Trip Advisor- Blocked my account after 8 years

LK17

I have been registered with Trip Advisor for over 8 years and have written over 90 reviews. Suddenly I find they have blocked my account and there is no way I can contact them to find out why and what I have done wrong, as all contact from my computer to TripAdvisor has been blocked. I always ensure I do not use any offensive language and have written truthful reviews including some bad ones. It does seem a poor way to treat someone who has written so many reviews over a long period. To add insult to injury I have received 2 E mails from Trip advisor since, one congratulating me on the number of people that have read my reviews and the number of thanks I have received, and another inviting me to write further reviews. Has anyone else had the same issue and they have blocked me account/computer. who makes the high handed decision to block the accounts and is there any appeal.

vanilla8

Sometimes servers block IP because they think it's a DoS attack.

Have you tried from a different internet connection?

Pollycat

This is a similar thread, I'm not sure how the OP resolved it - or even if he did:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4889003

TBH, if TA are still emailing you, it sounds like your account has been disabled by mistake or your access has been denied by something different to TA.

Michael131

I do find quite appalling that someone who has written over 90 reviews has their account blocked without an explanation. It would appear their IP address has also been blocked so any communication with Trip Advisor becomes impossible. If Trip Advisor continue to send E mail about their site then surely they could E mail you giving an explanation and perhaps a "Yellow Card" warning any further similar reviews would mean your account will be blocked. It must be a negative review someone has objected to and nobody will complain about a good review. Trip Advisor is meant to offer a balanced review of places with a mixture of the good and bad. Who makes the decision to block accounts is one person or a committee

PompeyPete

Pollycat wrote: »

This is a similar thread, I'm not sure how the OP resolved it - or even if he did:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4889003

TBH, if TA are still emailing you, it sounds like your account has been disabled by mistake or your access has been denied by something different to TA.

Lol, as you've posted the link Pollycat, I'll bring matters up-to-date.

As I've had my TA account disabled more than once, I knew there'd be little chance to plead my innocence again. So I tried to put TA behind me.

What's happened? I still get e-mails from TA telling me how many people have thanked me for my reviews, and asking me to complete surveys for TA.

So a couple of weeks ago I sent TA an e-mail using this e-mail address: support@tripadvisor.com Here's the text...

"Dear TA

I had my account disabled at the beginning of February.
It wasn't the first time I've fallen foul of TA Guidelines.
I'm not going to make excuses for myself, other than to say that over recent years I've posted regularly on several TA destination forums, always giving first-hand detailed information, which I know has been appreciated by lots of people.
But unfortunately I always came unstuck on the Tunisia Forums with a couple of other members in particular.

Since I had my account disabled I've spent 5 weeks non-trekking in Nepal, staying in 7 (seven) different hotels/guesthouses, visited numerous attractions, and travelled many miles on public transport, both on and off the beaten track. I've also just spent 2 weeks touring round the Bodrum Peninsula and Aegean Coastline of Turkey.

What do I want? I really want to share my experiences on TA, and post lots of honest and detailed reviews. I still receive e-mails from TA reminding me about my reviews, how many people have read them and found them helpful, and how many more I need to get awarded more badges.

What do I promise? I know I've promised it before, but I promise to completely avoid all the Tunisia Forums and not get involved in arguments with people who, for whatever ever reason, don't share my enthusiasm.

Thanks and Kind Regards"


I haven't had a reply. I did create an account using my daughter's PC and her e-mail address. I don't make any posting on my PC, and just use my tablet/wifi. I hate using the tablet, consequently I've only made a few postings (not on the Tunisia forum though!).

Pollycat

Thanks, Pete.

I hope you didn't mind me posting the link to your thread.

I find it appalling that TA can disable accounts yet still email people.

That's a great letter of yours to TA, pity they haven't replied.

Their loss, I guess. Or more accurately a loss to other posters who would benefit from your experiences & reviews

PompeyPete

Pollycat wrote: »

I hope you didn't mind me posting the link to your thread.

No problem.:)
I've been posting on the Fodor's Forum since I got binned by TA. It's a bit classier than TA. Good fun, with one or two interesting characters.

Martin85

I know a friend who had his account blocked by Trip Advisor because he posted something about a restaurant which was a poor but factual review. It was not the only bad review about this particular restaurant.No explanation given and when he wrote to Trip Advisor they did not like it and deleted all the reviews he had every written. who makes these ridiculous and petty decisions

mgdavid

It's TripAdvisor's site - it's their ball, they decide who plays. Simple.

littlereddevil

Disgraceful if you ask me

AnneMarie4687

So who makes the decision to block an account one person or a committee, and is there no right of appeal. Is seems if you try and appeal Trip Advisor delete all your reviews. Presumably if a hotel or restaurant does not like what you write then they can object and the reviewer's account is blocked. Not everything is always perfect. Maybe trip advisor is not reviewer friendly. I agrees on e yellow card then a red is a fair way to go forward then at least you would know for what you are being penalised .What is anybody else's opinion!!!