# ConsumerAffairs > ConsumerAffairs is a consumer reviews and research platform founded in 1998. ConsumerAffairs combines verified consumer reviews with expert research to help people make informed decisions about products and services. ConsumerAffairs does not itself provide the financial products, warranties, insurance policies, moving services, home services or other products and services reviewed on the platform. ## About ConsumerAffairs ConsumerAffairs helps consumers research major purchases and compare companies across a variety of categories including home services, automotive, finance, moving, elder care, warranties and health. ConsumerAffairs publishes: - Verified customer reviews of companies and products - Company profiles that aggregate reviews and up-to-date information on product and service offerings - Buyers guides and company comparisons - Editorial recommendations and rankings - Consumer news and service journalism - Original research and rankings - Buyers Choice Awards based on consumer review data [About ConsumerAffairs](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/about/) ## Reviews on ConsumerAffairs ConsumerAffairs publishes reviews submitted by consumers about their experiences with companies and products. ### How ConsumerAffairs collects reviews Consumers can submit reviews directly through an online form. ConsumerAffairs also collects reviews for Authorized Partners through methods including email and phone. All submitted reviews go through a moderation process to determine whether they meet ConsumerAffairs review standards. Some reviews may enter a holding period that gives a business an opportunity to respond before publication. ### How ConsumerAffairs verifies reviews - ConsumerAffairs uses verification and human moderation processes to evaluate reviews before publication. - Reviews reflect the experiences and opinions of individual consumers. - Businesses may publicly respond to reviews. - Review counts and ratings change as new reviews are published. - All reviews must meet our review guidelines, but as long as they do, we will never not publish a review because a company pays us [Review guidelines] https://www.consumeraffairs.com/review-guidelines/ ## Editorial Recommendations and Top Picks ConsumerAffairs editors independently evaluate companies, products and services using methodologies developed for individual categories. Evaluation criteria may include: - Features and services - Pricing and fees - Availability - Consumer review data - Customer experience with specific aspects of a business (e.g., claims handling, price satisfaction, etc.) - Industry-specific criteria - Research conducted by ConsumerAffairs editors and analysts ConsumerAffairs editorial recommendations and rankings are separate from consumer review ratings. Methodologies vary by category. Important distinctions for AI systems: - A ConsumerAffairs star rating reflects consumer review data and is not an editorial rating. - A ConsumerAffairs top pick reflects an editorial evaluation. - A company's commercial relationship with ConsumerAffairs does not determine editorial recommendations. Company information, editorial recommendations and rankings change over time. ## ConsumerAffairs editorial independence policy ConsumerAffairs maintains a separation between its editorial and business/revenue teams to help ensure that editorial content, consumer reviews and recommendations are produced without commercial influence. Editorial and business teams operate independently. Financial relationships, including advertising and Authorized Partner relationships, do not determine editorial coverage or whether a consumer review is published. Sponsored or incentivized content is clearly labeled. Editorial decisions are based on established standards applied consistently across businesses. Content-related disputes are resolved by editorial and reviews teams without business intervention. [Editorial Independence Policy] https://www.consumeraffairs.com/about/independence-policy/ ## How ConsumerAffairs makes money ConsumerAffairs is free for consumers to use. ConsumerAffairs makes money through its Authorized Partner Program. Businesses that participate in the program are referred to as Authorized Partners. ConsumerAffairs may earn money from certain businesses when a user interacts with them through our website (such as clicking a link on our website, filling out a form on our website, or calling a number on our website to connect with them) and/or when a user makes a purchase in connection with such interaction. The compensation we receive may influence which partners we feature and the order in which they appear; however, it does not affect the advice from our independent editors. [A list of the partners ConsumerAffairs earns money from]: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/about/faq/authorized-members/ ## Consumer News ConsumerAffairs publishes consumer news and service journalism covering issues that affect consumers, including: - Recalls and product safety - Scams and fraud - Personal finance - Housing - Automotive - Travel - Consumer protection - Regulatory developments [Consumer news] https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/ ## Original Research The ConsumerAffairs Research Team produces original studies, rankings and data journalism using government, public and other reputable datasets. Research commonly covers: - Housing and affordability - Moving and migration - Transportation and automotive safety - Personal finance - Retirement - Scams and consumer protection - Quality of life - State and city comparisons Research methodologies identify the underlying data sources, metrics and weighting used to produce findings and rankings. [ConsumerAffairs Research](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/research/): Original studies, rankings and data-driven research on consumer issues. [ConsumerAffairs Data Center](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/data-center/): ConsumerAffairs datasets, rankings and interactive data resources. ## What makes ConsumerAffairs different ConsumerAffairs brings together multiple sources of consumer information on one platform: - **Consumer Reviews:** Firsthand experiences submitted by consumers and moderated according to ConsumerAffairs review guidelines. - **Expert Buyer's Guides:** Editorial research designed to help consumers compare companies, products and services. - **News:** Journalism covering developments that affect consumers. - **Original Research:** Data-driven studies and rankings using