I have found the same thing as you.  What I try to do is look at a specific review and also look at the other reviews he has posted, looking for providers that I have in common with him.  That way I can get some idea of the other reviewer's veracity.  I will not see a provider with only 1 review unless the review is by someone I know of.  I also stay away from providers that have a big swing in performance ratings (ie - one guy gives her a 3 and another gives her an 8).  This helps alot, and since using TER (since December) I have only had 1 experience that fell short of expectation, and that was my own fault.