What "verified" means here
Trust labels are only worth what sits behind them, so here is exactly what sits behind ours — and, just as importantly, what doesn't.
What we verify, in full
Before any business appears on Manchester Locals, we do all of the following ourselves. "Verified" on a listing means these checks were made and passed on the date shown — nothing more, and the one exception is spelled out below.
- Trading identity confirmed. We speak to the business directly and confirm its trading name, phone number and the area it works from. Where the business is a limited company, we check the name against the Companies House register.
- Public reputation read. We read the business's public reviews across Google and Facebook and look for a consistent pattern of genuine local recommendations. We do not copy, republish or score those reviews — we link to them so you can read them yourself.
- Genuinely local. The business must be based in, or demonstrably and regularly working in, Greater Manchester.
- Registrations recorded, not verified. This is the one item on this list we donot verify. For regulated work we record what the business tells us — for example a Gas Safe registration for gas work or NICEIC registration for electrical work — and note it on the listing as stated. Those registers are public and authoritative, and we would rather you confirm the number yourself than take our word for it: always check it directly with Gas Safe or NICEIC before work starts.
Each listing shows the date it was verified and the specific checks made for that business. If a listing doesn't say a check was made, it wasn't.
What "verified" is not
"Verified" is not a guarantee of workmanship, insurance, price or outcome, and Manchester Locals does not endorse or take responsibility for any work a listed business carries out. It means the checks above were made on the date shown, nothing more and nothing less. Always get more than one quote for significant work, ask to see registration cards and insurance certificates, and trust your own judgement.
Nobody pays to be listed
Inclusion is editorial and free. There are no paid placements, no featured slots and no charge to businesses — which also means no listing has ever been influenced by payment. Businesses can apply, and anyone can suggest one, but applying does not guarantee acceptance.
Something wrong?
If a listing is out of date, misleading, or you've had a genuinely bad experience with a listed business, tell us at eric@ownthepatch.co.uk and we will look again — including removing a listing where our criteria are no longer met. Businesses can ask for their own listing to be corrected or removed at any time.