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From the business
Bark is an online marketplace that connects customers with local and online professionals.
We take the hassle out of finding the right professional for any job. Whether you’re looking for a cleaner in Nottingham, a web design in Boston or a personal trainer in Auckland - with over 2000 professional services in 8 countries, you’re bound to find the perfect professional for your project on Bark. Simply tell us what you need and will send you a list of professionals - for free!
Need new customers? We’ve helped thousands of businesses of all sizes keep find new clients. We’re passionate about helping businesses of all sizes find customers for life.
Life’s better with Bark.
Bark Reviews Summary
Bark has a rating of 2.6 stars from 1,649 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers dissatisfied with Bark most frequently mention customer service, phone number and potential clients. Bark ranks 1st among Service Marketplace sites.
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Have purchased thousands of leads from Bark.com for over 5 years, the last 2 years as an Elite Pro. I would not recommend it to anyone and will not spend extra for this feature. I was overcharged over 2 weeks ago. All they did was ignore my numerous calls, & emails and waste my time. After numerous attempts, I received an email stating they would reimburse me the $220- but they wanted me to spend $55 on more leads, which I did immediately and sent in copy of new purchase. Its now been over 1 week, and still no promised refund of the fraudulent charge. If I dont get it today, I will discontinue use of Bark, and will dispute all charges. Their actions are reckless, and I will not tolerate it much longer.
I have spent over £100 on Bark and have not received a single genuine lead. Before purchasing credits, I was told there was a Get Hired Guarantee and that if I didn't get any leads, the credits would be returned. What wasn't made clear is that this "guarantee" can only be claimed once — something I was never told before spending more money. Even worse, if the leads are unresponsive, it's pointless. I've reached out promptly to every "lead" provided, only to receive no replies. Bark's business model means you can spend hundreds without any return, and their so-called guarantee offers almost no real protection for customers. This has been a complete waste of time and money, and I feel misled by the way the service was sold to me. I will not be using Bark again and would caution others to read the small print before spending a penny.
We are a small architectural design company, we bought credits but the quality of the leads is devestatingly poor. People sign up to ask basic questions like what will it cost me, they say they will hire someone and then pull the job, a lot of the leads dont even answetr phones or respond to emails and a lot of the time the number given is for the wrong person. They offer a return of your credits (which are expensive 300 quid gets you around 15 shots). They also have a very wierd pricing structure some leads are 28 points and some 16 for the same work. The customer service team is a bunch of robits who read out theor returns policy and do what they can to avoid actually helping or tell you that yor profile needs improving. Tried this for a couple years and they are absolutely not worth a penny, we lost only around 600 quid to this scam but as far as architectural leads go its pitiful.
Hi Wizard,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear you had a poor experience and that the leads didn’t meet your expectations. While we aren’t a scam and don’t make fake leads, we understand it can be frustrating if the leads aren’t responsive or don’t convert. All our leads are generated through automated scans for quality, but we can’t control whether a lead follows through.
You may be eligible for a credit return depending on the case, and you can review our credit return policy by visiting the Help Centre. If you’d like us to look into your account specifically, please contact team@bark.com
directly, and our team will review your situation.
The Bark Team
I initially joined three years ago and bought the starter pack of credits for $64. I was told then, if I did not get hired by the time I used up all my credits "Applying" for leads (inquiries for work), I would be refunded my money. Time went on, I applied for the few leads that came my way. I received frequent emails from Bark stating people in my area were requesting my type of services in record numbers, yet I received sporadic leads/ requests. Eventually I went through all my credits. I was never hired and never had any follow up requests for meets or further information. It was a disappointing endeavor. Interestingly, I was notified by Bark my profile looked great and I kept up on quickly responding to leads. Then I eventually used up all my credits and was never hired once. I contacted Bark to get my original $64 refunded. I was notified they do not refund purchases made, nor refund credits. I was out $64 despite their promises and now have n nothing to show for my investment. Advice: Don't bother. The other complication is customers looking for a service don't always realize it costs service providers credits to respond, even to just get more information to see if their job is a good match.
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, and I’m really sorry to hear that you didn’t see the results you were hoping for on the platform.
We understand how frustrating it can be to invest in leads and not secure work. While we do aim to provide a strong flow of opportunities, the outcome can vary depending on location, industry, customer responsiveness, and competition from other professionals.
Regarding your credit pack, our refund policy does not include unused or spent credits unless there has been a clear issue with the leads provided. However, we do have a credit return policy in place if a lead is unresponsive or invalid — and we’re always happy to look into these cases.
We also understand the concern about customers not realizing the cost professionals incur to respond. We try to educate users about how Bark works from both sides, but we appreciate that this isn’t always obvious — and your feedback on this is noted.
If you’d like us to review your case again in more detail, please don’t hesitate to reach out to team@bark.com. We’re here to help.
