Updated review verification system
Over the past few weeks we’ve been making improvements to the way that we check the authenticity of customer reviews. With over 10,000 new reviews being submitted every month, it’s very important that users can trust this content on FreeIndex.
It’s almost impossible to prove whether a review is 100% genuine, however FreeIndex has always been ahead of the game in detecting non-genuine reviews and flagging a warning to users.
Our new improved review verification technology now looks at many factors to determine whether a review is likely to be genuine or not. Whilst we are aware that occasionally it may be possible that a genuine review may get flagged wrongly, we believe that 99.5% of the time our systems get it right.
We have made the decision that companies which have a number of reviews flagged as suspect, will not benefit from those reviews. E.g.
- Reviews we determine as suspect will not count towards a business’s listing position.
If you have a couple of reviews which are flagged as suspect, don’t panic. We are giving every company a little grace to account for reviews that may have been incorrectly flagged.
What we suggest is that you make sure that you get your customers to write honest reviews about your business on their own computers. Please do not try and submit a review on your customer’s behalf!
Please understand that we can’t be specific about why we may have flagged any particular review as ’suspect’, as that would allow people to get around our system.
We hope that this change will benefit all users of FreeIndex.
For more information, read our updated review help here.
Best wishes,
The FreeIndex Team
Posted : 17 Apr 2012
comment 258 Comments
info Comments on this article are now closed.
Would it be possible for your team to send me a review link to go onto my web site please
to- email:tony@harlequincreative.com
this is too go on my website www.harlequincreative.com thanks Tony
to- email:tony@harlequincreative.com
this is too go on my website www.harlequincreative.com thanks Tony
Great News, however will a review be counted if I sent the link from my computer to them, to complete?
I was told that last night a review was posted, but so far I have not seen it, could that be the reason?
Looking forward to your response.
I was told that last night a review was posted, but so far I have not seen it, could that be the reason?
Looking forward to your response.
great news
It is good that you are able to flagged reviews, for some sites the hoteliers seem to be able to make reviews them selves.
One of my clients has posted a review this week twice , and it has still not appeared . Can you check this out.
I have asked my customers after completing there job to fill out a review, im sure that not all are being shown on my free index page
Hi,
When i first started using your site i had a few customers leave reviews on my laptop. As i usually carry this around with me from job to job i though it would of been easier as i could direct them through your website. I then found out a few month later that you had flagged them up as suspicious !!
After receiving this email from you and giving me the chance to contact someone it would be a great help if you could reverse flagging as this really doesnt look great on our page.
Hope you can help
Regards
Richard Keeling
When i first started using your site i had a few customers leave reviews on my laptop. As i usually carry this around with me from job to job i though it would of been easier as i could direct them through your website. I then found out a few month later that you had flagged them up as suspicious !!
After receiving this email from you and giving me the chance to contact someone it would be a great help if you could reverse flagging as this really doesnt look great on our page.
Hope you can help
Regards
Richard Keeling
I have a review done by a customer who has since left the business. He intended to give me a favourable review but has scored it incorrectly. Could you please adjust it for me? Thanks Malcolm Furnell Transport
Our customers are unable to leave reviews due to complications with your site. Disappointing really.
25 Jul 2012
Stilllife WellbeingI have a beauty therapy business and a few of my customers used my computer to post a review. They wanted me to show them how to use free index. Their positive comments were flagged and made my services look suspicious when in fact they were not.
The majority of our reviews are written when pupils come back from test or attend the office for further training, or licence upgrades, it seems to be the best time to pin them down.
Since we've started emailing pupils and asking for them to go to freeindex if they wouldn't mind placing a few words down and we've had hardly any reviews at all. This seems a ridiculous way of flagging reviews, based on the fact that they write them whilst in our office. We always ask them to register with their own email address, that we have no way of knowing their personal log in details for their emails, so we do not see the problem this.
In the last 12 months we have sent over 150 requests via email or text to pupils to make there way to freeindex to leave a review and hardly any have bothered, which is quite frustrating. Can you advise how we can get around this.
Since we've started emailing pupils and asking for them to go to freeindex if they wouldn't mind placing a few words down and we've had hardly any reviews at all. This seems a ridiculous way of flagging reviews, based on the fact that they write them whilst in our office. We always ask them to register with their own email address, that we have no way of knowing their personal log in details for their emails, so we do not see the problem this.
In the last 12 months we have sent over 150 requests via email or text to pupils to make there way to freeindex to leave a review and hardly any have bothered, which is quite frustrating. Can you advise how we can get around this.
I have worked very hard to get positive reviews but the system has picked up one of he reviews as unverifiedwhich reflects negatively upon my business
Sounds fair to me. Thanks for the great directory.
