Merchants Angry Over Getting Yanked by Yelp

Four years ago, Geri Rebstock started using Yelp, a popular site for consumers to review local businesses and services. She critiqued her favorite veterinarian, a neighborhood print shop and an acupuncturist who took care of her bad wrist.

But Rebstock’s reviews and personal account vanished from the site recently after Yelp accused Rebstock, who owns a small interior decorating business called Geraldine Rebstock Interior Design, of trading glowing reviews with other business owners.

“It’s Orwellian,” Rebstock said. “I had reviews of my business from several years back and they kind of erased my identity.”

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