Recognition policy

Recognition says one thing: that members of the NoirFriendly community recommended this business for how they were treated. It is not a certification, an endorsement, an inspection, or a promise about any future visit.

Earning it

A business becomes eligible when it reaches the community threshold of approved recommendations from distinct members within a twelve month period. The threshold is not published so that it cannot be gamed. Only written recommendations count. Location check-ins do not.

Before an offer goes out, our team reviews the account signals behind the recommendations and any private concerns. An open concern pauses recognition until our team has looked at it.

Accepting it

An eligible business receives a mailed offer letter with a one-time claim code. Recognition is free. It cannot be bought, sponsored, or requested, and nobody pays to appear anywhere on NoirFriendly. A business may decline.

The decal

A Recognized business receives a window decal stamped with the year and a unique QR code. Anyone can scan it, or check it at noirfriendly.com/b followed by its code, to see whether the recognition is active.

Renewal and expiry

Recognition lasts twelve months and renews when the business keeps earning recommendations during that time. If it does not, the recognition expires and the decal shows as inactive when scanned. We ask that an inactive decal be taken down. A business can earn recognition again at any time.

Withdrawal

We can withdraw recognition before it expires. Reasons include:

• a pattern of credible private concerns;
• evidence that recommendations were solicited, rewarded, or paid for;
• a change of ownership.

We notify the business in writing and explain the reason. A withdrawn decal shows as inactive when scanned. The business page and its published recommendations remain available.

Questions

Owners can write to hello at noirfriendly.com about any decision. A person reads every message. See also How recognition works.