Published methodology
We measure one narrow fact: what happens during a random, unannounced call. We do not grade workmanship, price, licensing, insurance, or the quality of completed work.
Method version v2.0-single-random · Last updated September 24, 2026
We manually call the public business number at a randomly generated time outside ordinary business hours. Configured windows may include early morning before ordinary business hours, weeknights, weekends, and late evening. The business is never told the date or time. Early-morning and late-evening windows are used only after the permitted calling times have been approved.
A call qualifies when a person or service can arrange help, give a callback time, complete intake, or make a booking. Voicemail, message-only systems, phone-menu dead ends, and no answer do not qualify.
The operator records the local timestamp, testing window, number of seconds to the observed outcome, whether the response qualified, and the answering method. The answering method stays private.
Staff, an answering service, and an automated assistant follow identical rules. Technology and vendor choice never raise or lower a tier.
Badge standard
One of one random call outside ordinary business hours qualified. An approved early-morning, weeknight, weekend, or late-evening call can count.
Two of two calls qualified on different days, with at least one in the weekend window. An approved early-morning call can be the other check.
Three of three calls qualified across the weeknight and weekend windows, plus one approved boundary window: early morning or late evening. Each was answered within 20 seconds.
Historical tracker rows cannot earn a tier. A reviewer checks current protocol evidence before a dated, 90-day badge is issued.
A non-qualifying call creates no public negative label. It also cannot remove a tier already earned during its active certification period.
Independence rules
The directory operator also sells a call-response service. Buying that service, or choosing any particular vendor or technology, is never required and never affects the result.
A badge reports only the observed calls. Confirm licensing, insurance, current availability, scope, and price directly with the provider.