It was a routine search for reviews, but something was missing. The freelance platform PeoplePerHour, a go-to site for thousands of UK freelancers, had vanished from Trustpilot. No star ratings, no customer feedback, just a stark message:
“This profile can’t be accessed. This profile is considered a bad fit for Trustpilot, so you can no longer review it.”
For a platform built on transparency, the disappearance of a high-profile website raises uncomfortable questions: why are some companies barred from the world’s largest review site, and what does it mean for the consumers who rely on them?
“Trustpilot’s enforcement underscores the fragility of online trust. The absence of a business can signal misconduct—or simply a mismatch with platform guidelines.”
Freelance Marketplace Out of Sight
Attempts to access PeoplePerHour’s Trustpilot page reveal only this removal notice. Trustpilot does not provide detailed explanations for individual removals, but its policies are clear: profiles can be removed if businesses fail to meet guidelines on ethical practices, review manipulation, or regulatory compliance.
A Pattern of Suspensions
The need for companies to manage reviews is incredibly important and keeping a healthy review count and score adds value and increase revenue.
Big Motoring World – banned after offering financial incentives for positive reviews. The company faced potential fines up to £300,000. (AM Online)
EyeglassesDepot – nearly half of its positive reviews removed after being found fake (Wikipedia)
Chinese e-commerce sites – multiple sites removed for coordinated fake reviews (Reddit)
Trustpilot Review Removal
Trustpilot’s actions highlight a tension in online review ecosystems: protecting consumers from misleading feedback while potentially obscuring information. Profiles may be removed for review manipulation, legal concerns, or unethical business practices. Yet the lack of transparency around specific removals leaves consumers uncertain about what the absence of a profile truly signifies.
Quick Facts: Notable Trustpilot Removals
| Company | Reason for Removal | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PeoplePerHour | Profile considered “bad fit” by Trustpilot; no details | Trustpilot |
| Big Motoring World | Offered financial incentives for positive reviews; page suspended | AM Online |
| EyeglassesDepot | Nearly half of positive reviews found to be fake; removed | Wikipedia |
| Network of Chinese e-commerce sites | Coordinated fake reviews across multiple sites; removed |
What This Means for Consumers
For those navigating online marketplaces, the disappearance of companies from Trustpilot is a cautionary note. While these businesses continue to operate and may have reviews elsewhere, their absence signals the need for wider research and vigilance.
“Consumers increasingly rely on these systems to make informed choices—but the responsibility remains to seek multiple sources of verification and approach online reviews critically.”
Trustpilot’s enforcement of its guidelines demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the integrity of online reviews. Yet the removal of high-profile businesses from the platform highlights the limits of digital review systems and the enduring need for critical consumer engagement. Whilst it seems some large culprits are taken down, there must be thousands of illicit reviews or organising trying to play the system. The question remains How Trustworthy are online reviews?
Media M 
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