested when you go to verify the listing.

    -Logan
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    www.loganquinn.com (Ignore The Hype)
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    • Profile picture of the author TE2
      Originally Posted by loganquinn View Post

      My advice:

      Go to: 800 Numbers l Toll Free Numbers l Virtual PBX l Virtual Phone System - RingCentral

      Get a virtual number for your area.

      Have it divert to your cell phone.

      Google will call and leave a message on your phone with the pin.

      It might be a good idea to use a US proxy as you suggested when you go to verify the listing.

      -Logan
      Google frowns on this and it will have a negative effect on the listing.

      John
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      • Profile picture of the author loganquinn
        Originally Posted by TE2 View Post

        Google frowns on this and it will have a negative effect on the listing.
        John, I did not know that. I know of several people who have used virtual numbers to verify their listings and their sites are still ranked at Number 1.

        I had heard there have been some recent changes to phone verification though.

        I personally don't bother with this strategy. Google make it very clear that if you're not a business you don't belong on Google Places. There may be ways around it for now but Google will eventually figure out all the "non businesses" on there and remove them. It's just a matter of time.
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        www.loganquinn.com (Ignore The Hype)
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        • Profile picture of the author TE2
          Originally Posted by digidoodles View Post

          I don't know if it will have a negative effect on the listing, however, if later you decide you want to change the phone number on the GP listing, it will require a postcard verification and you are back to square one.

          Bite the bullet and PC verify.

          Warmly,

          Brandi
          Yes, it has a negative effect. And, yes again. If you change the address or phone number, you will be relegated to waiting for a postcard. Ask me how I know.

          Originally Posted by loganquinn View Post

          John, I did not know that. I know of several people who have used virtual numbers to verify their listings and their sites are still ranked at Number 1.

          I had heard there have been some recent changes to phone verification though.

          I personally don't bother with this strategy. Google make it very clear that if you're not a business you don't belong on Google Places. There may be ways around it for now but Google will eventually figure out all the "non businesses" on there and remove them. It's just a matter of time.
          Hey Logan,

          Yes a site can still rank #1 in google but it looses points in Big G's world. Once a competitor scores more points, then that #1 ranking goes away and stays away as long as those negative remain or something happens to those sites that now outrank it.

          As you stated, best to play by Big G's rules.

          Thanks for not having a negative reaction to my previous reply. I wasn't sure if it would be taken positively. Sometimes I can be a little too direct. :p

          Regards,

          John
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      • Profile picture of the author Jgregory
        Originally Posted by TE2 View Post

        Google frowns on this and it will have a negative effect on the listing.

        John
        I'm not disagreeing with you, but wonder if you can explaing how does one determine if a 10 digit phone number is a virtual number... or a "real" landline phone number for a local telecom?

        Another thing I wonder... a tech guy told me that all cell phone numbers are actually virtual too... since they do not relay on the PSTN from the phone companies except to call into a landline number. They can verify a cell phone number is a cell phone number from a database, but would that also cause a negative effect do you think? If so, that means the only way to be true blue for Google would be a landline.

        And its not that important if the stories are true... I've not heard of anyone successfully doing phone verifications for some time now. Seems like the post card option is it for most.
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    Why bother with trying to 'trick' Google into letting you phone verify the account?

    Why not just go with the postcard verification?
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  • Profile picture of the author digidoodles
    I don't know if it will have a negative effect on the listing, however, if later you decide you want to change the phone number on the GP listing, it will require a postcard verification and you are back to square one.

    Bite the bullet and PC verify.

    Warmly,

    Brandi
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    My niche is feeding my family... What's yours?
    http://www.DoOrDieMarketing.com
    Watch Us as We Do It Or D.IE... Are you Along For The Ride
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  • Profile picture of the author Glowrry
    I also facing the same issue please you get any solution of this problem so tell me........
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  • Profile picture of the author mathewsteves
    The Google, only a valid PIN code every time, so if you request a second card and then take the first post in the first PIN will be invalid. The same applies to phone requests PIN; Whichever method you tried more recently is the PIN code you should use.
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    • Profile picture of the author markalaustin
      Many mobile customers face issues of mobile phone protection. Concerns with regards to protection of mobile mobile phone devices could be of divergent types. One of issues is the issues that are inner to the mobile phone devices while others are related to safety of the device from the thieves and thieves.
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