Playbooks

Review a business, by industry

Every industry has a regulator that takes complaints alongside the review sites, and a specific set of documents that decides whether you win. Pick yours.

• Auto repair shopRepair disputes turn on paperwork: the estimate you approved, the work actually performed, and the invoice you were handed.
• ContractorA contractor complaint that counts starts with the signed contract, every change order, and the state license number. This is the playbook for what to keep and where to post.
• Moving CompanyA moving complaint that counts starts with the estimate, the bill of lading, and the federal registration. This is the playbook for what to keep and where to post.
• Landlord / property managerA landlord complaint that counts starts with the lease, the written notice, and the deposit deadline. This is the playbook for what to keep and where to post.
• DentistA dentist complaint that counts starts with the treatment plan, the itemized bill, and the records request. This is the playbook for what to keep and where to post. Keep the clinical-vs-billing split: clinical care goes to the dental board, billing goes to the review sites and the insurer.
• VeterinarianVet disputes are emotional, which is exactly why a factual, dated account is the version that stays published.
• Car dealershipDealership complaints almost always come down to the difference between the advertised deal and the numbers on the finance contract.
• HVAC companyEmergency pricing and unnecessary replacements are the two complaints that dominate heating and cooling.
• PlumberPlumbing complaints are mostly about a bill that grew after the water was already off.
• Roofing companyStorm-chasing roofers and insurance-funded jobs generate the largest share of home-services complaints in the country.
• RestaurantFood service reviews are read more than any other category, so specificity is what separates a review that changes minds from noise.
• HotelHotel disputes are booked, charged, and confirmed in writing, which makes them among the easiest complaints to prove.
• Gym / fitness studioGym complaints are cancellation complaints. Most states have a health-club statute that overrides the contract.
• Wedding vendorDeposits are large, the date is fixed, and there is no second chance — which is why these complaints deserve the full record.
• Debt collectorCollection conduct is federally regulated, and a single documented violation can be worth statutory damages.
• Insurance companyClaim denials are reviewable by a state regulator that insurers are legally required to answer.
• AirlineAir travel is one of the few industries where a federal complaint reliably moves money.
• Internet / cable providerISP billing complaints are the most common consumer complaint in the country, and the FCC docket is public.
• Law firmFee disputes and neglected cases go to the state bar, which has its own fee arbitration programme in most states.
• Daycare / childcareLicensing complaints here are inspected quickly, and inspection findings become public record.
• Pest control companyAnnual contracts and 'guaranteed' treatments make this a cancellation and warranty category.
• Online store / e-commerce sellerUndelivered orders and refused refunds are chargeback territory first, review territory second.
• Salon / barberCosmetology boards license every operator, and sanitation or damage complaints are inspected.
• Storage facilityRate hikes, lien sales and water damage make self-storage a documentation game.