The Google Maps map platform belongs to the category of apps that users can normally rely on and that for the most part find quite valid data. As is well known, exceptions confirm the rule. We have reported several times on the blog about the problems caused by Google Maps, but there are always new chapters: A Briton struggled with a Google Maps error for no less than three years.
Many individuals and companies rely on Google Maps, this is well known. And because the platform is actually very reliable, the information there is practically not questioned. This has often led to problems and in the last few years a Briton had to have such an experience: At the beginning of 2018, the location of his apartment on Google Maps suddenly changed – by a whole 2.5 kilometers.
Meeting in the empty field The
fact that such an address error can also be very annoying for private users was shown by the fact that the Briton suddenly had problems with food orders, taxi services, craftsmen and other companies who wanted to visit him. All of these did not drive to his apartment, but to an empty field where apparently (photo in the Guardian article ) nobody lives. Not infrequently, the Briton drove directly to this place and picked up the waiting company employees there.
And because Google Maps is usually very trustworthy, the companies themselves ignored the customer’s advice and stubbornly drove to the empty field. So it didn’t help – the error on Google Maps had to be corrected. It’s good that Google Maps offers some options for correcting or reporting incorrect data.
No possibility of correcting the error.
However, the annoyed user fell on deaf ears with Google Maps – for three years. The feedback function on Google Maps was used several times, the wrong location was reported, the correct location was transmitted, he tried the Google Maps support forums and even the local guides couldn’t help. The check would have been easy since the address could hardly be in the aforementioned empty field.
At some point, he gave up and probably prepared to live with this problem or to move. Only then do you notice how big Google’s information monopoly is in some areas, which can lead to major problems for users in the event of difficulties?
Now that the Briton has turned to the media, the problem was resolved within just 24 hours at the request of the newspaper on Google Maps. It’s always a matter of will. It is questionable, however, whether this fix will last. It is not uncommon for incorrect data to be corrected and then reappear after a few weeks or months.