16 Jul 2012
Kayleigh RipleyGood to know. I would hate for incorrect reviews to be posted on here...our customers trust them x
good advice thanks x
Good advice. It's a good opportunity to sour out any incorrect information and get it resolved. After all we go to a lot of work to maintain our credibility and referrals are a major part of the effort.
very happy ,great sevice
Hi
could it be possible for your team to send my review link
to go onto my web site please
to- email:tom@webworksinternet.com
this is too go on my website www.dun-n-dusted-n-e.co.uk
thanks alot team
John Simpson
could it be possible for your team to send my review link
to go onto my web site please
to- email:tom@webworksinternet.com
this is too go on my website www.dun-n-dusted-n-e.co.uk
thanks alot team
John Simpson
Great idea. It would be good if the companies had a chance to respond to reviews exspecially if they are negative and one sided or even wrong ,incorrect, unfactual and dafamatory.
Crystal Couture
http://www.iwantcrystalcouture.com
Crystal Couture
http://www.iwantcrystalcouture.com
More great ideas from the Freeindex team.
Mr Viral Marketer
http://www.mrviralmarketer.co.uk
Mr Viral Marketer
http://www.mrviralmarketer.co.uk
It is very difficult for me to detect who these people are that have wrote bad reviews about our Agency.
This review system has basically demolished my business & i am not happy about it. How can i get these reviews off because they are untrue & all lies.
This review system has basically demolished my business & i am not happy about it. How can i get these reviews off because they are untrue & all lies.
Cheers for all the updates
Not correct if you are simply going by the same ip address and then flaging the review.. My students sometimes use my iphone or ipad or even my office computer to write reviews. I've been flagged and it makes the company look dishonest to others who view it. If it cant be removed, i'll simply go elsewhere for my business.
thank you - I believe reviews are paramount to success and only want honest and real reviews to appear so I appreciate your vigilance
Very good to see you are keeping up with web site. Good for businesses
many thanks, good news for good companies
well done
keeping a close eye on the web sight is welcomed and very good customer support
thanks for the up date. Great
Well Done guys
Excellent as always
That sounds pretty good to me
I think any type of improvement is good , we always have to keep looking for ideas on how to improve.
I would like some ideas from people on how to improve my use of free index if possible, e-mail andrew@simplymortgagesonline.com or call me on 0775 44 04 083.
Thanks for you help, Andrew
I would like some ideas from people on how to improve my use of free index if possible, e-mail andrew@simplymortgagesonline.com or call me on 0775 44 04 083.
Thanks for you help, Andrew
SOunds like good improvements
agree with Barry Watt
an excellent system as always
I have a problem with reviews since most of my customers require to register. If this is changed then it would help a lot.
A lot of my customers don't end up leaving reviews simply because they have to register. If this can be changed, most of my customers would leave reviews.
Thanks
Thanks
Most of my customers will not leave reviews if they have to register. They are happy to leave a review with a name only.
this is a great move, my only reservation is that i have a lot of repeat customers who leave reviews after each event and i fear they may be posted as 'suspect' if they use the same ip address.
reviews are always a good source to learn and improve.
Thanks.
Thanks.
If your review system was a NAME box, an optional COMPANY box, a COMMENT box and an EMAIL address box, I am sure there would be many reviews for all your users. As it stands, the system of having to register with FreeIndex before leaving a review means none of my customers would be inclined to bother.
hi i am not a swimming instructor, so concerned if somehow my settings have been altered.?! I am photographer! Bev Perkins www.portraitsathome.net 0115 9231537 if you need to talk to me. many thanks and regards Bev
great idea to keep it genuine and I completly agree it should be, however I have 2 reviews from a long time ago showing as suspect and they were a boyfriend and girlfriend pair who I taught who both passed 1st time and were happy to review me. I didnt realise that they did them at the same address and you picked it up as showing they were on the same IP address. If this can be rectified it be appreciated. It is Matthew Ongley and rachael Mailer who did the reviews.
we also have found that to receive a review our clients have to join or log in to free index and they don't want to. all they want to do is leave a review.
I understand that they would have to leave their email address to be able to verify the review to its truthfulness etc but why o why does free index make it so hard to actually carry out the review when we have taken the time to speak to our clients about it and our clients have taken time out of their very busy lives.
I understand that they would have to leave their email address to be able to verify the review to its truthfulness etc but why o why does free index make it so hard to actually carry out the review when we have taken the time to speak to our clients about it and our clients have taken time out of their very busy lives.
We get a fair amount of work through the review system at FreeIndex, so we are more than happy.
Does it get flagged if you have two clents that buy from you who happen to both work from NHS? i.e same domains on their emails...this is a big problem for us if so. As most of our clinets work in big organisations.
We have no reviews so why have I received this email?
