For Businesses
How Verification Works
A badge is only worth having if it means something specific. Here is exactly what we check, and exactly what we do not claim.
The Six Checks
All six have to pass. There is no partial badge.
The business exists
A registered business name, an address that is not a mail drop, and a trading history we can see.
The contact works
We call the number and email the address. A company a customer cannot reach is not verified, whatever else is true.
The service area is real
We check that the boroughs listed are actually served, rather than a list of every neighborhood in New York.
Insurance is on record
Liability cover, and whether the company can issue a certificate of insurance naming a building. Many NYC buildings will not let a crew work without one.
Pricing is disclosed
Not that prices are low — that a customer can see the basis before calling: per square foot, per room, minimums and pickup terms.
A real person is accountable
A named owner or manager who can answer for the listing and reply to reviews.
Just as important
What the Badge Does Not Say
Overselling a badge is how trust marks become meaningless. These are the things ours deliberately does not claim.
- That the work will be good — no badge can promise that, only reviews from real jobs say anything about quality
- That the price will be the lowest, or even competitive
- That RugRate recommends the company over any other
- That we have inspected their plant or watched a job
Keeping It
Verification is re-confirmed rather than granted once and forgotten.
Annual re-check
Contact details and insurance are confirmed again each year, and the listing shows the date of the last check.
Triggered re-check
A bounced email, a dead phone line or a verified complaint starts a re-check straight away.
Right of reply
If something fails, you hear from us before the badge changes, and you get a chance to fix it.
Verification FAQs
How long does verification take?
Usually a few days once we have your details, and most of that is reaching someone by phone. Incomplete insurance information is the commonest hold-up.
Does verification cost money?
No. Verification is free, and it cannot be bought, accelerated or skipped by paying for advertising.
Can verification be taken away?
Yes. If the phone stops working, the insurance lapses, the service area turns out to be fictional, or a pattern of verified complaints appears, the badge comes off and we tell you why.
What does "licensed" mean for a cleaning company in New York?
There is no single cleaning licence that covers everything. What matters in practice is a registered business, liability insurance, and the ability to issue a COI for your building. Ask any company for all three.
Do customers see what was checked?
Yes. Each verified listing shows which checks passed and when they were last confirmed, so the badge is never a black box.