Thumbtack

Thumbtack generates numerous accounts to send false leads (potential customers) to the "pros." With each generated account, they send one "lead" to five pros. Each pro is charged $30 or more for each "lead," which I have experienced and observed, multiple times, every day I was a member of the platform. Shameful, deceptive and unethical practices. Customer service is poor, nearly non-existent. And, don't expect any refunds...you won't get any.

Thumbtack got it's name from standing apart from Home Advisor and Angie's List by treating Pros like actual people. Unfortunately, that has changed. Bad leads are very common now and getting a refund for a bad lead is non existent. Getting a lead with a fake job is also now common. The best part is you no longer get a refund because Thumbtack changed their refund policy to "you only pay for customers who contact you to learn more about working with you." Thumbtack used to be great at correcting bad leads. I have had 3 bad leads in the past week and have not received a single refund, even after calling. Previous policy would give you refunds if a customer never responded to your message, not the case anymore. The leads are cheaper on Thumbtack, but at least Angie's List actually gives you refunds when it's a bad lead.

Thank you for turning a great company into a utterly worthless site that takes advantage of Pros.

I used to site to contact an officiant for my wedding ceremony. The guy stated that on his profile that he accepted all methods of payment but when it was time to pay he only wanted to use Venmo. Should have been a red flag but this is my first wedding and I was excited. Live and learn. Never again. I've contacted the fraud department and even with proof they have done NOTHING. All of my proof were disregarded or justified. Save your time and money, go else where!

After reading many reviews about Thumbtack, I am now hesitant to use the service. There were almost as many negative reviews as positive. It seems that Thumbtack does not always have the interest of others (customers and business professionals) in the forefront, but instead operates on its own best interests.

Four professionals responded to my inquiry but only three followed up after I contacted them. Not a bad percentage.

It is hard to make a decision based on one person-to-person meeting and very little public information available on who these people are and whether or not they are trustworthy. For that reason I have decided to query family and friends to get suggestions on qualified professionals.

Based on all this, I would relay to anyone who asked about Thumbtack to proceed cautiously.

The prices have jumped twice in about the last 2 years, and now there is not even a set price for specific leads!

The wait time for phone support has also increased. It used to be under a minute. Now it can be 5-10 minutes.

My worst complain about Thumbtack.com in the 7 yrs I have used their service is that they charge the customer NOTHING! All the expense, and risk, is borne by the vendor. Why? Just charge the customer a small amount ($2-$5). You don't respect something you don't pay for.

The seller kept messaging me at 10:00 p.m. demanding that I hop on a video chat after I told him I'm going to sleep. I asked if he read my text saying that I'm going to sleep but he didn't answer so I told him to read my text at which point he sent me this. What an $#*!, both him and thumbtack who did nothing to help me.

Thumbtack is now a total a scam. In 2018 they only charged $5 per lead and helped me get my small business off the ground. They have made so many changes without explanation, and now they charge $35 a person that just sends you a message, regardless of if they respond to you or not. Also, whenever a customer changes their preferences and want something that you don't offer mid conversation, Thumbtack will not refund you even though their policy says this qualifies for a refund. When a customer is discriminating against workers I have to offer them, they no longer refund for that. They don't tell you how much leads are going to be or even how it works, they make you feel like you are going to be offered support or treated fairly if you are a "top pro" but they harass you and make you jump through hoops to get back money for leads that do not match your preferences, despite saying we are owed that as hard working "top pros."

I really wanted to love using this site. I've hired people on Thumbtack and it's gone well, but from the pro standpoint it really sucks. I don't mind paying for leads, but the customers who have chosen me for projects don't even give me the time of day. I tell them yes, I can do the project and set up a time to meet with them. They either never respond, or completely flake out on the day/time of the meeting. What a waste of time and money, and so disrespectful. Thumbtack does nothing to help the situations at all. Practically no customer service.