Also, why when I click through to our listing do a whole load of train and plane icons appear insead of our listing? If this is not resolved soon we will have to close our account as it does not represent our professional image.
Also, why when I click through to our listing do a whole load of train and plane icons appear insead of our listing? If this is not resolved soon we will have to close our account as it does not represent our professional image.
We have had a few enquiries so very pleased with the service. However we agree with Scallywag Folk Dance regards the reluctance of some to leave a review because of the amount of info asked for before leaving a review putting folk off. Apparently one of our customers has tried to leave a review but did not wat to open an account to do so. Is this what they have to do? If so this may make getting reviewed a problem.
We have had some very good reviews by email but when I ask if they have posted a review on freeindex they say no because they say it asks to many questions about their email address, etc. I don't know because I have never posted a review.
We are using a scheme called Buy With Confidence run by our county council - when we leave a card people ALWAYS fill it in and return it - we cannot MAKE people sit at their computers and fill in a form online at FI - annoying but true and they prob will not do both so we only ask them to do one of these
Have received no business as of yet through this medium so am not affected as of yet by adverse comments
we had ask the candiaties to write comments if they were satisfied unfortuantley they used a wifi
Our Business is quite new to The Free Index and we have not encouraged many of our customers to leave feedback although I know that if we did we would have many more than the 7 we already have. Of course it's a scientific fact that those guilty of putting their own reviews on are the one's most likely to leave comments on forums. read on>
Thank you very much for your concerned
15 May 2012
Steven Nearydoesn't work. I have companies that have more reviews than me and half of them are flagged. So good idea but failing to live up to expectations.
I think the review flagging is brilliant as it gives our customers the reassurance that our reviews are all genuine. Mulberrydays celebrants.
Great idea well done
I think this is a very important matter, and I strongly agree fo the the sake of any future comments
Happy Days
14 May 2012
John Donovangood idea
you should get good reviews from hard work
not making them up
you should get good reviews from hard work
not making them up
Excellent idea, good for genuine companies looking to improve their services.
I am at www.rosebudweddings.co.uk
We at onlinebikebits.com are happy with FreeIndex
Free Index is a good system and I would like to ensure it stays so. I therefore agree that some form of checking is required. One thing - it is difficult for new/newly registered companies to show well - can we get a newly registered flag indicating that the company hasn't had long to build up feedback?
Perhaps if a negative comment is given the ability to leave feedback or a comment yourself would be useful. We have found that negative feedback is not necessarily always from disgruntled customers but sometimes from rival companies/competition misusing the review system.
Thanks
Thanks
This is a great idea. It is so easy for a honest company to think they are not as good as they believe, simply because other businesses seem to have so many reviews, and who really knows how they got them. Perhaps a confirmation of the person reviewing a business may be in order. I personally have had so many letters of thanks and recommendations, yet getting a review on a site seems to be difficult without having to ask clients to review sites. Any ideas on this
hi i think this is a good idea , if comments are geniune then businesses will not mind clarifying .
Good
This is sound practice. As we have our own in house Q/A system we do not actively encourage our clients to submit reviews as we tend to publish the results and comments on our website www.thequalitytiliong.co.uk I have always been suspicious of some of the comments on the site. Well done to the administrators
Richard Edwards - South Wales
Richard Edwards - South Wales
Good stuff!
Reviews are important whereas dodgy one's are pointless.
Reviews are important whereas dodgy one's are pointless.
good
Hi Freeindex, i think this is great but i have a couple of reviews that have been flagged as the client came into my office the following day and used my PC in my office. Whats the process of removing these flags? You may even contact the clients to verify this.
Please advice, many thanks Marcus
Please advice, many thanks Marcus
excellent idea,let's keep the playing field level!
8 May 2012
Lwgems Regret They Are No Longer TradingI've read what other people have said about this system and, while I agree in principle, the danger is that genuine reviews are being flagged as suspect when they are not suspect at all. So far this hasn't affected our business but I can see that it could have a huge impact as our business grows. Like a lot of people we get many 'word-of-mouth' referrals, often by members of the same family, and how can we ask them to leave a positive feedback for us when it will probably get flagged: I have often said that a bad website is much worse than no website at all, because once a bad site is visited it is highly unlikely to be re-visited and I believe the same is true of reviews, surely a case of one bad apple spoiling the whole barrel. We will refrain from asking for reviews unless we're sure that there is no possibility of them being flagged. I think the people at Freeindex need to remember that not everyone has, or wants to have, access to a computer at home or work and, as I live in a village it is a sure bet that clients would end up using the same library pc and therefore get unfairly flagged. One way round it may be to ask the reviewer to state where and when the service was carried out, which makes it a little more transparent. We always put the location of our jobs on reviews which are on our actual website so if anyone wishes to check they can do so.
