What is a vouch?

A vouch counts as one person. It tells other locals that someone like them really used this business. It is quick to give and it is not a review.

You vouch on the page of the business itself, not on this page. Every business we list has its own vouch page. The QR code on the card at the counter opens it.

1. Scan the code, or find the business

   Use the card at the counter. No card? Find the business in the directory.

2. Check your email

   We send you a link. This only shows that you can use that email address. It does not prove who you are, where you live or that you have been to the business.

3. Make the five promises and send

   Read them below. Then your vouch is recorded. Scanning the code alone counts for nothing.

You make all five together, every time. We do not assume them just because you checked your email.

• 1. AgeI am 16 or over.
• 2. I was thereI really visited, bought from or used this business myself, and it was recent.
• 3. No connectionI do not own, work for, promote or do business with this business, and I am not close family of its owner or living with them.
• 4. No rewardNobody paid me or promised me anything for this vouch. That means no money, discount, gift, free meal or prize.
• 5. HonestWhat I say is honest and not against the law.

Your vouch counts for 12 months. After that it runs out and shows as “Out of date”. If you still agree, you can vouch again. We do not renew it for you.

While your vouch counts, a second vouch for the same business adds nothing. A business with more than one shop counts as one business.

We check this on our side, so using another phone or another browser makes no difference.

A vouch is always at one of these steps. The words tell you whether it counts.

• Waiting · does not count yet
• Counts as one vouch
• On hold · does not count
• Turned down · does not count
• Taken back · does not count
• Out of date · you can vouch again

If we turn a vouch down and you appeal, it goes back to “waiting”. It is checked again from the start, and it never counts straight away. The first decision stays in place until the appeal is decided. To appeal, use the complaints page and say it is an appeal.

When you vouch you can also add one short tip, up to ten words. For example, “Ask for the table by the window.” A person reads every tip before it goes live.

• Waiting for a person to read it
• Live on the page
• Turned down
• Taken back by you

If we turn a tip down, we give a safe reason and you can appeal. You can take your tip back at any time. That removes the tip and leaves your vouch alone.

• Everyone who vouches must check their email and be 16 or over.
• Nobody is paid or rewarded for a vouch.
• A business cannot buy, pay for or remove a vouch.
• You cannot vouch for a business you own or work for.
• We look for patterns that look fake, and we remove vouches we do not believe are real.
• We keep a record of what we check and what we remove.

A business may ask all of its customers to vouch. It may not reward anyone, ask only the happy ones, or write a vouch for someone else.