What "Not stated" means on a comparison

When you are comparing businesses on Annuvell Local and see "Not stated" in the facts, it can be tempting to treat that as a No. In reality, it simply means there is no evidence either way for that fact. Understanding what "Not stated" means, and how it fits alongside the other comparison labels, helps you make better choices—whether you are a customer weighing options or a business owner updating your listing.

What "Not stated" actually means

"Not stated" is used when the directory has no evidence for or against a particular fact about a business. It is not a negative: it just means the information is missing, not confirmed, and not denied. For example, if you are comparing three electricians and see "Not stated" for online booking on one of them, Annuvell Local has not found this detail in the business's published information, nor has the owner added it.

Some facts are category-specific, such as emergency call-outs for plumbers, while others are general (like wheelchair access or card payments). "Not stated" might appear for any of these if the business's information does not answer the point. It is a placeholder for "we do not know" rather than "we know this is not offered".

Why "Not stated" is never shown as No

Directories like Annuvell Local are careful not to make negative claims without evidence. Showing "Not stated" as No would be misleading and could unfairly exclude businesses that simply have not published a detail or have not yet updated their profile. Consider a plumber who does emergency work but has never written it in their listing or told Annuvell Local—there is no basis to say they do not offer it. Treating "Not stated" as No would penalise businesses for missing information, not for a lack of service.

This approach protects both customers and owners: customers are not discouraged from asking about a service that might be available, and owners are not misrepresented just because of an incomplete profile. It avoids assumptions and leaves the door open for further enquiry.

How to check facts marked "Not stated" as a customer

If you notice "Not stated" on a comparison for something that matters to you—such as wheelchair access, free quotes, or weekend opening—take extra steps before making a decision. Annuvell Local gives you several options:

• Phone the business: The most direct way is to call and ask about the specific service or feature. Businesses usually list a verified phone number, so you can check details quickly.
• Read the business description: Sometimes the answer you need is in the written description, even if the specific fact is not marked on the comparison. Owners may mention services, special arrangements, or facilities here.
• Send a quote request: If you are comparing two to four businesses, you can use the compare tool to send one quote request to all of them. In your message, ask about any "Not stated" facts that matter to you.
• Do not filter out businesses based solely on "Not stated": If you filter for a fact, only those with a Yes (under any label) will show. But if a business you are interested in is "Not stated", consider contacting them before ruling them out.

This approach puts you in control of filling in any blanks, so you do not miss out on a suitable business just because their listing is incomplete.

How owners can update or confirm facts

Business owners have a direct route to resolving "Not stated" labels. If you see this on your own listing, it means Annuvell Local could not find evidence for that fact. You can:

• Edit your description and services: Log in to your dashboard and add or update details about your services, accessibility, payment methods, and more. The more complete your profile, the fewer "Not stated" gaps will appear.
• Provide evidence for verification: Some facts, like verified phone numbers or opening hours, can be backed by published information. If you add these to your listing, the label may change from "Not stated" to "verified".
• Check your profile completeness: The dashboard shows you what is missing, and offers an AI-enhanced preview before anything is published. Nothing goes live without your approval.
• Claim your listing if you have not already: If you find your business on Annuvell Local but have not claimed it yet, start with Find my business. Claiming is free and lets you control your information.

A more detailed profile helps customers make better decisions and can prompt more enquiries, especially for facts customers commonly filter by.

How "Not stated" interacts with filters and comparison tools

When you use filters in search or on a category page—such as "wheelchair accessible" or "free quote"—Annuvell Local only shows businesses where that fact is positively labelled, whether as verified, provided by the business, or stated. "Not stated" never matches a Yes filter. This means you might miss businesses that do offer the feature but have not yet confirmed it.

In the side-by-side compare tool, "Not stated" lets you see which facts are unknown, rather than assumed to be No. It helps you spot where to ask questions before deciding or requesting a quote. As a customer, keep in mind that a blank is not a No—and as an owner, each "Not stated" is a prompt to fill in the detail.

The four comparison labels side by side

Every comparison fact on Annuvell Local is marked with one of four public labels:

• Verified: Backed by evidence from the business's own published information (such as their website or official documents). This is the highest confidence level.
• Provided by the business: Stated by a verified owner through their dashboard. The owner has confirmed this fact but it has not been independently checked.
• Stated: The information appears in published sources from the business, but has not been independently verified by Annuvell Local.
• Not stated: No evidence found by Annuvell Local, and the owner has not supplied it. This is never a No—just a missing or unconfirmed fact.

You can read more about these labels and how they work in Verified, stated and provided by the business: comparison labels explained, or see how facts are sourced in How Annuvell comparisons work.

Next steps

If you are comparing businesses, pay attention to any "Not stated" facts that matter for your choice—then phone or message the business to ask directly. Owners should review their listings and add or confirm details, so customers have fewer blanks to fill in. You can start a comparison or send a quote request using the compare tool, or claim your listing through Find my business if you want to update your facts.