How we calculate your Fairness Score.
Every score is driven by data, not opinion. Here's the plain-English explanation of every decision we make — and every source we use — to produce a number you can defend in any service conversation.
1. Where Our Data Comes From
We use three independent data layers, cross-referenced to eliminate outliers and regional distortions:
Industry Labor Rate Guides
Certified labor rate benchmarks published by trade associations and industry bodies for each service category (auto repair, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc.). These guides are updated quarterly and reflect the rate that a reasonably skilled professional in a given trade should charge per hour in a given region.
Regional Transaction Data
Verified, anonymized service quotes and invoices aggregated by ZIP code and updated monthly. This is the most location-sensitive layer — it tells us what people in your specific area are actually paying right now, not a national average.
Anonymized Community Submissions
With explicit permission, quotes analyzed on FairDealCheck are contributed to our database after all identifying information is removed. This layer provides real-time market signals that commercial databases often lag on. You can opt out at any time.
2. How the Score Is Calculated
Your 0–100 Fairness Score is a weighted composite of three measurements:
| Signal | Weight | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Rate Deviation | 40% | Your quoted hourly labor rate vs. the regional certified benchmark. A 20%+ markup triggers a significant score penalty. |
| Parts Markup Analysis | 35% | Parts have transparent distributor and retail price points. We flag anything priced significantly above standard retail or distributor cost. |
| Total Price Deviation | 25% | The total quote vs. the market-rate range for your specific job type, vehicle/home type, and ZIP code. |
3. What the Score Means
4. Our Independence Guarantee
FairDealCheck is not affiliated with any service provider network, parts supplier, auto dealer group, or home services marketplace. We have no financial incentive to score any quote higher or lower than the data supports.
We make money only when you subscribe to a plan. We never make money when you receive, upload, or act on a quote. This means our scores cannot be influenced by advertisers, service partners, or platform economics.
This is the same independence standard held by Consumer Reports, Wirecutter, and major consumer advocacy organizations. We believe pricing data is only trustworthy when the publisher has nothing to gain from the outcome.
Data Last Updated
March 2026 — Regional rates recalibrated monthly
Dataset Size
84,000+ verified quotes across 50 states
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