The Bark Team
My Honest Review of Bark.com: A Costly Lesson for New Professionals
I want to share my experience with Bark.com in hopes that it helps other professionals make informed decisions. At first, Bark seems like a helpful platform—connecting service providers ("pros") with potential clients. But after using it for a short time, I realized the system feels built more for Bark's profit than for the success of its users. 🚨 The Real Issue: Pay First, Hope Later
The biggest issue? The cost of leads.
You're required to pay just to view a customer's contact information, and in many cases, this cost is $10 or more per lead. That might be manageable if those leads reliably turned into real jobs—but they often don't. Like many new users, I started with optimism. I believed, "Just one more lead and I'll land a job."
But within one week, I had spent nearly $500 on leads—and I hadn't booked a single confirmed client. Bark makes it incredibly easy to burn through your budget without seeing real results. To be clear, I understand the need for a platform to charge fees. If I had successfully booked jobs, I wouldn't have minded paying a percentage. But Bark charges upfront—before any deal is made—and the return on investment just isn't there, at least not for new or small businesses. 📉 Designed in Favor of Customers, Not Pros
It's worth noting that the structure of Bark.com may feel convenient for customers, since they get matched with multiple pros without any cost or commitment. However, for the professionals paying for those leads, it's a high-risk system. If you're not careful, you can easily overspend with nothing to show for it. And here's a key point: If a customer truly has a specific need, most qualified professionals already have their own websites or portfolios.
In many cases, it's better and more cost-effective for clients to reach out directly to those providers, rather than using a middleman platform that profits from both sides. My Recommendation
If you're considering Bark.com as a pro, proceed with caution: Set a strict monthly budget Track your conversion rate Don't fall into the trap of "just one more lead" And if you're a customer, know that while Bark may seem convenient, direct communication with pros through their own websites is often faster, cheaper, and more personal.
Hi Fort,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We understand your frustration and that the platform may not have met your expectations as a new professional. We want to clarify that we aren’t a scam and do not provide fake leads. All our leads are generated automatically to match professionals with potential clients, but we can’t control whether a lead converts or responds.
We also have a credit return policy depending on the circumstances. You can review our policy by visiting the Help Centre, and if you’d like us to look into your account specifically, please contact team@bark.com
directly. Our team will review your situation and assist where possible.
The Bark Team
The leads are extremely expensive to purchase and increasingly unreliable. Despite my raising concerns about this with them, they have done nothing to address the situation. People tell me they "accidentally" put information on or "didn't know they submitted a request." It is time for Bark to put in place an email confirmation system for people submitting a request. I have got work from the site, but it's getting ridiculously expensive with all the false leads.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience with the leads. While Bark does have many professionals who find success through the platform, we understand how frustrating it can be when leads don’t respond or turn out to be unintentional requests. We’re constantly working to improve our systems, including introducing tools and filters to help identify more serious customers—but your suggestion for an email confirmation system is genuinely helpful and I’ll be sure to pass it on to the relevant team.
We also offer a credit return policy for cases where leads clearly do not meet our quality standards. You can see this by visiting our help centre.
If you’d like us to take a closer look into any specific leads or help with your account, feel free to contact us directly at team@bark.com and we’d be happy to assist.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
This site/app is absolutely a scam, and posts a safety issue. I have a new cleaning business and was researching on websites and apps to respond to bids and requests for cleaning. First when I signed up for this app, they had me input my ID and adress. I noticed I had 7 free credits to use. I seen a job for a Leonard who requested 18 houses for deep cleaning, I clicked on the ad, to start off, when I went to respond to the ad, it said that I needed to buy credits and said I had 0 but when I go to the ad again it says I have 7 free credits. This is so you can buy credits to respond to ads which are at high prices. Luckily, this person has their number on the ad they posted, so I texted the number saying hello, and I seen their ad on bark. Their first response was when will you be available for this project, 18 houses 3 bed 2 bath, each house and need deep cleaning. I told them I needed more information on the houses so I can make sure I'm the right person for the job, their response was that they were newly empty houses that needed deep cleaning. I asked when they would need this done by, they said 2 weeks time( that sounds like a UK thing), then they said they would send me the adresses of the properties and square footage, and asked what areas I cover. I told them the areas I covered and to send the adresses and I can look the square footage up, they then asked how much I charge per property on deep cleaning. I explained to them that It depends on the house, and asked again if they could send me the adresses of the properties so I could get them a correct estimate. It took them forever to respond (which is a common theme for this conversation). So after a couple hours I asked if they were still looking for someone. They responded with send us your zip code, I asked why they would need my zip code, and sent them a wrong zip code(the alarm bells went in full swing now). They then responded with send us your quote now. (That's rude and I've explained many times why I can't just send a quote) so I low balled it a low estimate based off the info I was given. Again asked for the properties no response for hours. So I blocked them because at this point I know there is something off about this situation and became extremely frustrated. This site is a scam. What is happening is they make you pay for credits to respond to ads that they themselves have put on there mixed in with real ads. I researched this company and the reviews say as much. Many instances where the numbers are bad, the information are bad, and the leads go nowhere. My ID email and home address are in their records. This is so concerning as they can gain access to a lot of things with that information. They have fraud warnings on the BBB website as well.
