Google Places Phone Support (Yes, that pig has wings…)

Mike Blumenthal revealed on his blog yesterday that Google have started offering phone support for Google Places pin issues.

I hope you were sitting down when you read that!

Don’t get too excited yet…

Here’s what Mike said over on his blog:

To initiate a call in go to the Google Places for Business I’m having a problem verifiying my listing(s) troubleshooter and select the option “I tried PIN verification for a single listing” and indicate that you asked for a postcard and have waited the requisite 15 days. At the bottom of the form you will a link to “Please either call us or complete the following form:”

When you select the call us option you are taken to a call back form. I tested it to see if it was actually working and within 10 seconds of filling it out Google rang me up, an automated attendant asked me to press one for support and Darrel answered. He said when I asked: “This line is primarily to provide support for verification issues”. I would suggest that this quote should be filed along with Neil Armstrong’s “One small step” quote if not for its eloquence at least for its significance.

The phone support is for pin verification issues only and is not available here in the UK.  It took a while to see anything other than:

Then this afternoon I got:

The Places verification phone support is only available in the US.

But, it’s a start!

Google Places (or I should call it Google+ Local) is an absolute nightmare at the moment.  Google are notorious for their lack of support in this area.

This is a step in the right direction and I hope they continue improving.

In the meantime, US businesses make the most of it!