Verification Tiers Explained: CLAIMED, VERIFIED, and PREMIUM

When a consumer visits a business profile on RatingHub, one of the first things they see is the verification badge. These badges are not purchased — they are earned. Today we're explaining exactly what each tier means, how it's assessed, and how businesses can progress through them.

Why Verification Tiers Matter

The internet is full of review platforms where businesses can pay for better placement or enhanced badges. RatingHub is fundamentally different. Our verification tiers are based on objective criteria: business registration, operational history, review track record, and platform engagement.

A consumer seeing a PREMIUM badge on RatingHub knows that the business has been independently verified, maintained a strong reputation over time, and demonstrated genuine commitment to its customers. That's a meaningful signal — one that advertising cannot replicate.

Tier 1: CLAIMED

The CLAIMED tier is the starting point for all business owners on RatingHub. To achieve CLAIMED status:

The business owner must verify their identity and demonstrate authority over the business listing ABN verification through the Australian Business Register is required A valid business email on the company's registered domain is needed

CLAIMED businesses display a grey shield badge indicating that the ownership of this profile has been independently confirmed. Consumers can trust that responses from a CLAIMED business genuinely come from that business.

Cost: Free

Tier 2: VERIFIED

VERIFIED is our core verification tier, indicating a higher standard of credibility:

Must hold CLAIMED status Profile completeness score of 70% or higher ABN confirmed and active on the Australian Business Register Minimum 90-day history on RatingHub No active scam alerts or unresolved consumer complaints At least 5 published reviews from confirmed users

VERIFIED businesses display a green shield badge. When a claim is approved with a confirmed ABN, RatingHub automatically upgrades the business to VERIFIED status.

VERIFIED businesses also appear higher in browse results when other factors are equal, reflecting our belief that verified businesses deserve greater trust signal visibility.

Cost: Free

Tier 3: PREMIUM

PREMIUM is RatingHub's highest verification tier, reserved for businesses that consistently demonstrate excellence:

Must hold VERIFIED status DNA Score of 80 or above (maintained over at least 60 days) Response rate above 75% (responding to at least 3 in 4 reviews) Active community engagement (responses to community questions, complete FAQ section) Minimum 20 published reviews No significant complaints in the past 90 days

PREMIUM businesses display a gold badge and receive additional platform features including:

Priority placement in browse results Access to the RatingHub Newsroom (publish official updates to followers) Advanced analytics including competitor benchmarking and category positioning reports Eligibility for the weekly "Top Rated" email digest sent to our subscriber base

Application for PREMIUM status: hello@theratinghub.com

The Integrity of Our Tiers

We regularly audit businesses across all tiers. Tier status can be downgraded if:

ABN registration lapses The business receives a verified scam alert Response rates fall significantly below benchmarks Consumer complaints indicate a material decline in service quality

Our verification system is designed to be a living reflection of a business's current standing, not a permanent prize to be won and forgotten.