There are a variety of review portals where customers can share their experiences with products, services, and companies. Typically, criteria such as quality, customer service, delivery times, and price-performance ratio are evaluated. These portals are generally designed to assist buyers in making their purchasing decisions. However, companies often find themselves at a disadvantage, especially when faced with negative reviews.

Leveling the Playing Field

We want to level the playing field. For small businesses or sole proprietorships, unreliable customers can cause unnecessary frustration and financial losses. Therefore, we aim to enable companies to provide feedback on customer behavior, reliability, or interactions. They can rate their customers based on criteria such as punctuality at appointments, politeness, payment ethics, or return behavior. The focus is on warning or informing other businesses so they can take precautions in a specific area, such as requiring deposits or advance payments.

Registration and Creating an Entry

To create an entry, you must first register. The following information is required:

• Name of the company
• Business email address

After registration, you will receive an email to confirm your account.

Limits Due to Data Protection Laws

Unfortunately, data protection laws impose clear limits on us. Therefore, the following rules apply:

• General Description Instead of Personal Data: No specific personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, or other identifiable details of the customer may be mentioned. Instead, the case should be described abstractly and generally, focusing only on behavior or the situation.
• Focus on the Problem: Concentrate on a factual description of the issue, e.g., non-payment of an invoice, without directly attacking or insulting the customer.
• No Geographic Hints: Avoid mentioning specific locations or regions that could identify the customer.
• No Temporal Details: Exact dates like “in July 2024” should be avoided. Instead, say, for example, “a few months ago.”
• No Hints About Industry Specifics: If the customer could be identified by an unusual request or specific project, these details should be omitted (e.g., “a renovation” instead of “a special kitchen remodel”).
• Neutral and Professional Tone: The tone should remain factual to maintain credibility and minimize legal risks such as defamation.

Example of an Entry

An entry could be described as follows:

“A few months ago, I carried out renovation work for a customer, which was completed on time and in accordance with the agreements. The service was accepted by the customer, but despite multiple reminders and notices, the outstanding invoice amounting to [amount] euros was not paid. This is a case where, despite clear contractual agreements and well-documented work, no payment was made.”

Public Visibility and Data Protection

• Only the area where a customer review was made is publicly visible.
• The location marker is intentionally placed randomly to prevent precise localization.
• If the customer’s consent is given, contact can be made with the respective company to discuss details in person.
• Only general information is publicly available, which does not allow for identification of specific individuals.