How to Remove Duplicate Google Listings You Don’t Own

When potential customers search for your business online, you want them to find one authoritative source of information. You want them to see your correct hours, your best photos, and your glowing reviews. What you definitely don’t want is for them to stumble upon a ghostly duplicate listing, an old, inaccurate, or completely unclaimed profile that confuses them and dilutes your online presence.   

Duplicate listings on Google are more than just an annoyance; they are a direct threat to your local search ranking. They split your reviews, confuse Google’s algorithm about which location is “real,” and can even lead to your legitimate profile being suspended. The worst part? Sometimes these duplicates aren’t even created by you. They might be auto-generated by Google, created by well-meaning customers, or leftovers from a previous business at your address.

This blog will walk you through exactly how to identify these rogue profiles and, more importantly, how to remove duplicate Google listings you don’t own. We will cover the specific steps required to clean up your digital footprint so your customers find the right door every time. 

Key Takeaways

• They split reviews, weaken ranking signals, and confuse Google’s algorithm about which business profile is legitimate.
• Unclaimed listings can often be removed through “Suggest an edit” or merged after verification, while claimed duplicates may require requesting access or filing a redressal complaint.
• Regular audits, maintaining NAP consistency, and starting with a free SEO audit help protect your Google Business Profile and keep your business ranking strongly on Google Maps.

Why Duplicate Listings Are Dangerous for Local SEO

Before we dive into the removal process, it is important to understand why this matters. Google’s local search algorithm craves consistency. It looks for “NAP” consistency, Name, Address, and Phone number.

Maintaining NAP consistency for local SEO is one of the strongest signals you can send to Google that your business information is trustworthy. When duplicates exist, those signals get divided, and Google becomes less confident about which listing should rank.

Splitting Your Reviews

Imagine you have 50 five-star reviews. If you have a duplicate listing, 10 of those might end up on the wrong profile. Instead of one powerful profile with 50 reviews, you have two weaker ones. Since review quantity and quality are major ranking factors, this hurts your visibility.

Confusing the Algorithm

Google wants to serve the most relevant result to the user. If it sees two identical businesses at the same address, it loses confidence in the data. Is one closed? Is it a scam?

In fact, duplicate listings are also one of the common issues tied to Google Business Profile suspensions, since conflicting information can trigger Google’s system to flag a profile as unreliable. Keeping your listing clean and accurate helps reduce the risk of unexpected problems.

Often, Google will play it safe and rank neither of them highly, pushing your competitors above you.

Customer Frustration

Nothing loses a sale faster than a customer driving to an old location or calling a disconnected number found on a duplicate listing. Bad data leads to bad experiences, and bad experiences lead to lost revenue.

Duplicate profiles are also a frequent reason behind businesses not showing on Google Maps, since Google may struggle to determine which location is legitimate. Removing duplicates improves both visibility and customer trust.

Step 1: Hunting Down the Duplicates

You can’t fix what you don’t know exists. The first step is a thorough audit of Google Maps to find these phantom listings.

Do a General Search

Start by searching for your business name on Google Maps. Don’t just look at the first result. Scroll down. Sometimes duplicates appear lower in the list or don’t have a profile photo, making them easy to miss.

Search by Address

Sometimes the name on the duplicate is slightly different. Maybe your business is “Joe’s Pizza Shop,” but the duplicate is listed as “Joe’s Pizza” or just “Pizza Shop.” Search your specific street address (e.g., “123 Main St”) and see every business pin that exists at that location.

Search by Phone Number

Input your business phone number into the search bar. This is often the smoking gun that reveals old listings you forgot about or auto-generated profiles that scraped your number from a directory.

Step 2: Determine Ownership Status

Once you find a duplicate, click on it. You need to see if it is “claimed” or “unclaimed.”

Look for the link that says, “Own this business?” or “Claim this business.”

• If you see that link: The listing is unverified. This is good news. It is generally easier to remove or merge an unverified listing.
• If you don’t see that link: Someone has verified this listing. This makes things trickier. It could be a former employee, an old marketing agency, or even a hijacker.

Step 3: How to Remove an Unclaimed Duplicate

If the listing is unverified, you have two primary methods to get rid of it: suggesting an edit or claiming and merging it.

Method A: Suggest an Edit (The Quick Way)

This is the standard way to report duplicates to Google as a user:

1. Open Google Maps and find the duplicate listing.
2. Click on “Suggest an edit.”
3. Select “Close or remove.”
4. Choose “Duplicate of another place.”
5. Select your legitimate verified business profile.
6. Submit your request.

Google will review this edit. If their data confirms your suggestion, the duplicate will usually be merged into your main listing. Reviews from the duplicate might even transfer over, which is a huge bonus.

Method B: Claim and Merge (The Thorough Way)

If “Suggest an edit” doesn’t work, you might need to take control of the listing first:

1. Click “Own this business?” on the duplicate listing.
2. Follow the verification steps.
3. Once verified, log in to your Google Business Profile dashboard.
4. Select the duplicate location.
5. Use removal tools or contact Google Support to request a merge.

This is often the best option when you want to preserve reviews and clean up your listing history.

Step 4: How to Remove a Claimed Duplicate You Don’t Own

This is the most difficult scenario. If someone else has verified the duplicate, “Suggest an edit” might be rejected.

Request Ownership

1. Go to the duplicate listing on Google Maps.
2. Use Google’s Business Profile tool to locate it.
3. Google will show the listing is managed by another email.
4. Click “Request Access.”
5. Select Ownership as the access level.

The current owner has 3–7 days to respond. If they ignore it, Google may eventually allow you to claim it.

Report as Spam (The Red Button Option)

If you cannot get ownership and the listing is clearly fake:

• Submit a complaint through the Google Business Profile Redressal Complaint Form
• Upload evidence such as storefront photos
• Explain clearly that this duplicate listing is harming your legitimate business

Step 5: Monitoring and Maintenance

Once you have submitted your edits or merge requests, don’t walk away. Google Maps changes constantly.

• Check your email for updates
• Re-check the map after a few days
• Watch for review transfers after a merge

We recommend checking for duplicates once every quarter, especially after moving or rebranding.

Final Thoughts

Duplicate Google listings can quietly damage your visibility by splitting reviews, confusing Google’s algorithm, and sending customers to outdated or incorrect information. Removing or merging these profiles helps restore NAP consistency for local SEO, reduces the risk of issues that often lead to Google Business Profile suspensions, and improves the chances of your business showing up properly when customers search on Maps. Keeping one accurate listing ensures your reputation stays strong and your local rankings remain protected.

At The Ocean Marketing, we specialize in Google Maps SEO strategies that go beyond cleanup, helping businesses eliminate duplicates, fix ranking barriers, and resolve issues such as why a company may not appear on Google Maps in the first place. If you want to take the next step toward dominating local search, start with a free SEO audit to uncover hidden listing issues and opportunities for growth. For expert assistance with your listings and a complete local visibility strategy, contact us today, and let’s get your business on the map, the right way.