How to Find Reviews and Complaints About a Business

Before spending money with an unfamiliar business — whether it is a contractor, online retailer, service provider, or local shop — checking reviews and complaints helps you avoid scams, poor quality, and frustrating experiences. Knowing where to look and how to evaluate what you find gives you a practical edge as a consumer.

Where to Find Reviews

Multiple platforms host business reviews, and no single source tells the complete story. Checking several gives you the most accurate picture.

Google Reviews

Google Reviews are the most visible and widely used review platform.

Search the business name on Google and look at the star rating and review count in the search results
Click through to read individual reviews — pay attention to recent ones, as they reflect the current state of the business
Look for owner responses to negative reviews — how a business handles criticism says a lot about their professionalism
Be aware that some businesses incentivize positive reviews or purchase fake ones, so look for reviews with specific details rather than generic praise

Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The BBB is one of the oldest and most recognized sources for business reputation information.

Search for the business at bbb.org to see their rating, accreditation status, and complaint history
The BBB rating (A+ through F) is based on complaint volume, response to complaints, transparency, and business practices
Read the complaint details — the BBB shows both the complaint and the business's response
Note whether the business is BBB Accredited, which means they have committed to the BBB's Standards for Trust
Keep in mind that BBB accreditation is paid, so an unaccredited business is not necessarily untrustworthy

Yelp

Yelp is particularly strong for local service businesses, restaurants, and retail.

Search the business by name or browse by category and location
Yelp uses a recommendation algorithm that filters reviews it considers unreliable, so the visible review count may be lower than the total submitted
Check the "Not Currently Recommended" section for filtered reviews that may still contain useful information
Long, detailed reviews with photos tend to be more trustworthy than short, generic ones

Industry-Specific Platforms

Many industries have dedicated review platforms that provide more relevant feedback.

Angi and HomeAdvisor: for contractors, plumbers, electricians, and home service providers
Healthgrades and Vitals: for doctors and healthcare providers
Avvo: for attorneys
DealerRater: for car dealerships
TripAdvisor: for hotels, restaurants, and travel services
Glassdoor: for employer reviews from current and former employees (useful if you are considering working for a business)

Social Media

Social media platforms provide unfiltered, real-time feedback from customers.

Check the business's Facebook page for reviews and comments on posts
Search for the business name on X (Twitter) to see what customers are saying publicly
Look for mentions of the business in local Facebook groups and Nextdoor communities
Reddit can surface detailed experiences in city-specific and industry-specific subreddits

Where to Find Complaints and Regulatory Records

Reviews are subjective, but complaints filed with regulatory agencies and consumer protection organizations carry more weight.

State Attorney General

Your state attorney general's office handles consumer protection complaints.

Search for your state AG's consumer complaint database online
Complaints may include details about deceptive practices, fraud, and failure to deliver services
Some states publish enforcement actions taken against businesses that violate consumer protection laws

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC tracks complaints about businesses engaged in deceptive or unfair practices.

While individual FTC complaints are not publicly searchable, the FTC uses aggregate data to issue consumer alerts and take enforcement action
Search the FTC website for enforcement cases and press releases involving the business or industry

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

For financial services businesses, the CFPB maintains a public complaint database.

Search at consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints for complaints against banks, lenders, credit card companies, and debt collectors
The database includes the complaint narrative, company response, and resolution status
High complaint volumes relative to the company's size are a warning sign

State Licensing Boards

For licensed professionals and businesses, state licensing boards maintain disciplinary records.

Search for the business or individual on the relevant state licensing board website
Records may show complaints, investigations, fines, suspensions, and license revocations
This applies to contractors, healthcare providers, real estate agents, financial advisors, and many other professions

Court Records

Civil court records reveal lawsuits filed against the business.

Search county and state court record databases for the business name
Look for patterns of consumer lawsuits, breach of contract claims, or fraud allegations
A single lawsuit may not be meaningful, but multiple lawsuits with similar allegations suggest a systemic problem

How to Evaluate What You Find

Not all reviews and complaints deserve equal weight. Critical evaluation is essential.

Distinguishing Genuine From Fake Reviews

Genuine reviews tend to include specific details about the experience, mention staff by name, and describe both positives and negatives
Fake positive reviews are often generic, posted in clusters, and come from accounts with little other activity
Fake negative reviews sometimes come from competitors or disgruntled individuals and may contain accusations that seem out of proportion
Tools like Fakespot and ReviewMeta analyze review patterns to estimate the proportion of fake reviews

Looking for Patterns

A single bad review in a sea of positive ones may reflect an isolated experience
Repeated complaints about the same issue (missed deadlines, hidden fees, poor communication) indicate a systemic problem
Pay attention to how the business responds to negative feedback — defensiveness and blame-shifting are concerning
Improvement over time is a positive sign — a business that had problems two years ago but has strong recent reviews may have corrected course

Spending ten minutes researching a business before committing your money can prevent hours of frustration, financial loss, and the stress of dealing with a company that does not deserve your trust.