Our rules

How we write to food businesses

Last updated: 20 October 2026

FirstVisit prepares and posts letters for local pest-control firms, in the firm's own name, to food businesses that have just opened and to those with a low food hygiene rating (0 to 2). These are the rules we follow for every letter. The firm approves the list and the wording before anything is posted, and these rules apply whatever is approved.

Why we have these rules

Several UK councils have publicly warned food businesses about firms that approach premises awaiting an inspection or with a low hygiene rating, sometimes claiming a link with the council or using pressure tactics to sell contracts (for example, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Shropshire Council). Running a food business is hard enough. We want every letter we post to be something a business owner is glad to receive, or can easily ignore.

Letters by post only

We only ever write by post. We never email, phone or text the businesses we write to. If a business wants to get in touch, it contacts the pest firm directly.

No council, FSA or inspector link

FirstVisit and the firms we work with are independent businesses. Our letters never claim or imply a link with a council, the Food Standards Agency, an inspector or any government body, and they never use official logos. Every letter says that it is not from, or endorsed by, any of them.

No scare tactics

Our letters don't threaten, warn of fines or closure, or create false urgency. They never guess at pests or problems at the premises, never suggest why a rating might be low, and never quote a hygiene rating or score.

A positive tone for new openings

For a business that has just opened, the letter welcomes it to the area and offers a free, no-obligation pest survey or advice.

A gentle offer of help for low-rated businesses

For a business with a low rating, the letter simply offers help, for example if it is preparing for a re-inspection. It doesn't mention the rating or assume anything is wrong. You can see both versions on our sample letter.

Who it's from, and how to stop letters

Every letter says clearly which firm it is from, that FirstVisit prepared and posted it, and how to stop letters. When a business asks us to stop, we act on it promptly and add it to our do-not-write list, which we check before every batch, so it won't get any more letters from that firm or from FirstVisit.

Your information

We use only public information about food businesses, such as the business name, premises address and type of business, and we leave out businesses that appear to be run from home. We never sell personal data. For full details, including how long we keep information and your rights, see our privacy notice.

Questions or concerns

If you've received a letter and something doesn't seem right, or you'd like us to stop writing to you, email hello@yourfirstvisit.co.uk.