How we rank, and what the score really means.

Reputation on ActiveHustler is meant to be honest, explainable, and impossible to buy. This page sets out how the Trust Score is computed, how search rankings work, your right to human review under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and how to appeal.

Last updated: 26 May 2026  ·  Effective date: 26 May 2026  ·  Applies to: All search results and provider profiles

1. The Trust Score in one sentence

The Trust Score is a single 0-100 number that summarises how a hustler has actually behaved on ActiveHustler. It is computed from five drivers, weighted toward recent activity, and recalculated every time a job is completed with a customer PIN.

2. The five drivers

The maximum score is 100, split across the five drivers shown below.

3. Recency matters more than history

Reviews and completed jobs from the last 90 days count at full weight. Older activity counts at progressively lower weight (approximately 60% at 90-180 days, 35% at 180-365 days, and 15% beyond a year). The score therefore stays responsive to how a hustler behaves today, not who they were two years ago.

4. When the score updates

• On every PIN-confirmed completed job.
• On every accepted lead and every verified review.
• On every verification-check status change.
• When a report is opened or its moderation status changes.

Every recalculation is stored as a snapshot so a hustler can see how their score has changed over time and we can audit how a specific number was computed. Snapshots are retained for the life of the account and form part of the data we make available on a data-subject access request -- see the Privacy Notice.

5. How search results are ranked

When a customer searches, results are ranked by a combination of signals, not by who paid the most. The ranking factors are:

• Service fit -- match between the customer's query and the hustler's primary category and synonyms.
• Location fit -- overlap between the customer's location and the hustler's service areas (or remote-readiness when the work is remote).
• Verification depth -- more completed verifications rank higher.
• Review quality -- average rating and number of verified reviews.
• Response speed -- recent median time to accept a lead.
• Completed-job signals -- number and recency of PIN-confirmed jobs.
• Profile completeness -- bio, services, photos, price ranges.
• Recent activity -- accounts that have responded or completed work recently rank above dormant ones.
• Budget fit -- when the customer states a budget, hustlers within that range score higher.
• Complaint penalties -- open reports reduce ranking until resolved.
• Pro subscription boost (clearly labelled) -- Pro-subscribed hustlers receive a modest, capped visibility boost. We label this boost on every search result it affects.

6. Automated decision-making and your right to human review

The Trust Score and the search ranking are produced by automated processing. Section 37 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 grants you the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing -- including profiling -- that produce legal or similarly significant effects on you.

You may at any time:

• request a clear explanation of how a Trust Score, ranking penalty, verification denial, or moderation action affecting you was reached;
• request human review of that decision by an ActiveHustler reviewer who was not involved in the original decision;
• express your point of view and contest the decision;
• where the decision relied on inaccurate or incomplete data, ask us to correct the data and recalculate.

Some moderation outcomes always involve a human (for example, profile suspensions for safety reasons). Where a decision relied substantially on automation, we will tell you so on request.

7. What we do not do

8. Premium / Pro subscription disclosure

Hustlers can subscribe to a Pro tier to receive priority leads, profile analytics, and a small, capped placement boost in matching search results. Pro placements are visibly labelled on the search result. The boost cannot override verification depth, complaint penalties, response discipline, or work quality -- it sits inside the ranking, not above it. A hustler with poor verified-job signals will not outrank a higher-trust hustler simply by paying. Pricing for Pro is disclosed inclusive of 7.5% VAT.

9. How to improve your score

1. Complete more verifications (phone, NIN, CAC, guild or guarantor proof).
2. Respond to matched leads quickly -- a polite decline is better than silence.
3. Finish jobs through the completion-PIN workflow so reviews are unlocked properly.
4. Keep your profile complete and current: bio, photos, price ranges, service areas.
5. Resolve any open reports -- talk to the customer first, escalate to admin if needed.

10. How to appeal a score or moderation outcome

If you believe a score, ranking penalty, verification denial, or moderation decision is wrong, you can appeal. We will assign a human reviewer (not an automated process) who was not involved in the original decision to look at the underlying snapshots, evidence, and dispute history.

1. Email support@activehustler.com with the subject line "Trust score appeal" or "Moderation appeal."
2. Tell us which decision you are contesting and why. Attach evidence (photos, screenshots, chat transcripts).
3. We acknowledge within 3 working days and aim to resolve within 14 working days.
4. If the appeal is upheld, the score is recalculated and the moderation action reversed; if it is not upheld, you receive a written explanation citing the data and rules relied on.
5. If you remain dissatisfied, you may complain to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission at ndpc.gov.ng for matters concerning automated decision-making about your personal data, or to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission at fccpc.gov.ng for matters concerning fair commercial practice.

11. Quick reference

12. Contact

Support & appeals: support@activehustler.com
Privacy: privacy@activehustler.com
Data Protection Officer: dpo@activehustler.com
Operator: ActiveHustler / stayguided.tech
Postal location: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

This disclosure is reviewed periodically and will be updated when ranking, premium visibility, legal, technical, or operational changes require it.