Guidelines for Reviewers

What Makes a Good Review

A good review on GuardOpinion is specific, honest, and grounded in real experience. It describes what you actually bought or used, what happened, and how the company responded. It focuses on facts rather than emotions alone, and it gives other consumers the context they need to make an informed decision. You don't need to write an essay — a few precise sentences carry far more weight than vague praise or anger.

The Golden Rules

These rules apply to every review on the platform:

• Only review companies you have genuinely used
• Be honest — don't exaggerate positives or negatives
• Be specific: describe what happened, not just how you felt
• Never review your own company or a direct competitor
• Never write a review in exchange for payment, discounts, or gifts
• Respect privacy: don't include personal details about employees
• No hate speech, personal attacks, or discriminatory language

What Happens If You Break the Rules

Reviews that violate these guidelines will be removed. In straightforward cases this happens automatically; in complex cases, our moderation team reviews the content manually. If your review is removed, we will do our best to let you know why and give you the opportunity to appeal. Accounts that repeatedly violate the guidelines may be suspended or permanently banned. In serious cases — such as coordinated fake review campaigns — we may refer the activity to relevant authorities.

How to Report a Suspicious Review

If you believe a review is fake, incentivised, or otherwise violates these guidelines, use the flag icon on the review to report it. Our Trust & Safety team investigates every report and acts on confirmed violations within five business days. We take the integrity of this platform seriously — your reports make it better for everyone.

Questions?

If you have questions about these guidelines, contact our Trust & Safety team at [email protected].