7 May 2012
G.r Autolocksmithcould you please change my web sit address to
www.grautolocksmith.co.uk
thank you for your service.
Gwyn
www.grautolocksmith.co.uk
thank you for your service.
Gwyn
I completely agree!!!
That's a good concept in assessing performance in business.
If the system is fair... Then... It must be good!
I ask my customers if the wish to review the service when they are in my office, on occasion they will review the service on the company public computer
Good idea stops doggy dealings
I often work for older people who don't have computers and have no intention of getting one. Whilst they are able to type and even use my laptop, their comments and recommendations would be treated with suspicion and wouldn't be considered by you which is unfair.
it's the only way to protect the companies that work hard to achieve honest reliable reviews, this should show the scammers for what they are fake. Also I think if people live together or use the same ip address then they can say this in the one review. I think this site is the best ever.
Great idea - I love this site always keeping things up to date!
yes i agree with your article.on my site you have flagged Colins and Boras reveiws ,they have used the same computer because they live together.
I totally agree too, these reviews are the backbone of my company now and i would not want anyone thinking i was blowing my own trumpet. Keep up the good work you guys, your support is fantastic
A great idea. Keep it up.
Good to see, I recently carried out some automotive A/C regassing for a group of customers at an office complex, I had to ask them to refrain from leaving feedback as it may be flagged as suspicious if their computers share the same IP address.
i think its a fantastic idea, as am sure there are rogue reviews posted by company's out there somewhere. keep up the good work freeindex.
Great news freeindex keep up the good work!
good to see free index keeping innovating and always looking to improve,
1 May 2012
Tom KinnairdExcellent progress, and very encouraging to see a proactive approach to this problem.
Good Idea. I have done some deliveries for the same family in the past and at different times. They left me some reviews but I found that I have been flagged because they use the same IP address!
I have customers who return for different services, so they will no tbe able to post another review. I also have clients based in the same household/company and thier reviews have been flagged. So not so great from this point of view!
Its nice to know that free index is continually updating an already excellent service ,which can only give genuine reviews more gravitas. Well Done!
It is very good I like free index!
Sounds good to me!
Love Free Index!
Yes that's fine by me.
I'm happy with that system, cheers Steve @heritage tiling
many thanks
Good New as per other users comments, we work really hard to get such good reviews as per the other genuine Free Index users
Good idea, but with only 5 summer concerts a year that we supply sound systems for, the highest rating i can get is 5 (hopefully good reviews a year!)where as a DJ has 52 weekends a year, might have to change my job!
well done, i look at other companies on my sector and have seen a 'sudden' drop in the number of reviews they were ahead by confirming my suspicions. well done the free index team, integrity is why i use your service
ok well done
All our reviews are from real people, if you want verification from them, let me know. A negative mark (which I have only just seen) is incorrect and could be detrimental. Please contact me to put this right. New World Energy has installed throughout the Country and has extremely satisfied customers, most of whom have given written thanks and recommendations!!
very good service as customers choose me to do work for them based on the genuine reviews on my freeindex page so I am glad you are keeping an eye on this section
best regards A.one.interior joinery
best regards A.one.interior joinery
i think that this is a great idea and will give every company the best opportunity
fantastic news - well done freeindex keep up the good work
I work really really hard for my reviews , and am annoyed when i see competitors fake reviews , I like it when I see the wee !! sign , unfortunately i got that ( now resolved ) when i wired a couples house , and then done the fathers too . The son used his dads computere when he was getting his fixed and it flagged up !!
Glad this is happening, should make FreeIndex a better place
really good this is customers see who are genuine.
The only disadvantage that I can see now that we are 3 years old is that returning customers will have their reviews flagged as suspect.
great idea, at least my customers will know there genuine.
This is good news, I like to provide potential clients with testimonials, and offer them the choice for them to pick a review at random, however I don't like requesting a previous client to recommend more than once,however some are only to pleased to do so,, so i must be doing somthing Right......
The improvements to the reviews system is excellent news!
It has taken us almost 4 years to gain our 22 genuine reviews.
It say's a lot about a company that will go to lengths to mislead the public with fake reviews & definitely not professional & trustworthy.
It has taken us almost 4 years to gain our 22 genuine reviews.
It say's a lot about a company that will go to lengths to mislead the public with fake reviews & definitely not professional & trustworthy.
This is good news. It makes it safe/genuine for all Clients.
I agree with Joe Handy, I have had my reviews flagged as I have clients in a managed services building and I have allowed to go and cut there hair in the offices there,( big building in central reading). All have the same IP Address and so when I asked them to review me on here one week they have all been flagged up!
