Angie's List is a word-of-mouth network for homeowners with more than 750,000 members nationwide. It’s a growing collection of homeowners’ real-life experiences with local service providers like yours. Our members’ research, rate and review service providers in more than 250 different categories. We receive over 400,000 inquiries and more than 15,000 reports each month from our members.
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Angie Hicks
Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Angie's List Of course
there's a real Angie. Angie Hicks founded the List in 1995
with 1,000 members in Columbus, Ohio. Since then our modest list
of homeowners has spread across the nation with more than 750,000 members.
While Angie remains the keeper of the List, our members are the ones who submit
reports to build the List and keep it current. As Chief Marketing Officer, Angie now focuses
on promoting the company, opening new markets and assuring that all of
the reports are up-to-date and helpful. She is a mother of three and lives a
very busy and happy life with her husband in Indianapolis.
Visit Angie's List website or read
Angie's Blog
How do I get rated on the List?
One of our members who is also a customer of yours told us about their experience with you. That one report is all it takes to be rated on Angie's List.
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Do I have to pay to be on Angie's List?
No! Unlike referral services or directories, service and health professionals don't pay to be on Angie's List. In addition, Angie's List does not accept any payment or “kickbacks” from the professionals for work performed. The List is strictly based on the feedback of area homeowners, who are Angie's List members.
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Your company standing with Angie's List is recorded
on an A-F grading scale (just like a school report card). When our members research local companies
through our magazine, website or call center, we first share information on A and B rated companies. Angie's List
also shares details about the company such as size, area of specialization, hints on how
to best work with the company and members' comments about their experiences.
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How does Angie's List
make money?
Angie's List is principally supported by consumers.
In established markets, there's a membership fee to join Angie's List. Advertising options
are also available but limited to A and B rated companies. If a company falls below a B grade;
we revoke their advertisement.
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What keeps Angie's List honest?
All ratings on Angie's List come from consumers and homeowners. Service providers can't pay to be rated on the list, nor are they allowed to rate themselves. Additionally, providers cannot remove their names from the List. Consumers who share their service experiences with us are asked to grade their overall satisfaction on an "A" through "F" grading scale. Service providers averaging an "A" or "B" rating are invited to offer our members a coupon. We immediately revoke the coupon of any service provider whose average rating falls below a "B." Angie's List also accepts advertising for products and services we don't rate.
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Why are new reports
important?
Your company's overall rating is based on reports we've received on your company within the last three years (current reports). The more reports we have on your company, the better educated our members are when making their hiring decision. To build your company's report portfolio, it's important to encourage your current customers who are Angie's List members to report on their experiences with your company.
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Who can submit a report
on my company?
Only members who are not affiliated directly
with your company and have used or contacted you about your services may submit a report. Angie's
List does not accept reports on your company from individuals affiliated with your company
like employees and family members. Angie's List maintains a strict policy against
self-reporters. We take great precautions to prohibit a company from manipulating their
way on the List, reporting on their own company or a competitor and stacking the deck
by having members report multiple times on the same
company within six month period.
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What is the difference
between current and total grades?
Current grades average all reports for your company received within the last three years for a specific category. Total grades average all reports for your company across all categories that your company is listed in regardless of when they were received.
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How did Angie's List decide that reports are “current” for up to 3 years?
Simple – we asked our members. In a 2008 survey, members let us know that, on average, they consider a report to be relevant for 3 years. Because we like to provide our members with the information that they find most helpful, we use a 3-year time frame to reflect a provider's recent body of work.
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In what order are
companies displayed to Angie's List members on the website?
Angie's List members can search for companies by category, keyword or company name.
In category searches, companies are listed in groups based first on their current
overall grade and then secondly on the number of current reports (see below chart).
Placement for each company within a group rotates randomly so that the same company doesn't
appear first on the List each time. Keyword searches allows members to find companies
that do exactly what they are looking for by searching each company's information and listing
those that most closely match the keyword(s) in the results.
| Order Of Groups |
Overall Grade |
Number of Reports |
| First |
A |
10 or more |
| Second |
A |
5-9 |
| Third |
A |
2-4 |
| Fourth |
A |
1 |
| Fifth |
B |
10 or more |
| Sixth |
B |
5-9 |
| Seventh |
B |
2-4 |
| Eighth |
B |
1 |
How can I see what
members have said about my company?
