Why we don't filter by star rating

Some review tools ask your customer how it went first, and only send the Google link to the happy ones. That is called review gating. Google prohibits it, and BayRated will never do it.

What Google's policy says

Google Business Profile's prohibited content policy lists, under fake engagement:

“Discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively solicit positive reviews from customers”

“Offer incentives – such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services – in exchange for posting any review”

Source: Google Business Profile Help, Prohibited & restricted content. Google's own guidance on getting reviews says you “can ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code” ( Tips to get more reviews).

What the FTC says

The FTC's Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule (16 CFR Part 465, in force since 21 October 2024) bans incentives conditioned on a review's sentiment and bans misrepresenting displayed reviews while suppressing negative ones. On asking only happy customers, the FTC's own Q&A says the practice “could violate the FTC Act”.

What we do instead

• Every closed repair order gets the same request, with the direct Google link.
• Customers can also send you private feedback. That channel is in addition to the review link, never instead of it.
• A new negative review alerts you within the hour with a drafted reply, so you answer fast and publicly.
• No incentives, no “leave a review for 10% off”, ever.

A profile flagged for solicitation violations can lose reviews it earned honestly. Asking everyone is slower for a week and safer for years.