Compliance, Ethics & Transparency
ReviewSimple is built to help your business collect reviews ethically and legally. We follow all FTC guidelines, Google policies, and CAN-SPAM regulations.
Is Smart Routing Legal? Yes, 100%.
Here's exactly how it works and why it's completely ethical.
What Smart Routing DOES
- ✅Asks ALL customers for feedback (happy AND unhappy)
- ✅Shows every customer the same rating interface
- ✅Directs 5-star customers to Google to leave a public review
- ✅Offers unhappy customers a chance to share feedback privately FIRST
- ✅Unhappy customers can STILL go to Google if they choose to
What Smart Routing DOES NOT Do (Illegal Practices We Avoid)
- ❌We NEVER block customers from leaving public reviews
- ❌We NEVER delete or hide negative feedback
- ❌We NEVER only ask happy customers for reviews
- ❌We NEVER offer incentives for positive reviews only
- ❌We NEVER prevent unhappy customers from reaching Google
The Key Difference: Offering a Choice, Not Blocking
Smart routing offers unhappy customers a private feedback option - it doesn't prevent them from leaving a public review. Many customers PREFER giving feedback privately because:
- • They want the issue fixed, not to publicly shame the business
- • They appreciate being heard directly by the owner
- • They can still leave a public review if their issue isn't resolved
FTC Guidelines Compliance
The Federal Trade Commission sets rules for review solicitation. Here's how we comply.
No Fake Reviews
ReviewSimple only collects reviews from real customers who actually used your service. We never generate fake reviews.
No Selective Solicitation
We recommend asking ALL customers for feedback, not just the ones you think will leave positive reviews.
No Incentive Manipulation
We don't offer rewards for positive reviews only. Any incentive must apply equally to all reviews (positive or negative).
Transparent Process
Customers know they're being asked for a review. There's no hidden tracking or deceptive practices.
Google Business Profile Policy Compliance
Google has specific policies about review collection. ReviewSimple follows all of them.
What Google Prohibits (and we DON'T do):
- ❌ Review gating: Preventing negative reviews from being posted
- ❌ Fake reviews: Creating reviews from people who didn't use the service
- ❌ Incentivized positive reviews: Paying only for positive reviews
- ❌ Review manipulation: Artificially inflating ratings
What Google Allows (what we DO):
- ✅ Asking for reviews: Requesting reviews from real customers
- ✅ Making it easy: Providing direct links to your Google profile
- ✅ Private feedback first: Offering unhappy customers a way to share concerns directly
- ✅ Follow-up: Sending reminder requests (not excessively)
CAN-SPAM Compliance (Email Regulations)
The CAN-SPAM Act regulates commercial email. Here's how ReviewSimple helps you stay compliant.
Clear Sender Identification
Every email clearly identifies your business name so customers know who's contacting them.
Honest Subject Lines
Subject lines accurately reflect the email content - a request for feedback about their experience.
Easy Opt-Out
Every email includes clear unsubscribe instructions. Customers can stop emails at any time.
Reasonable Frequency
We don't spam. One review request per customer per service is the default - not aggressive follow-up sequences.
💡 Best Practice
While ReviewSimple sends compliant emails, customer consent is always good practice. We recommend including consent for follow-up communications in your intake forms or appointment confirmations.
Data Privacy & Security
Your data and your customers' data is protected.
Common Compliance Questions
"Isn't smart routing the same as review gating?"
No. Review gating means BLOCKING negative reviews from being posted. Smart routing simply OFFERS unhappy customers a private feedback option first. They can still leave a public Google review if they choose - we never prevent it. The difference is choice vs. blocking.
"Is it deceptive to route unhappy customers to private feedback?"
No. It's actually more helpful for everyone. Unhappy customers often WANT to tell you directly so you can fix the problem. They're not being tricked - they're being given an additional option. They can always go to Google if they prefer public feedback.
"What if Google changes their policy?"
We monitor Google's policies closely and update ReviewSimple accordingly. Our approach (asking all customers, offering private feedback as an option, never blocking public reviews) has been consistently allowed. If anything changes, we'll update our practices and notify customers.
"Can I get in trouble for using ReviewSimple?"
ReviewSimple itself is compliant, but you're responsible for using it correctly. This means: getting consent before texting customers, asking all customers (not just happy ones), and not offering incentives for positive reviews only. Follow best practices, and you're fine.
"Do I need to disclose that I'm using review software?"
There's no legal requirement to disclose that you use ReviewSimple. The reviews your customers leave are genuine and voluntary. However, transparency is always good business practice - you can mention that you follow up with customers to ensure satisfaction.
Ready to Collect Reviews the Right Way?
ReviewSimple makes ethical, compliant review collection easy.