To see the reports submitted by our members on your company, first you must register for free on this website. Once your company is registered, you may sign in at any time to review your company's information, ratings, and read and respond to reports.
Click here to sign in and read our members' report(s). If your company hasn't registered or you don't have your sign in information, please contact us at
CompanyConnect@AngiesList.com.
Can I respond to my
company’s reports?
Absolutely! We encourage each company to respond to any and all reports. Responses must be submitted through this website once you have signed in. Each response may be up to 1500 characters long. Your company may only respond to our members' report(s). If your company hasn't registered or you don't have your sign in information, please contact us at
CompanyConnect@AngiesList.com.
Will Angie's List notify us every time a member submits a report on my company?
Yes, your company may elect to participate in the free report notification program. Angie's List will send your company an email letting you know a report has been posted online or updated based upon your selected preferences. Your company may receive an email each time a report is submitted or a single email each week if we receive one or more reports for your company.
You will be asked to sign up for the report notification program when you register your company on CompanyConnect. If you have already registered your company, you may elect to participate, change your preferences or discontinue participation by clicking on "Email Preferences" once you have signed in.
What is Page of
Happiness?
Every so often, a member
lets us know that they've been absolutely wowed by an experience
with a service company. When we hear these great reports, we give the member
an opportunity to nominate the company for the Page of Happiness (POH for short)
in our monthly magazine. We keep an eye out for reports that fit the below special
POH criteria when they're submitted on the web, over the phone or by mail:
- Work was actually performed
- The member would hire the company again
- The member gave the company A's in every category
- The member's remarks were especially glowing
Nominations are collected throughout the month and a few are randomly selected for the magazine.
When a service company receives a nomination for the POH, a comment in green text appears above the excellent
grades on our website that says "Page of Happiness Nominee." You'll know when a POH report has appeared
in our monthly magazine because the text above the report grades is purple and changes to say "Featured
in the Page of Happiness." The grades on that report are also titled
"Page of Happiness" and mention the month that the report was printed in our magazine.
Can I use Angie's List member reports on my website or in marketing tools?
No. We do not permit the duplication of Angie's List member reports by any party as such action is in violation of federal and state copyright laws. Angie's List holds legal rights to all member content, and consequently, the displaying, copying, duplication, reproduction, selling, re-selling, or visiting of Angie's List member reports by a service provider for commercial gain may result in substantial fines and legal recourse.
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What is an Angie's
List trademark?
Both our company name “Angie's List” and our logos
are registered trademarks of Angie's List. We don't allow our marks to be used by companies
without expressed written consent.
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Who is eligible to display Angie's List trademarks?
No one is permitted to use the Angie's List name and/or any Angie's List logo without our expressed written consent. Please note that current winners of the Angie's List Super Service Award are eligible to use the designated Angie's List Super Service Award logo within the guidelines agreed to in the License Agreement and Logo Usage Standards. If you are a current Super Service Award winner, you can review these documents by signing in to your Company Connect account and clicking on the 'My Awards' tab.
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What information on the Angie's List website is copyright protected?
All printed materials including Angie's List member reports and company ratings are under copyright protection and are ineligible for use by outside parties.
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Can I include a link to Angie's List on my company website?
Yes, you can! Angie's List now offers an approved website link that service providers on our List can add to their company website. This web link must be obtained from Angie's List. To ensure the integrity of our brand, it cannot be modified in any way. Please feel free to contact us at companyconnect@angieslist.com or call 1-866-843-LIST (5478) toll free for more information.
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Who should I contact
with questions about using the Angie's List logo?
If you would like further clarification regarding the guidelines surrounding Angie's List trademarks and copyrighted information, please feel free to send this information to
BrandEnforcement@angieslist.com or give us a ring toll free at 1-877-321-7333.
What action can I take if I come across potential misuse of the Angie's List brand?
Should you happen to find any suspected misuse of the Angie's List name, logo(s) or published information, please feel free to send this information to
BrandEnforcement@angieslist.com or give us a ring toll free at 1-877-321-7333. Remember that it is always helpful to include documentation of the infringement, such as a newspaper clipping or screen shot of the potential misuse.
