Frequently Asked Questions

About RateIt

What is RateIt?
RateIt is a platform for checking businesses before you trust them, and for sharing your own experiences so others can check too. It covers physical businesses and online sellers across Pakistan.

Is RateIt free?
Yes. Checking businesses and writing reviews is free for everyone.

Who runs RateIt?
RateIt is founded and operated by Hasan Saleem, a Pakistani entrepreneur who has built web properties since 2007. You can read more on our About page.

For people checking and reviewing

Do I need an account to read reviews?
No. Anyone can search and read. You need an account only to post a review, save a business, or file a complaint.

How do I sign up?
You sign in with a one time code sent to your phone or email. Your phone number is your verified identity, but it is never shown publicly. You appear under a handle, not your real name.

Why do you ask for proof with my review?
Because proof is what separates a real review from a fake one. A review backed by a receipt, a tracking number, or a payment reference counts for more. You can still review without proof, it just carries less weight.

Can I post a video instead of writing?
Yes. You can record or upload a short video review if you prefer. Video reviews are checked by a person before they appear.

Will my phone number or receipt be public?
No. Your phone number, your receipts, and your payment references are kept private. Only the fact that your review is verified is shown.

What happens after I submit a review?
It goes through a quick check to keep fakes out. Most genuine reviews appear quickly. Some are held briefly for a person to look at. Being held is not an accusation, it is the system being careful.

Can a business get my review removed?
A business cannot delete or edit your review, and cannot pay to remove it. It can reply in public, and it can dispute a review it believes breaks our rules or the law, which our team then reviews. An honest account of a real experience stays up.

Can I get in trouble for a review?
Honest reviews of your real experience are protected. But a review that is knowingly false, or that defames a business, can carry legal risk under Pakistani law. Write honestly, write only about what you experienced, and keep your proof. Our Community Guidelines explain this.

For businesses

How do I claim my business?
Find it on RateIt and start a claim. You verify by a code to your listed phone, by your domain, or by submitting documents for review. See RateIt for Businesses.

Can I remove a bad review?
No. No business can delete a review or pay to have one removed. You can respond publicly, and you can dispute a review that breaks our rules or the law.

Can I pay to improve my score?
No. Trust scores and review visibility are never for sale. This is what makes the trust you earn here real.

A competitor is posting fake reviews about me. What can I do?
Report it to complaints@rateit.pk. We actively detect fake and coordinated reviews, and we hold sudden bursts of negatives for human review. We remove reviews that are fake or break our rules.

Trust and safety

How is the trust score calculated?
It weights reviews by proof, reviewer reputation, and recency, with statistical smoothing so thin evidence cannot mislead. Full detail is on our Methodology page.

How do you stop fake reviews?
Every review passes automated authenticity and duplicate checks, with human review where anything is uncertain, and we guard against coordinated attacks and review bombing.

What law governs RateIt?
RateIt operates from Lahore under Pakistani law, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Content Policy.

Still have a question? Write to info@rateit.pk.