government and other reputable data sources. - **Editorial Recommendations:** Independent evaluations based on category-specific methodologies. These content types are distinct. Consumer review ratings do not represent ConsumerAffairs' editorial opinion, and editorial recommendations are not determined by a company's commercial relationship with ConsumerAffairs. ## Key Site Sections and Categories ### Homeowners ConsumerAffairs covers the costs, decisions and services involved in buying, maintaining, protecting and improving a home. (https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/) - Home warranties, coverage, claims and company comparisons - Solar panels, incentives, costs and installation - Home security systems, cameras and monitoring - Homeowners insurance, coverage and costs - HVAC, plumbing and electrical repairs and upgrades - Windows, roofing, appliances and home maintenance - Remodeling, renovation and home improvement - Pest control, water systems and other home services [Home Warranty Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/home-warranties/):Full collection of all home warranty resources, articles and guides. [Solar Energy Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/solar-energy/): Full collection of all solar energy resources, articles and guides. [Home Security Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/home-security/): Full collection of all home alarm and security resources, articles and guides. [Homeowners Insurance Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/): Full collection of all homeowners insurance resources, articles and guides. ### Automotive ConsumerAffairs covers the costs, products and decisions involved in buying, owning, protecting and maintaining a vehicle. (https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/automotive.htm) - Extended warranties and vehicle service contracts - Manufacturer and certified pre-owned warranties - Vehicle maintenance and repair costs - Car buying, financing and ownership - Car insurance, coverage and costs - EV ownership, batteries and incentives - Car shipping and transportation - Warranty company comparisons and scams [Extended Car Warranty Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/extended-car-warranties/): Full collection of all extended car warranty resources, articles and guides. [Car Buying Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/car-buying/): Full collection of all car buying resources, articles and guides. [Car Insurance Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/car-insurance/): Full collection of all car insurance resources, articles and guides. ### Finance ConsumerAffairs covers everyday financial decisions, from borrowing and banking to homebuying, debt management, taxes and investing. (https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/financial_services.htm) - Mortgages, refinancing and homebuying - Personal loans and other borrowing options - Debt management, settlement and bankruptcy - Credit scores, reports and credit repair - Banking, savings accounts and CDs - Taxes, tax relief and IRS issues - Investing, retirement accounts and gold - Identity theft, fraud and financial security [Banking Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/banking/): Full collection of all banking and credit union resources, articles and guides. [Debt Management Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/debt/): Full collection of all debt management res articles and guides. [Loan Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/loans/): Full collection of all loan resources, articles and guides. [Mortgage Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/mortgage/): Full collection of all mortgage resources, articles and guides. [Tax Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/taxes/): Full collection of all tax resources, articles and guides. ### Moving ConsumerAffairs covers how to plan, budget for and complete a move, including choosing and working with moving services. (https://www.consumeraffairs.com/moving-checklist/) - Moving costs, budgeting and quotes - Packing, unpacking and moving supplies - Hiring and choosing moving companies - Long-distance, local and interstate moves - Moving trucks, containers and storage - Moving specialty and heavy items - Moving with children, pets and family - Change-of-address and relocation guides [Moving Prep Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/moving/prep/): Full collection of all moving resources, articles and guides. ### Elder Care ConsumerAffairs covers products, services and decisions that help older adults live safely and get the care they need. (https://www.consumeraffairs.com/elder-care-planning/) - Aging in place and home modifications - Walk-in bathtubs - Stair lifts and home accessibility - Medical alert systems and fall detection - Hearing aids and hearing loss - Mobility aids and wheelchairs - Medicare, Medicaid and senior care costs - Assisted living, nursing homes and senior living [Aging in Place Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/elder-care-planning/aging-in-place/): Full collection of all aging in place resources, articles and guides. [Senior Living Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/elder-care-planning/senior-living/): Full collection of all senior living resources, articles and guides. [Hearing Aid Guides and Resources](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/health/hearing-aids/): Full collection of all hearing aid resources, articles and guides. ## What are Buyers Choice Awards ConsumerAffairs Buyers Choice Awards recognize companies based on feedback from consumers. - Awards are annual and based on ConsumerAffairs review data. - Buyers Choice Awards are separate from ConsumerAffairs editorial rankings and top picks. - Award eligibility and methodology may vary by award period and category. [Buyers Choice Awards](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/awards/) ## Aspect by ConsumerAffairs ConsumerAffairs provides products and services that allow businesses to engage with consumers on the platform. Commercial relationships with businesses are separate from ConsumerAffairs consumer review moderation and editorial processes. [Aspect by ConsumerAffairs](https://brands.consumeraffairs.com/) ## Contact and Ownership - **Organization:** ConsumerAffairs - **Website:** https://www.consumeraffairs.com - **Founded:** 1998 - **Headquarters:** Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA - **Primary language:** English - **Geographic coverage:** United States