Hi Sara,
Thank you for your review. We’re very sorry to hear about your experience and fully understand your concerns. We take this matter seriously and are committed to ensuring the quality of leads you receive.
Bark is a live online marketplace that connects professionals with potential clients in real time. While we strive to maintain the highest standards for leads and user interactions, we recognise that scam or spam accounts can occasionally slip through, as is unfortunately the case with many online platforms.
We are committed to delivering high-quality leads to our professionals. We invest a lot of time and resources into attracting genuine customers to our website, and we have a dedicated team that works around the clock to ensure a robust lead generation process.
We also have a credit return policy in place for leads with invalid contact details or inaccurate information, and our team is always happy to review any such cases.
Your personal information is stored securely and handled in accordance with strict data protection protocols.
We really want to help you get the most out of our platform and improve your conversion rates. If you are open to it, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at review@bark.com. We're here to help, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you to enhance your experience.
The Bark Team
Homestandard property solutions provided excellent repair work to my property including garden fencing, paving levelling, roof and gutter repair, and internal floor board replacement. Careful and professional at all times, they were accessible, responsive and friendly. Thoroughly recommended
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so pleased to hear that you had a great experience with the service provider you found on Bark. It sounds like they went above and beyond to deliver excellent results across a range of repairs!
If you ever need assistance with anything else, we’re always here to help!
The Bark Team
Bark.com is a predatory platform designed to drain your wallet while delivering nothing in return. They strong-arm you into an overpriced membership just to buy credits, promising "quality leads" that almost always go nowhere. If you have a non-UK area code, forget it—most leads won't reply, and some will even block you. And when you inevitably realize you've been scammed? Bark will only refund your credits once. If you still get nothing the second time, too bad. Their rude, dismissive customer support will just brush you off, refusing any refunds while continuing to push their useless services. Bark does nothing to protect the people actually putting money into their platform. It's a blatant cash grab, and you'll get better results throwing your money in the trash. Avoid them at all costs.
Hello Brian,
Thank you for sharing your concerns. We’re truly sorry to hear that you feel this way about your experience with Bark. Our goal is to provide a valuable platform where professionals can connect with potential customers, and we take concerns like yours seriously.
We are committed to delivering high-quality leads and invest significant resources into attracting genuine customers. While we cannot guarantee that every lead will convert into a job, we do have a credit return policy in place to cover invalid contact details or inaccurate request information.
We understand how important it is for professionals to see value in the platform, and we’d be happy to review any concerns you have regarding your leads or experience with our team so we can provide further assistance and tailor your experience with us. Please reach out to us at review@bark.com - we look forward to hearing from you shortly.
The Bark Team
There are lots of leads I purchased and are time wasters,they either looking for a job or they are not the person that registered the add,some don't even answer your calls.I still up to now didn't sign up 1 job yet.
Hi there,
We're sorry to hear about your experience with the leads you've purchased. We understand how frustrating it can be when customers don’t respond. While we can't guarantee that every lead will convert, we do have a Credit Return Policy in place for leads that contain invalid contact details, inaccurate information on the request, or if the lead is actually looking for a job. If you've encountered any of these issues, please reach out to team@bark.com, and our team will be happy to review them for you.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
Bark is a really expensive way to get leads. They cost a lot of money and they generate very little business.
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for your review.
We're sorry to hear that the cost of our leads hasn’t matched your expectations.
Pricing our leads correctly is a key aspect of how our business works. We determine this price primarily through the information on the request: larger, more frequent jobs that have more value will cost more than smaller jobs. Leads are also priced by the customer's likelihood to go on to hire, as well as more generally through market research.
Nevertheless, we have passed on your comments to our marketing team to take into consideration.
We are always looking for ways to improve our platform for our professionals, so please feel free to contact us at team@bark.com if you would like to provide any further feedback to us, or if you would like any additional support for your account.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
Although I have purchased credits and I have replied within a few minutes and reached out within the app to SMS, phone call by way of WhatsApp, and sent an email, I have gotten only one meaningful response which was from a minor.
Another person replied to my email. She let me know she did not realize that the leads would cost people money. I hope Bark returns my credits for her as she put that in her reply email.
Lastly, one of the leads was a University student who saw the app and simply inputted the information just to see. When she answered my call she did not realize, again, that her putting that in with Bark would cost people money.
So do I have a suggestion? Heck, yes.
