# Evidence Quality and Vendor Claims ## Grade each claim by who can check it | Grade | Example | Use | | --- | --- | --- | | A | Audit report, signed contract, bank record | Base a decision on it | | B | Reference call with a named customer | Use with a second source | | C | Vendor case study with no baseline | Treat as a hypothesis | | D | Website claim, logo wall, partner badge | Treat as marketing | > [!warning] Common traps > A partner logo does not prove a contract. A list of regulator names does not prove compliance. A "percent faster" figure with no baseline is not a result. ## Why it matters Most public information about this type of company is grade C or D. The diligence plan must move key claims up to grade A or B. ## Related - [[AI Deployment Layer MOC]] - [[Value Measurement and Pricing]] - [[Technical DD Framework]]