I recently needed to hire a couple different providers. I started with recommendations I saw on Nextdoor (and DCUM, actually) then checked their Checkbook ratings.

Angi, formerly Angie's List, now solicits service providers to be listed, creating a conflict of interest which results in unreliable recommendations. It used to be a service which provided relatively independent recommendations, but now is more of a referral service matching service providers with potential customers, charging the providers for marketing services on the platform.

Washington Consumer Checkbook is unbiased, accepts no payments from service providers, and provides ratings derived from customers only.

Angi, formerly Angie's List, now solicits service providers to be listed, creating a conflict of interest which results in unreliable recommendations. It used to be a service which provided relatively independent recommendations, but now is more of a broker, matching service providers with potential customers, charging the providers for services on the platform.

Washington Consumer Checkbook is unbiased, accepts no payments from service providers, and provides ratings derived from customers only.

Checkbook is reliable. I don't trust Yelp reviews at all because they are fake or Yelp hides good reviews to extort businesses. Checkbook is for real customers.

Yes. 1 GC who was great and 1 HVAC who also was very big old.

We use an excellent plumber and mechanical person we found on Checkbook.

I always use Checkbook (WASHINGTON CONSUMERS CHECKBOOK). It is actual users giving reviews. I also put in reviews every year of businesses i have used.

Anonymous wrote:Hadn't heard of Checkbook before, what's the difference between this and Angi's?

Checkbook is totally based on users' input. Angi's not.

Love Checkbook. It's how I have found my trusted electrician, plumber, HVAC, and appliance repair.

Yes, we found our GC there and have been pleased with them. It's a good place to find companies who are not doing any internet advertising.

Hadn't heard of Checkbook before, what's the difference between this and Angi's?

We use it all the time as well. Mostly with good results - roofer, plumbers, painters, garage door, my mechanic...etc. Only one I trust because reviews are by real customers and contractors don't pay Checkbook to get good reviews.

I always check vendors on checkbook. All but one was great. The one obviously didn't have his heart in it.

Yes, we use the ratings all the time, pacing greater weight on those providers with the larger numbers of detailed comments. Fewer ratings, or being unrated certainly doesn't mean a provider should be avoided, but affirmatively unfavorable reviews definitely impact my decision-making. Sometimes the nature of a critical review tends to suggest that the customer may have been unreasonable. The nature of provider responses to criticism also weigh heavily when I consider whether to use one.

I have been satisfied with all services providers i have selected based on their Checkbook ratins. One caveat - small businesses can change ownership, so be aware that the ratings may not apply to a business under new management.

What the title says. If you hired someone based on checkbook reviews, did they live up to it? Are checkbook reviews legit?