Did you know GoSkippy’s Comprehensive Car Insurance products are 5* Defaqto Rated except for our Essentials Tier which is our stripped back product to get you on the road for less?

When you choose a financial product, such as insurance, a bank account, or an investment you might come across a “Star Rating”. A lot of people use to these ratings to see if they can trust a product, and if they should go ahead with their purchase.

However, it’s important to understand that not all Star Ratings are the same.  Knowing the difference between an ‘Expert Rating’, like a Defaqto rating and a ‘Customer Review Score’ like ‘Trustpilot’ or ‘Reviews.io’ can help you make a more informed choice.

In this blog, we’ll explain: What is the Difference Between Defaqto Star Ratings and Customer Review Ratings?

What Are Defaqto Star Ratings?

Defaqto star ratings are independently assessed ratings of financial products, like car insurance, which are based only on the quality of the products features and benefits.

Defaqto is an independent UK based financial information business with over 30 years of experience analysing the market.

It has the UK’s largest financial product database and uses a clear system to review thousands of products each year.

Defaqto Star Ratings are awarded on a scale of 1 to 5 Stars, with 5 Stars representing an excellent product that offers a comprehensive range of high-quality features.

Why Defaqto Star Ratings Stand Apart from Customer Reviews:

• They are Expert-driven: Ratings are compiled by analysts using detailed product data and criteria.

• Reviews are Unbiased: Defaqto does not consider price, provider size, or business relationships in its ratings.
• The Stars are Feature based: Star ratings reflect what a product offers in terms of benefits and functionality – not customer service or pricing.
• They are Refreshed Annually: All ratings undergo a full review every year (with updates throughout the year for major product changes).
  

A Defaqto star rating gives you a reliable indication of how good a car insurance product is, based on what it includes, not what an individual customer thought about using it.

How Are Defaqto Ratings Calculated?

Defaqto uses commercial research from expert input, customer studies, and feedback from product providers. This makes sure that only features that matter to consumers are considered. Here are what the stars mean:

★ A basic product offering only a few features and benefits

★★ A product offering fewer than average features and benefits

★★★ A standard product providing an average level of features and benefits

★★★★ A product with a good level of features and benefits

★★★★★ An excellent product with a comprehensive range of features and benefits

Crucially, Defaqto maintains editorial independence, ensuring their ratings remain free from commercial influence.

What Are Customer Review Ratings?

Alternatively, there are customer ratings from sites like Trustpilot and Reviews.io. These scores reflect the experiences and opinions of actual users of car insurance products. Customers will usually be invited to leave a star rating and comment after using the car insurance service or product and share their personal opinion.

Key points about Customer Review Ratings:

• Based on personal experience: They reflect how customers felt about the service. Reviews will usually cover how easy the product was to buy, understand and use. Reviews are influenced by the customers’ expectations and specific experiences.
• They Can Change Daily: They are based on averages, so ratings can change rapidly based on new feedback.
• More Customer Service Focused: Most reviews relate to the company’s customer service rather than the product.
  

While customer reviews can highlight red flags such as poor service or common frustrations, they may not reveal much about the actual quality or suitability of a product for your needs. For more information, visit www.defaqto.com/star-ratings.

Should you trust Defaqto Star Ratings or Customer Review Ratings?

You don’t need to choose between Defaqto and customer review sites – using both together can help you make an informed decision on purchasing the best car insurance product for you.

Why Both Ratings Matter?

It’s easy to assume that all star ratings are the same, but when it comes to financial products, Defaqto and customer review sites serve very different purposes. Defaqto tells you what a product includes and how comprehensive it is whereas Customer Reviews tell you how people felt about using the product or service.

A product could have a 5 Star Rating from Defaqto, meaning it offers a full suite of features, but it might have mixed customer reviews if, for example, the provider’s customer service isn’t up to scratch. Equally, a product with glowing reviews might still be lacking key features that are important to you, and that’s something Defaqto can highlight.

A product may have a 5 Star Defaqto rating for its features but still get mixed customer reviews, for example if customer service isn’t up to scratch. Likewise, a product with great reviews might miss key features you need, something Defaqto highlights.

Customer reviews show service experiences, but Defaqto Star Ratings give clear, expert insight into what’s included, making it easier to compare products and ensure you’re not missing essential cover.

Did you know GoSkippy’s Comprehensive Car Insurance products are 5* Defaqto Rated except for our Essentials Tier which is our basic product to get you on the road for less.

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