Claim verification policy
This policy explains how Local Australia decides that the person claiming a listing really represents that business. Verification protects owners from impersonation and protects readers from edited-by-a-stranger information. Every approved claim also sends US$1 to charity.
1. Purpose and principles
Our aim is to reasonably confirm a connection between you and the business, not to rule on who owns it. Verification on Local Australia is not a legal certificate of ownership, a licence or a government registration, and it gives no rights beyond those described in section 6. Ownership disputes belong to the parties and, where needed, to the courts.
2. Who may claim
- The owner, a director or a partner of the business;
- A manager or staff member authorised to speak for it;
- An agency or consultant holding written authorisation from the owner (see section 8).
You are responsible for everything you send us being accurate, complete and not misleading. We may ask for documents before deciding.
3. How we verify
3.1 Quick checks (most claims)
- Business e-mail. A claim sent from an address at the business’s own domain (for example [email protected]) is the strongest simple signal.
- Phone call. We may call the number shown on the listing and ask for you.
- Public trace. Your name or role appears on the business’s website, Google Business Profile, social pages or on the shop sign.
3.2 Documents (when quick checks are not enough)
| Business exists | An ABN lookup record or ASIC company extract showing the business or trading name, or a business-name registration certificate. |
|---|---|
| Business operates at this address | A council rates or business permit notice, a lease, a utility bill in the business name, or a dated photo of the shopfront with the sign. |
| You belong to it | Your name on the ABN or ASIC record, a signed authorisation letter on company letterhead, or an e-mail from the business domain. |
3.3 What we look for
- Consistency: the name and address on the documents match the listing and the shop front.
- Recency: bills and leases ideally from the last 3–6 months.
- Authenticity: clear photos or scans; no cropping of stamps, seals or dates; no retouching.
- Connection: a clear link between you and the business on the documents or the e-mail domain.
Send only what we ask for and blank out anything we do not need, such as tax file numbers. We delete document copies within 30 days of the decision.
4. The review process
- Received. Your claim is logged and queued. You get an acknowledgement by e-mail.
- Risk assessment. Claims with strong signals (business domain, matching public records) are approved quickly, usually within 2 working days. Weaker claims go to step 3.
- Additional verification. We e-mail you for documents or a call. Please answer within 14 days or the claim lapses; you can claim again later.
- Decision. We e-mail the outcome. Approval switches on the ✓ Verified badge, editing rights and the direct website link, and adds US$1 to the month’s charity donation.
We aim to decide every claim within 7 working days. Complex or contested cases may take longer; we will tell you.
5. Competing claims and disputes
If two people claim the same listing, or a verified listing is claimed by someone else, we may pause editing rights until the matter is clear. Our role is limited to checking who meets this policy; we do not decide legal ownership. Evidence must be unambiguous, genuine and carry the authority it claims to carry. Unresolved disputes are for the parties to settle between themselves or through the courts, after which we will follow a court order or a joint written instruction.
6. What verification gives you
- Editing of the name, address, phone, website, opening hours, categories and description;
- Choice of photos, within our content rules;
- The ✓ Verified badge and a direct (do-follow) link to your website;
- Reply to messages we forward about the listing.
Verification does not change your ranking. Access can be limited or removed under section 7 or under the terms of use.
7. Suspension and revocation
We suspend or permanently revoke verification when we find:
- False verification: forged, altered or borrowed documents, or any material deception;
- Impersonation: claiming a business you do not represent, or overstating your role;
- Name manipulation: stuffing the business name with keywords, phone numbers, prices or slogans;
- Rating manipulation: buying, pressuring or trading reviews, on this site or on Google;
- System abuse: automated edits, repeated re-claims to evade a decision, or reporting genuine content to hide honest criticism.
Decisions are final on the platform level and do not prevent either side from seeking legal remedies. A business whose verification was revoked for fraud is not eligible for the charity donation and may be excluded from claiming for 12 months.
8. Agencies and representatives
Agencies and consultants may claim on behalf of a client with a written authorisation naming the business, the agency and the scope. We may confirm the authorisation directly with the business through its listed phone or domain. The business remains responsible for everything its representative does; misconduct by a representative can lead to action against the listing.
9. Changes of ownership
When a business changes hands, the new owner claims the listing as usual and should mention the change. We will contact the previous verified account before transferring rights. A transferred listing does not count as a new claim for the charity donation.
10. Contact
Questions about a claim: email us. Please quote the listing URL. Last updated 15 September 2026.