Great idea - seen some sites where reviews are practically cut and paste some with even the same spelling errors in the same places..... Sadly as highlighted by one person here never let people use your mobile app or laptop to do a review. Ive lost so many because many of my customers are not computer literate or don't even own a computer of any nature. But that's life.. Better to be 100% transparent than have questions to answer
I completely agree as it is otherwise unfair to those of us who have real reviews . Thank you Free index for a great job !
Enhances the authenticity of this web site. We all work hard to provide a good service for our customers, and genuine reviews are always greatly appreciated.
i too had a custom used my laptop to post a review, she lives on next road from me and had no computer or internet access, that was flagged, i've learnt my lesson now,90% of my clients are local, but i do not let them use my laptops anymore, yes it means losing reviews believe reviews should be verified, but the must be a better way of doing it as i for one am losing lot of reviews, but like a lot of people on here who have had the same problem, should freeindex not provide a fairer way of reviewing?ip address is not the best way of doing this, big organisations having over 100 employees who all use the same ip address will cause a flag, even those that work from home but log in to the company's system to send a review will be flagged, if it hasn't happened to you yet, it will happen to you within a year if you work everyday, because a client friend who was recommended to you will end up using your first client computer an send you a review from your first client's place, even though you've tried everything to prevent it from your company's pc, now if this happens to everyone on freecycle, where will the credibility of freecycle and the credibility of the tradesmen and companies on here be?yes most of my work is word of mouth, but some is internet sourced, so let us all work together to find a better system that will work for all, because it could be you tomorrow
people who post there own reviews in my opinion shouldnt be trusted as this is dishonest and basically pulling the wool over potential customers eyes
I like it a lot & free index know why too you're amazing!!!!!
Fully agree with this, my only concern was that i allowed a few customers to use my company computer that did not regular access to a computer and these were highlighted as suspicious... lesson learned i guess.
That's good as i reported to you not to long ago re a listing that was advertising wanting reviews and was willing to pay some one on fiverr to post them for them.
So i would say lets keep it clean and genuine as we will all benefit in the long run and keep freeindex as a credible directory
Well done team
So i would say lets keep it clean and genuine as we will all benefit in the long run and keep freeindex as a credible directory
Well done team
Sounds good. I don't envy you writing this!
This is a very good idea
Eversley Training www.hygienetraining.co.uk
Eversley Training www.hygienetraining.co.uk
I agree totally with this improvement.Well done to the person who thought of the idea.
Brill!!
agreed
Totally agree. Just starting out and it helps when people put genuine comments up instead of fabricated ones!
Sounds very fair to me, Mick @ Penwortham Glass Ltd
I too agree on some of the comments.
I have two clients from the past who shared the same IP address which can been seen on my early reviews. My work also involves Companies with a large workforces, the workforce may use the same system internally, but have different email addresses which probably flags up the same IP address which doesnt help me on reviews. Also I have two uncompleted reviews due to time scale as they must have got bored waiting..
I have two clients from the past who shared the same IP address which can been seen on my early reviews. My work also involves Companies with a large workforces, the workforce may use the same system internally, but have different email addresses which probably flags up the same IP address which doesnt help me on reviews. Also I have two uncompleted reviews due to time scale as they must have got bored waiting..
I didn't realise that my reviews had been flagged it wasn't made clear and no messages were sent to me to say they had been flagged?
It wasn't made clear that a customer wasn't allowed to use our computers to write a review and no warning was flagged when attempting to do so?
Can I have the reviews removed so that I can get the customers to write them off their own computers?
It wasn't made clear that a customer wasn't allowed to use our computers to write a review and no warning was flagged when attempting to do so?
Can I have the reviews removed so that I can get the customers to write them off their own computers?
i made the mistake of allowing a customer to use my own computer to leave me feedback whilst in the office and it flagged that
i understand why just curious if she tries leaving me feedback from her own what will happen RE the first comment left as the emails will match if not the IP's
simply curious
many thanks
garry mitchell
i understand why just curious if she tries leaving me feedback from her own what will happen RE the first comment left as the emails will match if not the IP's
simply curious
many thanks
garry mitchell
While I appreciated FreeIndex is doing its best to stamp out fake reviews I've had a review flagged up due to the fact that I have done two driveway cleaning jobs for two different people who happen to work for the same company and have both submitted reviews from the same IP address! How do we get round this? Kind Regards
Jonathan Ward
Yorkshire Driveway Cleaning
Jonathan Ward
Yorkshire Driveway Cleaning
I like free index and have got a number of jobs from my advert on here i think this is a good system . I have put a review box on my website and I ask each customer if they wouldn't mind leaving a review on either here or google places. the only problem i find is, if it takes a customer more than a minute to review then they won't bother. so could you please make it as quick and easy as poss. many thanks
thats good because 3 of my closeset competitiors have reviews submitted fro the same ip address and are clearly fiddling it, thanks Freeindex for looking into this, serves them right for cheating
so if we get reviews done from our portable computers, it sounds like they wont count as we used these to set up the account in the first place.
