Review Methodology — GeekPenny

What we score

We rate providers on a 0.0–5.0 editor score derived from four to six category-specific dimensions. Dimensions and weights vary by vertical (you can't grade a credit-card processor on the same axes as a mortgage lender), but every rubric is published and applied uniformly within its category.

Scoring dimensions

Mortgages & refinance

Rate & fee competitiveness (35%) — APR ranges, lender fees, discount points, rate-lock terms
Eligibility breadth (20%) — credit score floor, DTI flexibility, self-employed and non-QM support
Application experience (15%) — digital application, document upload, time-to-clear-to-close
Loan options (15%) — conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, ARM, HELOC, construction
Customer service (10%) — JD Power score, BBB rating, Trustpilot, complaint volume
Transparency (5%) — published rates, fee disclosure quality

Credit cards

Rewards value vs. spend profile (30%)
Sign-up bonus value adjusted for spend requirement (15%)
APR & fees (15%)
Card-specific perks (15%)
Approval odds & eligibility (15%)
Issuer service quality (10%)

Merchant services / payment processing

Effective rate on representative ticket sizes (30%)
Pricing transparency (interchange-plus vs. tiered) (20%)
Contract terms — month-to-month vs. multi-year, ETF (15%)
Hardware & gateway compatibility (15%)
Industry fit and high-risk support (10%)
Service & chargeback support (10%)

Insurance

Quoted premium vs. state benchmark (30%)
Discount eligibility (15%)
Coverage breadth and policy options (20%)
Claims handling — JD Power, NAIC complaint index (20%)
Financial strength — AM Best rating (10%)
Digital experience (5%)

Data inputs

Wherever possible we pull from primary sources: provider rate sheets, Loan Estimates, NMLS records, NAIC filings, JD Power, BBB, Trustpilot, federal datasets (CFPB complaint database, HMDA, FRED, BLS, Census), and our own mystery-shopping. Data sources are listed on each page's Data Sources block.

How often we re-score

Rate-sensitive pages — re-checked weekly during normal markets, daily during volatile rate environments.
Reviews & best-of guides — full re-score quarterly, partial refresh whenever a provider changes pricing or policies.
Comparison (vs.) pages — re-scored whenever either provider's underlying review is re-scored.

What disqualifies a provider

Active CFPB enforcement action or state-level cease-and-desist
BBB rating below B−
Documented pattern of bait-and-switch pricing
Refusal to publish basic pricing or fee structure to the public

Conflict-of-interest controls

Reviewers don't see partnership status when scoring. Final scores are spot-checked by a second editor before publication. See our Editorial Policy for the broader rules.