01Principles
The directory is useful only if what is on it is true. This policy applies to reviews, questions and answers, listing details, photos and owner replies, and to staff as much as to users.
02Reviews
A review must describe a real, first-hand experience with the business.
- One review per person per business; edit it rather than posting again.
- No reviews of your own business, your employer, or a competitor.
- No reviews in exchange for money, discounts or gifts, whether offered by the owner or anyone else.
- No personal data about staff or other customers, and no threats, slurs or harassment.
- A dispute about a bill is fair game; a claim of a crime belongs with the police, not in a review.
03Owner replies
Owners may reply once to each review, in public. A reply may correct facts and offer to make things right. It may not reveal a reviewer's personal details, dispute that they were a customer without evidence, or threaten legal action.
04Listing details
Names, categories, addresses, timings and prices must be accurate. Do not stuff keywords or city names into a business name, claim licences or qualifications you do not hold, or list services you do not offer.
05Photos
Photos must be of the business, taken by or licensed to the person uploading them. No stock images presented as the premises, no photos of identifiable customers without consent, and nothing sexually explicit or violent.
06Prohibited everywhere
- Content unlawful under Indian law, including under the IT Act, 2000 and the Intermediary Guidelines, 2021.
- Hate speech, harassment, or content targeting a person's religion, caste, gender or sexuality.
- Impersonation of another person or business.
- Spam, affiliate links, and off-platform contact details in reviews.
- Malware, phishing or anything designed to deceive.
07How moderation works
Reviews are published immediately and screened after. Anyone may report content from the listing; owners may report from their console. A reviewer on staff reads every report. Content that breaks this policy is removed; content that is merely negative stays.
Every decision is recorded with who made it and the reason, and the author is notified. We do not remove a review because a business paid us or asked us to.
08Takedown requests
To request removal on legal grounds, write to legal@nearbyreview.in with the URL, the content in question and the basis for the request. We acknowledge within 24 hours and act within 15 days, or within 36 hours of a valid order from a court or government agency as the Intermediary Guidelines require.
09Appeals
If your content was removed or your listing was unpublished, reply to the notification or write to support@nearbyreview.in. A different staff member reviews appeals.