Great idea. But I must admit in the past I have struggled where I work for a local Business Park. They have over 100 companies based there, but a few reviews that have been left for me have been flagged up as coming from the same ip address, even though the companies are totally independent.
How do we get around that one, as i also do work for the Nhs and local Colleges.
How do we get around that one, as i also do work for the Nhs and local Colleges.
This is a good idea however, i had two customers leave me reviews who both posted from work computers, they both work for a large organisation and now i have a warning against one of my reviews!
21 Apr 2012
Nicholas John DwyerMy general niggle with this otherwise excellent FREE website is why am I number two in a gardener's list with someone in Bishops Stortford? I work in Brighton.
A local listing is more useful to people looking for a gardener in their town.
Why am I concerned to be number one? I notice that business enquiries are more frequent.
So, if Freeindex read this... how about a localised listing, perhaps by county?
A local listing is more useful to people looking for a gardener in their town.
Why am I concerned to be number one? I notice that business enquiries are more frequent.
So, if Freeindex read this... how about a localised listing, perhaps by county?
Good news, always welcome positve step forward.. I find many people can be bothered to leave a review.. Please check my site on www.mgmetalpolishingtewks.co.uk
Reviews are important and should be checked on occasion by Freeindex? Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case? Bogus spiteful sick & evil competition needs to be weeded out from this directory and made an example of
Thank you for implementing a fair and verification system of revues.
excellent!
excellent!
great idea !
Very good idea, if you have to ask people to give you a 'review', then your obviously a business that isn't 100% in any way.
Sunds good to me. You have to keep the integrity of the reviews high. Open & honest!
Can`t complain about a honest review, regardless the way it goes!
Seems logical. Clients need to know they are searching for professionals.
Paul Daykin - 4 Risk Prevention
Paul Daykin - 4 Risk Prevention
IDEAL at least my customers and potential new ones are getting the true picture
sounds good
sounds good to us and vry fair
This sounds great.Many thanks. Sue Peppiatt
Very good idea. I've got 41 good reviews now and averaging of 4.9/5. I can't say I get any work through FreeIndex, but it definitely helps potential customers feel confident about booking when they read the reviews....
Thats ok ,But theres a few floores in your system were some people on this site are getting false reviews from there friends and colleges,Ive done all my jobs took pictures and got good feedback.A few of mine have been flagged up with one company Manning Staintons useing COMPUTRES AT THERE WORKPLACE so that has the same IP adress.And also son and mother useing same computer.Many thanks Ian foom Blays plumbing and heating ltd
Good idea. Any reputable company would only want genuine feedback listed anyway.
This will help to ensure all reviews are honestly come by.
This will help to ensure all reviews are honestly come by.
Great - no one wants to think that any review is not honest!
Thank you for the improvement in this area, genuine reviews are so important to us all..
tabithad's
tabithad's
great idea,i personally only want real reviews,if you need to do dodgy,you will not be trusted,or survive very long.whats the point !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a great service, and is proven to work well for both customers and companies providing the service.
We're a computer services and repair firm, and often our customers choose to write their reviews onsite using their own repaired laptops. But the obvious issue here, is the IP address they connect to, is the very same we use. As a result, some of our reviews have been marked as "suspect" due to them originating from the same address. Perhaps it would be an idea to add a rule to allow reviews to be added from the same IP address, but restrict the reviews via the computers MAC address?
The same applies for a business centre l provide IT services for. There are about 20 different companies listed within the business centre, all sharing the same Free Wi-Fi network provided by the management building. Again, the downside is the external pointing IP address they all share. Meaning all reviews from this entire centre are now being blocked - when in fact they are all separate, nothing in common other than their internet connection.
It’s a real shame, as it defeats the point of having a review system when over 50 completely independent reviewers are systematically blocked due to location.
Defiantly needs looking at some more, especially for the genuine reviews that are marked as fake - gives the impression your lying or a bogus company.
Peter Colson
www.pjctechnologies.com - IT Repair and services company in Romford.
We're a computer services and repair firm, and often our customers choose to write their reviews onsite using their own repaired laptops. But the obvious issue here, is the IP address they connect to, is the very same we use. As a result, some of our reviews have been marked as "suspect" due to them originating from the same address. Perhaps it would be an idea to add a rule to allow reviews to be added from the same IP address, but restrict the reviews via the computers MAC address?
