The Center relied solely on internet keyword searches to determine whether a company was trustworthy (photo by StockLite/Shutterstock.com)

Ügyfél Vélemény Vizsgálati Központ (Client Opinion Investigation Center) awarded businesses “Consumer Opinion” certificates, for a charge, based on internet searches it made using company names and words suggesting distrust, such as “dishonest,” “deceptive” and “cheat.” If the search produced no hits, the firm awarded a certificate.

GVH said the test was insufficient to determine a companyʼs trustworthiness and ordered it to discontinue the practice.

In 2016, GVH already fined the company for a similar scheme, where it had offered “Trusted Company” certificates.