FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

• No email with activation link received?
  Please check first whether our email with the activation link has ended up in the spam folder of your mailbox. The email sent by TESTANDO has the sender address "TESTANDO GmbH <info@testando.de>".
  
  If you still have not received an email with an activation link, please contact our support team via the contact form.
• Who can participate in TESTANDO as a tester?
  Anyone who likes to eat out, stays in hotels and appreciates good service can participate.
  You must be between 18 and 99 years of age and have a European bank account (Swiss bank account also possible) for reimbursement.
• Is participation for the tester in TESTANDO free of charge?
  Yes, participation for testers is absolutely free of charge
• On what principle are tests assigned?
  Tests are always assigned according to the "first come - first serve" principle.
  New restaurant tests are always activated on Mondays at 10 am.
  New hotel tests are always activated on the first of the month.
• What does the VIP status mean and does it influence the test assignment?
  There are the VIP statuses Bronze, Silver and Gold. Decisive for the status is the evaluation of the last three tests.
  If the last three tests were evaluated with a total of at least 9 stars, the tester receives the VIP status Gold and he can accept all restaurants and hotels on testando.de.
  If a total of four to eight stars were achieved in the last three tests, the tester receives the VIP status Silver and is only activated for Bronze and Silver locations.
  A completed test can be evaluated with up to four stars, so that at least three tests are required to achieve VIP status Gold.
  The better the VIP status, the more tests the tester can accept in parallel (VIP status Gold: max. 3 tests in parallel, VIP status Silver: max. 2 tests in parallel, VIP status Bronze: max. 1 test).
  A higher VIP status has no positive influence on the test assignment. Only the time of acceptance of the test by the tester is decisive for the test assignment.
• Can you lose your VIP status again?
  Yes, the eligibility for VIP status is checked continuously based on the last three completed tests. It is therefore possible to switch between VIP statuses at any time.
• How can you delete your account again?
  You can find this function under the menu "My TESTANDO --> Delete account". In the logged in area please click here.
• How can you as a restaurateur/hotelier join TESTANDO?
  Write to us and we will contact you and provide you with all the necessary information. To the contact form.

Questions about the test

• How to write
  Please express your opinion from your own perspective in complete sentences and use correct spelling and punctuation. Unfortunately, if there are too many spelling mistakes, we will have to deduct points from the rating.
• What has to be evaluated in a test?
  The test questions for restaurant tests (usually multiple choice) are compiled from the following topics, among others: Reservations, ambience and spirit, cleanliness and furnishings, service, food and beverages, sales activities, overall impression and much more
  The test questions for hotel tests (usually multiple choice) are compiled from the following subject areas, among others: Reservation, check-in, room, room service, wellness, hotel restaurant, check-out and much more
• How many questions does a test have?
  A restaurant test can have between 50 and 120 questions. A hotel test can have between 120 and 200 questions.
• What is the limit?
  The entertainment costs or accommodation costs are only reimbursed up to the limit.
  Example: The limit is 100,- Euro. The repayment at 50%.
  Variant 1: The hospitality costs or overnight expenses are 80,- Euro. You get 40,- Euro refunded.
  Variant 2: The entertainment costs or accommodation costs are 120,- Euro. You will be refunded 50,- Euro.
• Does the specified test time have to be adhered to exactly?
  The test time specifies a time frame in which the main part of the test has to be carried out. So if the specified test time is 12:00h to 15:00h, the test must not start at 11:00h and end at 12:15h for example. However, the test should start at 14:00h and end at 15:15h. The start time has to be kept exactly, the end time can also exceed the given test time because you want to stay sitting or drink something for a longer time
• May the invoice amount (entertainment costs or accommodation costs) be above the limit?
  Yes, the invoice amount can be as high as you wish. The limit is only the limit for calculating the reimbursement costs. The partial amount above the limit is not reimbursed.
• What is the minimum consumption?
  Your bill must at least reach or exceed the amount of the minimum consumption.
• How to prepare for a test?
  Detailed information on the test procedure can be found in the test guide under the menu "My TESTANDO --> Open Tests". In the logged in area please click here.
• How many accompanying persons can be taken per test?
  This is left to the tester. There is no specification. There is only the limit of reimbursement, namely the upper limit and for some tests a minimum consumption (= invoice amount, which must be reached at least).
• Are the drinks and food for the accompanying persons also refunded?
  Yes.
• Can a third person act as tester?
  No, each tester must perform the test independently.
• Is it allowed to be a tester on site?
  No, absolutely not. The tests must always be performed anonymously. Any behaviour indicating that a test has been carried out, such as writing or filling in the test on site or speaking loudly about the test, must be strictly avoided and will lead to the exclusion of the tester from TESTANDO.
• How do you have to pay the bill on site?
  You can pay with all means of payment offered by the location. The chosen means of payment has no influence on the reimbursement by TESTANDO.
• How long do you have time for the online test evaluation?
  The test must be handed in no later than 48 hours after the test has been taken. A refund for late submission is no longer possible.
  Example: If you go to the test on Sunday evening, you must submit the test by Tuesday evening at the latest.
• May a location be tested several times by the same tester?
  Yes, that is possible. However, you cannot retest the same location for 6 weeks. After the 6 week period, a test acceptance of this location is possible again. Of course this only applies to this already tested location. Other locations are still available for acceptance. You can test as many (different) locations as you want.
• Will my test be graded too?
  Yes, we award 1 to 4 stars for a test. After each test, the tester receives an e-mail with our evaluation and the reason for it.
  Our evaluation criteria can be found in the member area under the menu "My TESTANDO --> Finished tests". In the logged in area please click here.
• Can I cancel my test?
  Yes. If you cannot take a test on time for personal reasons, it is possible to cancel the test. A test cancellation should rather be the exception. If you cancel too often, we reserve the right to block your account. The test cancellation can be done in the menu "My TESTANDO --> Open tests". In the logged in area please click here.

Questions about refund

• Is anything excluded from reimbursement?
  Yes.
  For restaurant tests: Tip, tobacco products and all food and beverages not consumed on site.
  For hotel tests: Tip, tobacco products, parking, taxes such as visitor's tax, products from the hotel's own shops, all other additional booked services such as mountain bike tours and all food and beverages if these were not explicitly required by the test specifications.
• What is an original invoice?
  Every business must be able to issue an invoice (hospitality receipt in the restaurant) with VAT shown. In addition, the invoice must contain information on the restaurant or owner, company, place, day and amount of expenses.
• Do I have to fill in the hospitality receipt with name, occasion, amount, etc.?
  No, please don't fill in.
• How long does it take for TESTANDO to reimburse you?
  After our examination of the invoice items, you will receive the expenses within 10 days, paid into the bank account indicated.
• Do I have to pay tax on the reimbursement of TESTANDO?
  No. You are not registered by us as an employee, mini-jobber or working student and do not have to pay any taxes, insurances or anything else.
• Can the expenses only be reimbursed by bank transfer?
  Yes, there is no other way.
• Does the tester also have to be the account holder?
  Yes, otherwise the expenses cannot be transferred. For a successful reimbursement you must enter your correct first and last name as well as the IBAN number of your bank account under menu "My TESTANDO --> Change my data". In the logged in area please click here.
• What happens if the original invoice (catering receipt in the restaurant) is lost?
  Without proof of the costs paid, we cannot provide a refund. If the receipt is lost and there is still a copy (highly recommended), we can make a refund in exceptional cases. Please use our contact form to clarify your case.
  
  Tip: Many establishments can issue invoices on request even after the event.