The same applies for a business centre l provide IT services for. There are about 20 different companies listed within the business centre, all sharing the same Free Wi-Fi network provided by the management building. Again, the downside is the external pointing IP address they all share. Meaning all reviews from this entire centre are now being blocked - when in fact they are all separate, nothing in common other than their internet connection.
It’s a real shame, as it defeats the point of having a review system when over 50 completely independent reviewers are systematically blocked due to location.
Defiantly needs looking at some more, especially for the genuine reviews that are marked as fake - gives the impression your lying or a bogus company.
Peter Colson
www.pjctechnologies.com - IT Repair and services company in Romford.
www.princeandpierre.co.uk like the new review style hoping to encourage more traffic special prom dog tag free post engraving £4.94 on my blog
Hello there,
We love the review system and whole heartedly support the effort you make to ensure the reviews are genuine.
We have in the past let a student complete a review on one of our office computers as they had no PC, only to find this flagged as a possible incorrect review. We understand again and have, after that review, ensured this does not happen.
We have been a little bit disappointed more recently though, after we completed a course in Plymouth for a Company who's email address we sent the review link to and asked the Company contact to ask the students to review the course. Three of them did, using their company computer (Not linked to us in anyway)and all three were flagged as 'Dodgy' reviews.
There was no attempt to contact us or the Company in question who are more than happy to provide course certificates or invoices a number of other evidence to show these students attended, including the awarding body paperwork. The flags look like we are doing something wrong and have an adverse effect on us if members of the public believe they are fake.
As stated, we whole heartedly support the idea of regulating this system welcome the change.
We love the review system and whole heartedly support the effort you make to ensure the reviews are genuine.
We have in the past let a student complete a review on one of our office computers as they had no PC, only to find this flagged as a possible incorrect review. We understand again and have, after that review, ensured this does not happen.
We have been a little bit disappointed more recently though, after we completed a course in Plymouth for a Company who's email address we sent the review link to and asked the Company contact to ask the students to review the course. Three of them did, using their company computer (Not linked to us in anyway)and all three were flagged as 'Dodgy' reviews.
There was no attempt to contact us or the Company in question who are more than happy to provide course certificates or invoices a number of other evidence to show these students attended, including the awarding body paperwork. The flags look like we are doing something wrong and have an adverse effect on us if members of the public believe they are fake.
As stated, we whole heartedly support the idea of regulating this system welcome the change.
Free Index is a great web site fantastic 2 get genuine reviews also the public can spot when some1 leaves a dodgy review. Don’t mess about F/I if some1 is scamming the system DELETE them! I spent a fortune with Yell.Com had no enquires at all however Free Index get me 2 /4 a month Long Live F/I.
Thankfully like other posts great idea as some people ie competitors do try to tarnish your good name. However.....I would point out that as a hairdresser we do husbands and wives hair and sometimes they have the same computer and I noticed this flag up a while back...whilst I'm aware of the reason others may not be aware. We have however asked our clients to review us but on their own gadgets and gizmos for this reason.
Nice..
18 Apr 2012
Mr CorfieldYes i think this is a great idea and in my field as a mobile mechanic i have worked hard to get genuine reviews but some new competitors near to me are making up there own which is shown on there pages .
Thanks to all and great work
Thanks to all and great work
Great idea to stop false claims.....although my mother inlaw did me a review for some work i did at her house as im staying here while im doing major work at my own house and it got flagged.....so i had to remove it as it made me look dodgy. shame as it was a nice job.
18 Apr 2012
Your Spirit MattersPerhaps a review does not mean such a high value to listings
eg. once (say) 10 reviews received they have reached the maximum eligible for list prioritising - appearing at the top eg as '10+ reviews' removing the sense of 'better than' - still viewed on a profile, just not displaying numbers on search lists.
Regarding prioritisation too: can priority of listings be given to TOWN requested, not on key words. I am in York and appear 9th as a Psychic clairvoyant with only 1 York business appearing in the top 10 (others in broader Yorkshire). I appreciate we can all tavel and compete, but perhaps better weighting to town can be included eg intersperse top lists with ACTUAL people who fall within X miles radius of the requested city.
Thank you
Yvonne | Yorkshire Medium
eg. once (say) 10 reviews received they have reached the maximum eligible for list prioritising - appearing at the top eg as '10+ reviews' removing the sense of 'better than' - still viewed on a profile, just not displaying numbers on search lists.
Regarding prioritisation too: can priority of listings be given to TOWN requested, not on key words. I am in York and appear 9th as a Psychic clairvoyant with only 1 York business appearing in the top 10 (others in broader Yorkshire). I appreciate we can all tavel and compete, but perhaps better weighting to town can be included eg intersperse top lists with ACTUAL people who fall within X miles radius of the requested city.
Thank you
Yvonne | Yorkshire Medium
This is an idiotic idea a lot of legit reviews are deleted and flaged who are you to judge if it's legit or not.
