At SolarAssure UK, we’ve made a deliberate decision not to rely on traditional online reviews. That may sound unusual in a world where ratings and testimonials dominate consumer decisions — but there’s a good reason behind it. In fact, there are several. This article explains why we believe reviews are no longer the gold standard they once were, what we do instead, and how our approach puts homeowners and service quality first.
The Problem with Reviews
Let’s start with the obvious question: why not just use reviews like everyone else?
Because, quite simply, reviews are broken.
Reviews were once intended to help people make better decisions based on others’ experiences. But over time, they’ve become a game. Here’s how:
1. Bias and Inaccuracy Are Built In
Most people only leave reviews in extreme cases — when they’re either very happy or very unhappy. That means reviews often reflect emotion, not reality. And crucially, many customers who have a poor but not terrible experience never say anything at all. It’s just not worth the bother.
Others, meanwhile, hesitate to leave honest criticism for fear of damaging a small business unfairly — even when the criticism is valid.
2. They’re Easy to Fake or Game
The internet is full of fake reviews. It’s easy to buy positive ones and even easier for disgruntled competitors or unreasonable customers to leave negative ones. This isn’t just speculation — *a 2021 report by Which? found that over 15% of online reviews may be fake or incentivised.*¹
That means the trust you place in a five-star average could be badly misplaced.
3. Review Quantity ≠ Service Quality
Companies with hundreds of glowing reviews often just have more marketing power. They know how to chase feedback and incentivise it. Does that mean they’re better at the job? Not necessarily. And that’s a real problem.
As one of our founders put it:
“I once hired a highly-rated plumber from a well-known review site. He had hundreds of five-star reviews, but the work was sloppy. And I didn’t leave a bad review — not because I wasn’t disappointed, but because I didn’t want to be spiteful. That’s when I realised the whole system was flawed.”
So, What Do We Do Instead?
We believe that real quality assurance doesn’t come from five stars or smiling emojis — it comes from listening.
We Call It: Quality Assurance Feedback
Instead of chasing public reviews, we gather direct, private feedback from homeowners after their solar panel cleaning is complete. These Quality Assurance Feedback Forms are requested via email by SolarAssure UK — not by the cleaner — so homeowners are more likely to be honest and unfiltered.
They’re quick, easy, and confidential.
- ✅ Anonymous for homeowners (optional)
- ✅ Used for service improvement, not PR
- ✅ Shared with cleaners for development
- ✅ Reviewed by us to ensure standards
This system allows us to spot patterns, intervene early if there’s an issue, and reward consistently excellent service behind the scenes.
A System That Actually Listens
Too many companies ask for feedback and then ignore it. At SolarAssure UK, we know how frustrating that is — because we’ve been in your shoes. We’ve dealt with companies that placate instead of listening. That avoid responsibility. That protect profits before customers.
We built SolarAssure UK to do things differently.
When a homeowner shares feedback — especially negative or critical feedback — we take it seriously. If a complaint aligns with a breach of our Code of Conduct, we will investigate. In cases of genuine misconduct, we will remove that cleaner from our certified network.
No hiding behind membership fees. No silent warnings with no consequences. Our integrity matters — because your trust does.
Why This Is Better for Cleaners, Too
You might expect that cleaners wouldn’t like this system. But in reality, most of our members prefer it — because it’s fair.
- It helps improve their business with real customer insights.
- It removes the fear of fake or unfair reviews.
- It creates a feedback loop that rewards quality work.
This isn’t just a benefit for homeowners. It’s a model where everyone gets better — cleaner, customer, and us.
A Better Way to Build Trust
Here’s the bottom line:
- We don’t use reviews because they don’t reflect truth.
- We use structured, human feedback instead — and we act on it.
- We believe that honest service is more powerful than a rating.
At SolarAssure UK, we’re not here to game Google or chase five stars. We’re here to build a trustworthy, certified network of solar panel cleaners who take pride in their work — and to hold them to account if they don’t.
If you want someone reliable, accountable, and backed by a system that actually listens — you’re in the right place.
Footnotes & Sources:
- Which? (2021). “Fake reviews: how they work and how to spot them”. Link
