SMALL Irish businesses have complained of being targeted by a UK marketing company claiming to represent Google and requesting payment in exchange for premium online advertising.

Google UK & Ireland has confirmed its legal team is investigating the matter.

Matchmaker Marketing – the company at the centre of the claims – has reacted angrily to the suggestion, insisting it has not put itself forward as a representative of the search engine.

The alleged approaches have been slammed by the online Whatswhat.ie network, which claims some 65,000 registered companies have contacted it expressing their concerns.

It is claimed Matchmaker sales staff were offering businesses the opportunity to jump to the top of Google search results in exchange for payment.

A statement from Google said: "We're extremely concerned to learn of companies without affiliation to Google using our name to mislead or mistreat small businesses who want to advertise online."

Matchmaker refuted any claims of improper business practice and said: "We wish to confirm that we are not part of the Google organisation, nor do we claim to be so."