I think they are scammers and just taking money from hard working contractors! I haven't received a quality actual job since February but they just keep hitting my card and actual clients will not respond!I've requested refunds well within bounds and according to their guidelines! I called to talk with a representative, sat and waited for 30 plus minutes! Terrible company!

Shady business practice tactics to take your money. Fake lead service. Some leads are real but when its slow for this company, I believe they provide fake leads. Thumbtack provides businesses leads, I (the pro) then must pay for a $ retainer (or credit card on file) for leads based on my parameters through a registered credit card on their site, either Thumbtack provides that lead or the lead contacts the pro through Thumbtack. The pro then contacts the lead using ALL methods (i.e. Email, phone call, text, and Thumbtack messaging) only to get zero responses. One time is fine but when it happens often, that is a shady practice. I deleted my account after paying Thumbtack tons of money. No different than Bark.com and Bark are blatant criminals. I thought Thumbtack was different. However, they need to make money to pay their employees somehow. Consumers beware.

I have spent $150 so far and have gotten zero qualified leads. Of all the requests, I have gotten about 2 real ones - which still didn't lead to anything because they were also sent to 6-7 other professionals. These cost anywhere from $30-50 a lead, and they are making hundreds of dollars off of each lead to the professionals. I have caught them using fake images of people to say "This is how my last projects went", but a reverse google search would show the real source.

Hired a professional off of their website to clean our new home purchase. Vacant property Required cleaning details description. Absolutely none of it was done that I asked for. When I brought it to the resolution Center at thumbtack that is supposed to be backed by a money back guarantee. I was told I would have to take it up with the"pro". They are choosing to stand by this and result as a cleaned property.

Reached out for handyman help to install a window air conditioner. As an elderly woman, it's difficult to lift alone. Installation is simple, basic and on the ground floor. These handyman get $50-$75 per hour. The job would take no longer than 10-15 minutes. The quote given was $250. This is more than the cost of the air conditioner. Thumbtack takes no responsibility for idiots.
I asked a Neighbor for help, and it cost me one bottle of water.

I never get qualified leads for my dance studio or me marketing company. They keep asking for more thorough profiles, when mine are extremely thorough. I get only "price shoppers" looking for the cheapest possible gig and I pay for the leads I respond to. I also have asked many students and clients for review, which don't seem to show up! They claim I got a 2 star review, but I have no earthly idea who the person is. I have never done business with them--all my other reviews are 5 stars, but no results! Stay away, unless you are a handyman or clean houses.

Working with Thumbtack Pro was a thoroughly disappointing experience. After signing up with Thumbtack Pro, I can honestly say I have had a terrible experience and do not recommend them for other service providers. Not only are their services extremely expensive, the customer service is below par and the leads provided were of extremely poor quality. Hold times for a customer service representative are well over forty five minutes. Customer service is outsourced and escalating to management does nothing additional but get you a prefabricated email. In addition to the fake leads that come through, I was particularly shocked by their refusal to refund any of the funds paid for their services even after repeated requests. In my opinion, this company does not deserve anyone's time or money and I cannot recommend them in good faith. For these reasons, as well as many others, I do not recommend Thumbtack Pro.

I hired movers through Thumbtack. The movers overcharged my credit card by $500.00, broke an antique chest, and still Thumbtack did nothing. The mover told me it was $135.00 per hour, no matter how many hours. In actuality, they charge $202.50 after 8 hours, and when I asked, he specifically stated it was $135.00 per hour, no matter how many hours. Their guarantee is complete CRAP, and the customer service "specialists" are as coherent as a turd! Stay away!

I do cleaning I clean homes! Leads are anywhere from $50 to sometimes up to $90 which means I only made $20! I only got one job off them and then the poor guy ended up dying.in the end I played Thumbtack almost $300, and they refuse to give you your money back for leads that don't follow through, My husband uses the same app for doing gutters and somehow my cleaning jobs will show up on his account, one cleaning job showed he only had to pay $9.00 on my account through Thumbtack that same said cleaning job was $29.00! I would not use this app, rip off artist!