I am posting on behalf of my friend local guide user “Pankaj Batra” as his Local guide account (level 9) has been deactivated.
User profile link
User: pankajbatra
Contrib page: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/100698250042007542270
Error: “You’ve been banned from Local Guides because you violated the Local Guide program rules. Learn more.”
He already submitted appeal but no action has been taken.
His message below:
"I never had intention to put any duplicate photo or submit any fake, falsified, misleading, or inappropriate reviews, edits or removals. It’s painful to see your account get suspended, and it is even more painful to have it suspended without any reasons. Should google notify us before suspending our account? Or, should google send us an alert notification if when it finds something fishy? Can google upgrade its AI and keep us out of trouble. We are volunteering to make our community more aware and knowledgeable. We save our time from the busy schedule to serve community, and now I have to waste days just to get my account back.
I hope to get my account and badges back. Top of that I want you to find answers to these questions so that no one in future (who are contributing their time and efforts - for free) has to suffer and waste their valuable time on recovering their account."
2 Likes
Hi @DivyaBatra
For sure the mentioned account is suspended.
And as you already know Google does not give notification or warnings. I’m beginning to think that hidden contributions could be just exactly such a warning = a precursor to getting suspended.
Suspended local guides can find help in my tutorial called How to Get In and Out of Trouble as a Local Guide.
Remember:
- It might not be possible to get unsuspended
- It can be a lot of work cleaning up whatever mistakes were made
- You may need to use an incognito window/tab to view the posts in my tutorial.
I noticed he is a 360 photographer. Could it be that he has been selling such services from his Local Guides account? That could be a plausible reason for suspension.
Otherwise the photos look amazing = of high quality.
From submitting the appeals form until you hear back can take up to 10 says. Normally, I would not recommend using the appeals form until after you have cleaned up all potential issues/violations.
Best of luck
Morten
Thanks @MortenCopenhagen for the prompt response.
There are no hidden contribution on his account. Screenshots shared by him and public view below.
Yes, I confirmed from him he has contributed a lot of 360 photographs and listed in trusted list by google.
But he never took any paid assignments for same. He is just a hobby 360 photographer with a basic gear.
He has never posted irrelevant photos or reviews. In fact he answered so many QnA for the places he visited.
1 Like
@DivyaBatra
All his reviews (129) are hidden.
You must be doing something wrong when you made the public count.
Being on the trusted list is an indication that you can be hired. So I would not rule out that this could be part of why he got suspended.
Also, sharing a tiny planet shot is not ok according to the guidelines.
I’m afraid he need to go through the tough process of studying the guidelines carefully and with an open mind identify potential violations in all his contributions.
Cheers
Morten
Thanks @MortenCopenhagen
Ya, I had only checked his total count in screenshot, not the actual reviews section. Yes, they all are hidden if I go to the reviews section.
I would ask him to check his reviews and remove if he finds something against in the policy. And appeal again.
Thanks @MortenCopenhagen , his local guide account is restored with level 9, but localguideconnect.com account still shows “You’ve been banned from Local Guides because you violated the Local Guide program rules.”
His reviews are still hidden though 
1 Like
@DivyaBatra
It can take a few days for both systems to get in sync. Keep in mind you need to sign up for the Local Guides Program again.
Cheers
Morten