18 Apr 2012
Duncan McCallumThis is a good idea as I only get genuine reviews - I would get more if I asked every customer I work for to submit one, but I'm so busy I forget most of the time , so I'm going to make a habit of getting my customers to submit them.
Excellent!
the freeindex site is very helpful and has started to bring business to my company and im very greatful to those that have reviewd my company and all of which are completly genuine thankyou freeindex
Although I am in favour of the "improved" system if it works, for our business we have lost at least 7 reviews from genuine long term customers. Customers who have taken the time to compliment our business for no apparent reason been eliminated insinuating that they are fraudulent. Please re instate these reviews and find a system that does work.
Couldn't agree more, brilliant idea.
fab Idea , I'm glad it's being done properly.
In principal its a good idea, however getting clients to make a review is difficult, I have had it said that to make a review they have to join freeindex and some people just cant be bothered with somethig they may not ever use. Just allow the client to review without a catch.
glad to hear that.
alot of reviews are not genuine in my opinion
alot of reviews are not genuine in my opinion
Hang on - whilst we fully support the honesty policy, we work with marketing and PR agencies who have 30 or 40 account managers working on different brands, but all from the same IP address in the same building. It's hard enough getting them to post a review, let alone find another IP address or do it from home in their own time... it just isn't going to happen! We've got 8 reviews which are flagged because our clients work from the same building - they're genuine reviews we've worked hard to get so to lose them would not be good. Come on FreeIndex - you need to talk to your customers, especially those paying for the premium account.
Yea thats great ! "BUT" I have 2 reviws writen from the same ip
but thats simply because i fix 2 computers at the same address at diferent times (mothers and then her son's)
so it will be sad to lose 2 good honest reviws ... :O(
but thats simply because i fix 2 computers at the same address at diferent times (mothers and then her son's)
so it will be sad to lose 2 good honest reviws ... :O(
Great idea, no problem with that as that's how it should be, although I missed out on a good review simply because a review verification box wasn't ticked and now that person is no longer online.
I think this is a brilliant idea, always happy to keep it honest
best regards Steve
best regards Steve
thank for the info I think that's a grate idea Steve
How does one prevent review assassination? I have already had it put to me by a local contact after a FSB get together that they intend to start positively reviewing the competition to taint their review scores. I have some triangles on my list but I think that is down to letting clients use either our wifi to leave a review for us or one of our computers. Not many people want a private investigation company showing up in their home browser. When we spoke to Freeindex last year we stopped doing this, since then reviews have declined because I think that the process is too clunky for most people today. I don't know what the answer is but I think this new move is a good one. I am just concerned about the death by false positive that the guy I met tonight was discussing, that is the biggest worry for me.
I dont have any issues with this screening process - I just wish those that I asked to write one actually did!
Sounds good to me, I don't have a problem with this
Hi Guy's,
All I can say is this... "It is good news and about time something was done re: false reviews being posted."
All I can say is this... "It is good news and about time something was done re: false reviews being posted."
17 Apr 2012
Mark BellI've lost enough legitimate reviews so as a premium member I sincerely hope you have got it right now.
I am chuffed with freeindex and I think the reviews are great I even have a bad review due to an Awkward customer but as I had a right to reply I just have to accept this and as my daughter said well if you had all good people would think there was something up
I agree with monty graham wish more people would use freeindex but with two pending reviews it must be made easyer for custemers to leave there feed back
reviews should be EASIER for customers to leave, the last thing a customer wants is to have to sign up for something, then click a verification email blah blah blah.....
i just wish more people would use free index
reviews should be able to be trusted so if free index wants to check and varify they are real ,people with proper reviews have nothing to worry about have they
Good idea! I saw a very poor quality photographer advertising on Facebook that they are the UK number one photographer listed on Free Index... I corrected them! I know the number 1 and he's way better than those pretenders - I'm sure they had made up a load of their reviews.
I haven't looked for a while but I just hope you've changed the rating system for the user leaving f/b. The highest rating should be No 1 (to appear) and the description of the levels ought to be removed - it's not helpful to have it suggested by you to the user. Customers know what 1 to 5 is, all you need to do is stipulate which is the highest rating and leave the rest to them.
Excellent! I fully support this policy. Reviews are very important to us, fake ones impact on us all by undermining the whole review process. I proudly display my reviews on my web site, they hold great value for me to help win new business.
Well done guys, I think only cheats would try to post reviews of themselves - they only fool themselves
Well done Free index, I would like to think that these new measures will be applied to companies who have already taken advantage of corrupt reviews to help climb the ratings ladder.
I'm all for this as prospective customers need to be confident that reviews posted on our sites are legitimate. Thank you!
very good keep up the good work
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