What is the Angie's
List Super Service Award?
This exclusive recognition is awarded annually to companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie's List throughout the past year. Less than 5% of companies on Angie's List meet the eligibility requirements to be considered and even fewer actually receive the award. To be eligible for the award, your company must maintain an “A” rating overall and receive a minimum number of reports during the calendar year. Additionally, your company may not be in the Angie's List “Penalty Box” or have an unsatisfactory rating at the Better Business Bureau. Winners of the Super Service Award are permitted to use the Super Service Award logo within agreed to guidelines.
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How is it decided who
receives the Angie's List Super Service Award?
The criteria for
determining who is eligible and awarded with the Angie's List Super Service Award varies based
on the size of the market and how long Angie's List has been there. A company must receive a
minimum number of positive reports during the calendar year based on the market size
and maturity without a negative report. An Angie's List chapter must be established for at
least one year prior to any company being considered for the Angie's List Super Service Award.
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If my company is a current Super Service Award winner, what uses of the Super Service Award logo are permitted and not permitted?
If your company is a current Super Service Award winner, you can find a complete list of these guidelines by signing in to CompanyConnect. Click on “My Awards” to see the Angie's List Super Service Award Logo Usage Standards and License Agreement.
In order to maintain the integrity and value of the Angie's List brand and Super Service Award recognition, we have placed tight controls over the use of our trademarks for the benefit of our members and companies that are current winners. For your convenience, here is a brief outline of these guidelines:
Authorized Angie's List Super Service Award winners may use the Super Service Award logo in the following manner:
- Business cards
- Invoices
- Vehicles
- Awnings
- Employee shirts/uniforms
- Verbal mention of the current award in voicemail or 'on-hold' greetings
- Mail directed to a specifically named, existing customer
- Windows at your place of business
- Signs at your place of business
- Company website (fee applies)
- Home shows (Super Service Award plaque only)
For a minimal fee, current winners of the Super Service Award may also display the approved Angie's List Super Service Award logo for the given year on their company website. Please note that modifications to this logo or unauthorized accompanying text are not approved.
Unauthorized usage of the Angie's List Super Service Award logo and/or trademarked name, are not permitted in mass marketing of any form, including but not limited to:
- Phone books or directories
- Newspaper advertisements
- Radio advertisements
- Television advertisements
- Coupon books, mailers or flyers
- Print and online classifieds
- Billboards
- Yard signs
- Direct mail or email sent to unnamed individuals
- Company websites by those service providers that are not current winners or have not paid the usage fee for the current logo
If my company chooses not to pay the usage fee for the current Super Service Award logo, can we include text noting this recognition on our website?
No, you may not. The only mention of the Angie's List Super Service Award logo on a company website must be by a current winner that has paid for limited license to use the designated logo. Any other reference to our trademarked “Angie's List Super Service Award” on a service provider's website is not permitted.
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If my company is a current winner and we've won the award in the past, can we continue to use the old Angie's List Super Service Award logo?
No. You must use the current Angie's List Super Service Award logo. You may, however, include the dates of previous awards beneath the current logo if you would like. For more instruction on how to do this, please just give us a call or send an e-mail.
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What if my company is currently using the old Angie's List Super Service Award logo in signage or in our company's marketing materials?
Please review the logo usage guidelines in the License Agreement so that you understand which uses are allowed, which are not permitted and which uses of the logo you must license from Angie's List. You must bring your company into compliance immediately or risk losing your current award. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact
BrandEnforcement@angieslist.com.
My company won the Super Service Award in past years, but did not win the 2008 award. Can we still use the Angie's List logo in our marketing materials?
No. All use of the Angie's List Super Service Award logo must cease upon the announcement of the next year's winners. As a general rule, the replication of any 2008 Super Service Award logo is not permitted after December 31, 2009. Should your company happen to win the Super Service Award in the future, though, you will be permitted to note the previous years that your company received the award.
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What if we didn't sign the 2008 Angie's List Super Service Award License Agreement?
In order to be an acknowledged recipient of the Super Service Award, you must sign the License Agreement. If your company did not sign and return the 2008 Angie's List Super Service Award License Agreement, your company did not win the award and is not eligible to use the Angie's List Super Service Award logo in any capacity.
