How We Score Our Plumbers
Our Trust Score is a transparent, weighted rating from 1 to 10. Here's exactly how it works — no black boxes, no hidden algorithms.
Five Components, One Number
Every plumber on Trusted Plumbers receives a Trust Score from 1 to 10. It's calculated from five weighted components, each measuring a different aspect of trustworthiness.
Review Volume
20% of Trust ScoreMore reviews means more reliable data. A plumber with 100+ reviews earns the full 20 points. Fewer reviews earn proportionally less.
Licence Verification
20% of Trust ScoreWe cross-reference every plumber's licence number against their state or territory's regulatory database (e.g. NSW Fair Trading, VBA in Victoria). A verified licence earns the full 20 points.
Insurance Status
10% of Trust ScoreWe check for public liability insurance. "Verified" (we've sighted the Certificate of Currency) earns the full 10 points. "Declared" (the business has told us they're insured) earns 5 points. Unconfirmed earns 0.
ABN Verification
10% of Trust ScoreWe confirm the business is registered on the Australian Business Register with an active ABN. Verified earns 10 points.
The Formula
Trust Score = (Rating + Reviews + Licence + Insurance + ABN) ÷ 10
The "Trusted Plumber" Badge
Not every plumber earns our gold shield badge. It's reserved for businesses that meet all four of these criteria:
Plumbers who earn this badge are displayed with a gold shield icon on their listing card and profile page. It's a quick visual signal that this business has passed our core verification checks and is well-reviewed by real customers.
What the Verification Badges Mean
You'll see these badges on plumber listings throughout the site. Here's what each one means.
Licensed
Plumbing licence confirmed against the relevant state or territory regulatory database (e.g. NSW Fair Trading, VBA in Victoria, QBCC in Queensland).
Insured — Verified
We have sighted their Certificate of Currency for public liability insurance. This is our highest level of insurance verification.
Insured — Declared
The business has told us they hold public liability insurance, but we haven't sighted the certificate yet. We display this transparently so you can make an informed decision.
ABN Verified
Active ABN confirmed on the Australian Business Register. This means the business is legitimately registered and operating in Australia.
How a Score Is Calculated
Let's walk through a real-world example to show exactly how the Trust Score comes together.
Acme Plumbing has a 4.8-star Google rating from 65 reviews. They have a verified NSW plumbing licence, have declared their insurance, and have a verified ABN.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're a homeowner searching for a trustworthy plumber or a plumber wanting to boost your visibility, we're here to help.