Reviews feel like evidence because they are written by real people with real experiences. They are useful for one thing: showing you where a process tends to break. They are weak at telling you whether a contract will serve you well. Read them as a list of questions to bring back to the paper, not as a grade.
Sort by what the complaint describes
A complaint about a specific step, such as the documents requested, the time a claim sat without a reply, or the way a cancellation was handled, tells you something checkable. A complaint that only says the company was bad tells you very little. Keep the specific ones and set the rest aside.
Check whether the complaints describe your contract
Contracts change, and reviews can describe an older form or a different product. Look at the dates the reviewer gives and compare the complaint against the form you are considering. A problem with a term that no longer exists is not a warning about the term you would sign.
Watch for patterns on the same step
One angry review proves little. Several reviews that describe the same step going wrong give you a question to ask: what does the provider require at that point, and what does it commit to in writing? Use the pattern to shape your questions about the claims process and the dispute terms, not to reach a verdict.
Discount what you cannot check
Be skeptical of reviews posted by a shop, a seller, or a rival that may benefit from a result. Be equally careful with reviews that offer no detail. Our own approach, including what we count and what we leave out, is laid out on our scoring method page, so you can compare how any source handles the same kind of evidence.