The people completing the leads must have skin in the game. They must pay some small fee to input the data. And it could be they know when they work with someone for a paying session, they can get the money back...something like that.
Otherwise yes this feels like a big scam.
Hi Regina,
Thank you for your feedback, and we’re truly sorry to hear about the challenges you’ve experienced with Bark.
We understand your frustration when it comes to the quality of leads and the issue you mentioned about people not realizing that responding to leads could come with costs. While we try to ensure that leads are genuine and are fully aware of the platform's payment structure, we’re always working on improving the experience for our professionals.
As for your suggestion, we appreciate the thought, and we have shared your comments with our team for further consideration. Regarding the issue with the minor and the student, we do have a Credit Return Policy in place to review these kinds of leads, and we can look into these cases further.
If you'd like to pursue the credits for these particular leads, please reach out to our team at team@bark.com for assistance.
We genuinely want to ensure your success on the platform, and we appreciate your patience as we continue to refine our service.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
A good one with their toleration and commitment for improving small busines.
Hi Caiphus,
Thank you for your kind words! We're so pleased to hear that Bark has been helpful for you and your business. Supporting small businesses and helping them grow is at the heart of what we do, and we’re glad to have been a part of your journey.
Wishing you continued success, and we look forward to working with you again in the future!
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
Would refer bark to others found bark always polite and friendly th
Hi Magdalen, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that our team has provided you with great service and valuable advice. It’s fantastic to know you’ve found our mobile support helpful and that you’d recommend Bark to others.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we’re grateful for your continued support. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
70% of the leads that I contacted don't answer calls, don't respond to text messages and don't answer emails.
Hi Brigitte,
We're sorry to hear that you've had an issue with customers not responding to you.
We are aware that leads not responding is an issue for some professionals, and we are always actively working on ways to try and improve the connectivity between buyers and professionals.
As our role is simply to provide contact details for customers, we do not return credits if the details are still valid and the customer is not responding, as this is something largely outside of our control. Of course, we will always return credits if the contact details are invalid or if any of the information on the request is incorrect.
We recommend contacting leads as quickly as possible to help try and counter leads not responding, as well as trying to be the first or second person to contact a lead.
Please do get in touch by emailing team@bark.com so we can provide you with specialist support and advice to help maximise your success on our platform.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
It's ok. After using the platform for a while, I learned a lot of the people are just looking for pricing. I think bark should only charge us if the customer hired us otherwise sooner or later I will not use bark.
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your experience. We understand it can be frustrating when potential customers are only price-checking. Bark operates on a pay-per-lead model, as our service is to connect you with potential customers by providing their verified contact details. To increase your chances of conversion, we recommend responding to leads promptly and following up with a call shortly after reaching out.
Please do get in touch by emailing team@bark.com so we can provide you with specialist support and advice to help maximise your success on our platform.
We appreciate your feedback and will continue exploring ways to improve your experience on our platform.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
New to this site. Need a longer period to assess and experience how beneficial it is for me and my business.
Hi,
Thank you for joining Bark! We understand that it takes time to fully assess how our platform can benefit your business. We recommend exploring different lead types and reaching out promptly to potential customers to maximize your opportunities.
If you have any questions or need support along the way, feel free to email us at team@bark.com. We’re here to help you succeed!
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
Hi BAB,
Thank you for your feedback! We're happy to hear that you had a positive experience speaking with one of our agents. If you need any further assistance, feel free to reach out.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you're happy with the service and our quick replies. If you ever need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
No one ever answers the phone - in the last year - unfortunately this has been quite pointless
I have not been able to speak to anyone
The majority do not answer
I have not sold one kitchen in over one year - when this block runs out I will not renew
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand how frustrating it can be when potential customers are unresponsive. While we can't guarantee every lead will convert, we recommend contacting leads within 20 minutes of receiving their details for the best chance of engagement. Additionally, if you ever encounter leads with incorrect contact information, please report them to our team for review.
You can click this link to see our credit return policy: https://help.bark.com/hc/en-gb/articles/13256562638108-Credit-Return-Policy.
We truly value your experience and will continue working to improve lead quality.
Kind regards,
The Bark Team
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- Sitejabber’s sole mission is to increase online transparency for buyers and businesses
- Sitejabber has helped over 200M buyers make better purchasing decisions online
- Suspicious reviews are flagged by our algorithms, moderators, and community members
Hi Willow,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand your frustration and that your experience did not meet your expectations. We want to clarify that we aren’t a scam and all our leads are automatically generated to match professionals with potential clients, but we cannot control if a lead is unresponsive.
We do have a credit return policy that can be applied in certain cases. You can review the policy by visiting the Help Centre, and if you’d like us to look into your account specifically, please contact team@bark.com
directly. Our team will review your situation and assist where possible.
The Bark Team