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What is Angie's List Merchant Services
Angie's List Merchant Services is the credit card processing program offered to all Angie's List service providers and powered by our partner, Chase Paymentech. This program enables you to accept credit and debit cards for the services you provide at special group rates that are lower than what you could negotiate on your own.
Learn more
Why did Angie’s List partner with Experian?
Many Angie’s List members like to get all of their facts before making a decision to buy a product or hire a company. By enabling them to perform simple checks on your company, we’re giving them the opportunity to feel more confident about the hiring decisions they make. They will have more data to support that you are who you say you are.
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What do members see when they purchase an Experian report?
The report offers license, bonding and insurance information in addition to liens, judgments, bankruptcies and payment history records.
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Do I have to pay to see the report that members see?
If you are an Angie's List member, you can purchase the report directly from your company profile on
AngiesList.com for $3.99 – the same price available to members. If you are not an Angie's List member or would like to purchase a more detailed report, click
here.
My company's business/credit report contains incorrect information. What should I do?
If you believe that your company's ContractorCheck.com report contains inaccurate information, you can initiate an update to your company details by using Experian's
www.BusinessCreditFacts.com website.
How often does ContractorCheck.com update its information?
ContractorCheck.com provides access to Experian's business database in real time. Experian receives public record information from government and vendor sources on a daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly schedule. Once Experian receives public record updates from the government or vendor sources, turnaround time for formatting, cleansing and loading data is generally 48 to 72 hours. Turnaround time for bankruptcy reports being available online is typically within 24 hours of the original filing.
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Where does ContractorCheck.com get its information?
ContractorCheck.com accesses Experian's business database in real time. Experian collects credit obligation information from thousands of businesses nationwide. These businesses are typically the suppliers or lenders with which a company has existing financial relationships. Experian also collects legal filings from the various local, county and state courts across the United States. Company background information is collected from a variety of independent firms. Experian does not display information directly from a company about its business, unless that information has been verified.
For more FAQs about ContractorCheck.com and Experian, please click here.
Why is Angie’s List accepting ratings for health care providers?
People come to Angie’s List seeking perspective on all kinds of projects. Our members have been telling us for years they’d like to give, and to get, this same kind of perspective when it comes to health care. We believe that everyone (members and health care providers) can benefit from the sharing of this feedback.
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Is Angie’s List trying to be the only resource of health care information for its members?
Absolutely not.
The perspectives of our members, while valuable,
are no substitute for the advice of a qualified professional. We also provide a
list of websites (including the FSMB directory of State Medical Boards and the Department of Health & Human Services)
that our members may use to learn more about the issues that concern them. If you have a resource you think could be valuable
to our members, send your suggestion to healthlinks@angieslist.com. (Please do not send a link for your own practice or
company; once you have completed your free registration on this website, you may list such a link in your own record.)
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Under the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), how can I respond to member reports?
(If you have not already done so, please see the "
Grading System" section above for general information regarding responding to reports.) We realize that the restrictions of HIPAA present a challenge in this forum. In cases where you wish to address the member regarding the issues raised, you may contact the member directly (outside of Angie's List) to attempt to resolve the matter. However, if you do not wish to deal directly with the member, it is possible to indirectly address a member's report, and we can suggest language you might consider for this purpose. Of course, any posting you make is at your own discretion.
What is the Angie's List affiliate program?
The Angie's List Affiliate Program allows you to make money by referring customers to
www.AngiesList.com. We provide you with the banner and/or text links as well as detailed reports on sales from your site. Every month, we'll send you earnings from all the sales you referred. If you have a website or e-newsletter and want to support Angie's List, this is a great way to earn significant referral dollars. It's easy, free and you can get started today! Learn
more.
Are all reports submitted by members?
No. Anyone can report on the service companies and doctors they've interacted with. There is a difference in the way non-member reports are displayed, however. Non-member reports do not display grades, nor do they impact the current or overall grades of the company or doctor. Only the comments and description of work fields will be visible. Non-member reports will always appear after member reports and will be denoted with a special icon so you know upfront whose perspective you're getting.
Do non-member reports impact my company's ratings?
No, they do not. When non-member reports are displayed on the website, only the comments and description of work fields will be visible. Grades will not appear with these comments, nor will they be factored into your company's ratings.