From the 7th to the 11th of November 2022 it’s Talk Money Week. This week is dedicated to encouraging people to open up about their finances and start having more conversations about money.

Research shows that people who talk openly about money:

  • Make better and less risky financial decisions
  • Have stronger personal relationships
  • Help their children form good lifetime money habits
  • Feel less stressed or anxious and more in control

Here at Smart Money People, we love talking about money, and we love seeing you talk about it too. Sharing reviews about financial services is a great way to help others make better financial decisions, and increase trust and transparency within the sector.

Why is it important to leave reviews?

When leaving a review for a product, service or company, you should write about your experience and tell others what they can expect if they also use that company. For this reason, the review should be detailed and informative, and explain exactly what the company did to deserve the rating you’ve given them.

It’s easy to quickly give a company or product a star rating, however, whether positive or negative, a quick review like this doesn’t provide much value to those who will read it.

Seeing a one-star review that simply states “poor service” can tell you that the reviewer was unsatisfied with the service they received, but there’s no extra detail to explain exactly why the service was poor. It’s possible that the problems they experienced wouldn’t apply to your planned usage of the product or service, but the review instantly gives you a negative opinion.

We also use the reviews on our site to help companies improve their products and service for future customers, so giving more detail in your review helps them to make the improvements needed.

Remember the details

Before you leave your review, make sure that you’re addressing the correct company and not leaving your review in the wrong place. Lots of companies in financial services have similar names, particularly insurance companies, and a review left for the wrong company can lead potential customers astray.

Think about what you want to include in your review. If your experience was positive, be sure to highlight exactly what made it so good, and include any other factors that contributed to your positive experience.

The same applies to negative reviews: be clear about what happened and why it left you with a bad impression. If there were only a few aspects that tarnished your experience, try to include any of the positives you found to balance out the review.

It’s also worth remembering that on Smart Money People you can update your review if anything changes. If you’ve had a negative experience with a company but the problem has now been rectified, consider letting others know through your review.

What to include in a review

What you choose to include in your review will heavily depend on what product or service you’re reviewing, as well as your experience. You may want to emphasise one aspect of the product that was particularly good, or you may have a few negative points to share. The more information you can provide, the better. Even minor details can be of great value to a potential customer, so try to share as much relevant information as possible.

Here are some examples of questions to ask yourself when writing a review:

Insurance products

  • Was the sign-up process simple and user-friendly? Did you have any problems while signing up for your insurance policy?
  • Did you choose any extra add-ons? Did you manage to find cover for everything you needed? Were there any add-ons the company does not offer that you’d hoped to purchase?
  • Were you satisfied with the level of cover you received for the cost of the policy?
  • Have you made a claim on your policy? How well was this dealt with? Did you get your payout quickly, or did it perhaps take longer than expected?
  • Have you had any experience with the customer service team? How well did they communicate? Were your problems resolved easily?

Credit Cards

  • Was the sign-up process simple and user-friendly? Did the provider require any extra documentation that you weren’t expecting? Were there any fees to open up the account?
  • What do you use the card for? Is it for making large purchases, or perhaps foreign transactions? Are you simply trying to build your credit score? Explaining what you use the card for can help others decide if it’s the right card for their needs.
  • Are there any fees for transactions, withdrawals or other services?
  • Are you satisfied with the credit limit you’ve been given? How does it compare to what other providers have offered you in the past?
  • Have you had any experience with the customer service team? How helpful were they? Did you experience long waiting times when contacting them via phone?

Loans

  • How simple was the application process? Did you encounter any problems? Did you get approved quickly, or was it a longer wait than you’d expected?
  • Are you satisfied with the loan amount? Did you get the total that you’d hoped for?
  • Are you happy with the interest rate? Have you had any previous loans to compare this rate to? There’s no need to name other companies within your review, but comparing numbers is a good way to show potential borrowers that the brand’s interest rate is or isn’t lower than other options.
  • How quickly did you receive the loan? Did it come quicker than expected, or perhaps take longer than you’d wanted?
  • Do you have any experience with the customer service team? How well have they dealt with any questions you had?

Now you know what makes an informative and valuable review, why not leave one on Smart Money People? We have reviews for every type of financial service and product available in the UK; share your experiences with others by leaving a review today!