Frequently Asked Questions

TrustSchool is a comprehensive review platform that helps consumers find trustworthy businesses and allows businesses to build their reputation through authentic customer reviews. We use advanced algorithms to ensure review authenticity and provide Trust Scores to help users make informed decisions.

Creating an account is simple and free. Click 'Sign Up' on our homepage, enter your email address and create a password, or sign up using your Google or Facebook account. You'll receive a confirmation email to verify your account.

Yes, TrustSchool is free for consumers to search for businesses, read reviews, and write their own reviews. Businesses can claim their profiles for free, with optional premium plans available for advanced features like analytics and review widgets.

Trust Scores are calculated using a proprietary algorithm that considers multiple factors including review quality, customer engagement, consistency over time, and business verification. Scores range from 0-10, with higher scores indicating greater trustworthiness.

A helpful review is based on genuine experience, includes specific details, mentions both positive and negative aspects, and provides context that would help other consumers make informed decisions. Be honest, fair, and constructive in your feedback.

Yes, you can edit or delete your own reviews at any time. Simply go to your profile, find the review you want to modify, and use the edit or delete options. Note that deleted reviews cannot be recovered.

Click the 'Report' button on any review that violates our community guidelines. Select the appropriate reason and provide additional details. Our moderation team reviews all reports within 24-48 hours.

Use our search bar to find businesses by name, category, or location. You can also filter results by rating, distance, and other criteria. Advanced search options allow you to narrow down results to find exactly what you're looking for.

Search for your business on TrustSchool, click 'Claim this business,' and follow the verification process. You'll need to prove you're the business owner through phone verification, documentation, or other methods. Once verified, you'll have full control over your profile.

After claiming your business, you can respond to reviews directly from your dashboard. Professional, timely responses show customers you value their feedback and can improve your Trust Score. Always be respectful and constructive in your responses.

Premium plans offer advanced analytics, review widgets for your website, API access, priority support, and enhanced profile features. Growth plans include unlimited reviews and competitor insights, while Professional and Enterprise plans offer custom solutions.

Review widgets allow you to display your TrustSchool reviews and ratings on your own website. Simply choose a widget style, customize the appearance, and copy the generated code to your website. Widgets update automatically with new reviews.

We use advanced AI algorithms, manual review processes, IP address verification, and pattern detection to identify and filter fake reviews. Our system analyzes review content, timing, and user behavior patterns to maintain authenticity.

Reviews must be based on genuine experiences, be honest and fair, not contain offensive language, not include personal information about others, and comply with our community guidelines. Businesses cannot review themselves or competitors.

Star ratings are the average of all individual ratings for a business. Each review can be rated from 1-5 stars, and the overall rating is displayed to one decimal place. We also show the distribution of ratings to provide more context.

No, businesses cannot remove legitimate negative reviews. Reviews can only be removed if they violate our community guidelines (e.g., are fake, offensive, or contain personal information). This ensures the integrity of our review system.

Click 'Forgot Password' on the login page, enter your email address, and follow the instructions in the reset email. You'll receive a secure link to create a new password. For security reasons, reset links expire after 24 hours.

Go to your account settings, find the 'Delete Account' option, and follow the confirmation process. Note that deleting your account will remove your profile and reviews, though some content may be retained for legal or operational purposes.

Yes, we use industry-standard encryption, secure servers, and strict access controls to protect your personal information. Our privacy policy explains exactly what information we collect and how we use it.

Yes, you can update your profile information including email address and display name from your account settings. Some changes may require email verification for security purposes.