What makes a review truly verified: the four tiers explained

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'Verified' is the most overloaded word in the reviews industry. On some platforms it means an email was confirmed; on others it means a receipt was checked against a merchant record; on a few it means a full KYC identity match. For consumers, businesses and regulators the difference is enormous. This guide breaks down the four tiers ScoreReview uses, the evidence each requires, and how to read verification labels on any platform — not just ours.

Tier 1 — Email/account verified

The lowest bar. It proves the reviewer controls an email inbox. It does not prove they bought anything, visited anywhere, or that they are the person named on the profile. Treat Tier 1 as a spam filter, not a trust signal.

Tier 2 — Invitation verified

The reviewer received a unique, single-use link from the business after a real event — a booking, a visit, a purchase. The token binds the review to a specific transaction ID. This eliminates drive-by fakes because a stranger cannot generate a valid token.

Tier 3 — Transaction verified

The platform independently confirms the transaction against a merchant record: an order ID, an invoice number, a booking reference. The reviewer must supply matching evidence before the review publishes.

Order or booking reference required at submission
Cross-checked against the merchant's own system
Evidence retained in an immutable audit log
Public label shows the verified date and channel

Tier 4 — Identity verified

The reviewer completes an ID check (passport, driving licence or bank-grade eIDV) tied to a real transaction. Reserved for high-risk sectors — clinics, legal services, financial advice — where anonymous reviews create genuine harm.

How to read a verification badge in 5 seconds

Click it. A real verification badge opens a panel showing: the tier, the date of verification, the channel that carried it, and (for Tier 3+) a hashed transaction reference you can quote if you dispute the review. A badge that opens nothing is decoration, not verification.

Why tiers matter more than star counts

A 4.9 average built from Tier 1 reviews is weaker evidence than a 4.2 average built from Tier 3 reviews. Regulators, insurers and Google's own review guidelines increasingly weight provenance over volume. Filter by verification tier before you compare businesses.

What ScoreReview commits to

Every review on ScoreReview shows its tier, its date, and the evidence hash on a public trust ledger. If we cannot prove provenance, we do not publish the review — even if it is positive.

FAQ

Is a Tier 1 review worthless?

No, but it is weak. Weight it lightly against Tier 2+ reviews on the same business, and always read the full text rather than trusting the star.

Can I request my review be upgraded to a higher tier?

Yes. Add a valid order reference in your account and the review is re-evaluated automatically within 24 hours.

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Discussion (2)

Priya S.· 2 days ago
Really practical breakdown — the four-part reply structure is now on our till-side crib sheet. Thank you.
Dan (Cannock Plumbing)· 5 days ago
Went from 12 reviews to 47 in three months following almost exactly this playbook. It works.