Don’t answer phone and I literally call less than a minute after getting notification of a new lead, don’t respond to text, don’t respond to message via thumbtack app.

BEFORE this proxy phone number and AI CHANGE I never had a issue.

Also getting leads for services that don’t fall under tile and grout cleaning …

Leads are wanting repairs and installation.

I clearly state in my profile I don’t do repairs and or installation.

But some how these aren’t getting vetted correctly from thumbtack.

I have been denied refunds from the AI system and if they would take the time to listen to the Proxy phone number recorded call that they are not wanting cleaning .

I am waiting in 5 refunds. The AI SYSTEM is failing us PROS .

Requested a REAL LIVE PERSON LISTEN TO THE CALLS. Let’s see how this goes will keep you updated !

Been 48 hours and still no response back on these leads that should not have been sent to me.

I have 3 hours invested in trying to get refund and have money tied up for no reason.

Anyone else having issue like this now ???

Thanks

Mark

More bedrooms, bathrooms, floors, stairs, guest spaces, home offices, and high-traffic zones can make it harder to keep everything consistently maintained.

That’s why a larger home often benefits from a different cleaning strategy instead of simply trying to clean everything the same way every time.

For example, it can help to:

• Prioritize high-traffic rooms more often
• Rotate lower-use spaces
• Stay ahead of bathrooms and kitchens
• Give extra attention to stairs, entryways, and large floor areas
• Use a consistent weekly or biweekly routine so buildup doesn’t spread across the whole home

I’m curious what other homeowners and cleaning pros think—

What’s the hardest part of keeping a larger home clean: the floors, bathrooms, dust, or simply having so many rooms to manage?

Over time, tiny grease particles and splatter can settle on cabinet doors, handles, backsplashes, range hoods, nearby walls, appliance exteriors, and even upper cabinet surfaces. Mix that residue with everyday dust, and you can end up with a sticky film that routine wiping may not completely remove.

A few areas worth checking regularly include:

• Cabinet fronts and handles
• Range hood and surrounding surfaces
• Backsplash and grout
• Microwave exterior
• Nearby walls
• Stovetop and appliance sides

This is also one reason a kitchen can look generally clean but still feel like it needs a deeper reset.

At My Clean Charlotte Maids, we’ve found that staying ahead of buildup makes kitchen maintenance much easier than waiting until grease becomes stubborn.

💬 Which spot in your kitchen seems to collect grease the fastest—your cabinets, backsplash, range hood, or somewhere else?

Everyday cooking can leave a thin layer of grease on cabinet fronts, backsplashes, range hoods, and nearby surfaces. Crumbs find their way into corners and along toe kicks, while fingerprints, water spots, and residue gradually collect around handles, appliances, sinks, and fixtures.

Routine cleaning is great for staying on top of counters, sinks, stovetops, floors, and fresh spills. But occasionally, the kitchen needs a more detailed reset that reaches the areas we don't always get to during everyday upkeep.

A few signs it may be time for a deeper clean:

• Cabinets or handles feel sticky
• The backsplash looks dull or greasy
• Fixtures have noticeable buildup
• Odors linger even after routine cleaning
• Corners and floor edges are collecting grime

Small amounts of buildup are usually much easier to tackle before they become stubborn.

💬 What part of your kitchen seems to get dirty the fastest—the stovetop, cabinets, floors, sink, or something else?

Cc: @Bretdouglas @DustiO @Bretdouglas67

One question homeowners sometimes have before a professional cleaning is: “Do I need to clean before the cleaners come?”

The short answer is no! 😊 You’re hiring a cleaning service so you don’t have to do the cleaning first.

However, a little preparation can help your cleaning team spend more time actually cleaning. Picking up everyday clutter, clearing counters and floors, putting away laundry, and securing valuables can make more surfaces accessible.

A few other things that can help:

• Make arrangements for pets if needed
• Share entry or access instructions
• Let your cleaners know about priority areas
• Mention any rooms or spaces you’d like skipped

The goal isn’t to make your home look perfect before your appointment. It’s simply to make it easier for your cleaning team to focus their time where it matters most.

At My Clean Charlotte Maids, we want clients to feel comfortable asking questions and communicating their priorities before each visit.

💬 For those who use professional cleaning services: what do you usually do to prepare before your cleaner arrives?

Join for a chance to win $200.

Sign up and post an intro by August 31 for a chance to be one of 10 pros who win $200 in lead credits. To enter, join the Pro Community and share:

1. Your business name and industry
2. A little about how you got started
3. A question for the community

Not sure how to join, see instructions here.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; void where prohibited. Sweepstakes runs Aug 21, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2026. Open to new Thumbtack Community members only. Ten (10) winners will receive a $200 Thumbtack lead credit. Lead credits are non-refundable. The balance on a Pro’s account will not expire, possesses no cash value, and is governed by the Thumbtack Terms of Use. Limit one (1) entry per Pro/Thumbtack profile.  See Official Rules here for details.

THUMBTACK’S NEW PRO COMMUNITY SIGN-UP SWEEPSTAKES

OFFICIAL RULES

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN; A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE AN ENTRANT’S CHANCES OF WINNING; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
• AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY, RELEASE OF LIABILITY & PRIZE ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT MAY BE REQUIRED EXCEPT IF PROHIBITED BY LAW.
• BY ENTERING (OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING) IN THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANT AGREES TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES, WHICH CREATE A CONTRACT SO ENTRANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR READING THEM CAREFULLY BEFORE ENTERING. WITHOUT LIMITATION, SUCH CONTRACT INCLUDES GRANTS OF RIGHTS AND INDEMNITIES TO SPONSOR FROM ENTRANT, A CLASS ACTION WAIVER, AND A LIMITATION OF ENTRANT’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

SPONSOR:  The Sweepstakes is sponsored by Thumbtack, Inc., 415 Natoma St., Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA, USA 94103 (“Sponsor”).  

SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD:  The “Sweepstakes Period” begins at 12:00 a.m. Central Time (“CT”) on August 21, 2026 and ends at 11:59 p.m. CT on August 31, 2026.  The Sponsor’s Website (defined below) is the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes.

ELIGIBILITY:  Thumbtack’s New Pro Community Sign-up Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open to Service Professionals on the Thumbtack Platform (each a “Pro” or “entrant”) that, at the time of entry: (i) are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia), at least eighteen (18) years of age or have otherwise reached the age of majority in their state of residence at the time of entry; and (ii) are not current Thumbtack Community members.  Pros who are current members of the Thumbtack Community, employees of Sponsor or its affiliates, sales representatives, agencies, dealers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and promotional and other vendor agencies involved in the Sweepstakes, their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, service agencies, independent contractors, and the immediate family (parent, spouse, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, regardless of where they reside) and household members of all such employees, are not eligible.  Sweepstakes is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  Void where prohibited or restricted by law, rule, or regulation.

HOW TO ENTER: During the Sweepstakes Period, the Pro must: (i) join the Thumbtack Community by visiting the New Pro Hub channel located at https://community.thumbtack.com/categories/new-pro-hub ; (ii) create and publish a new introduction post by clicking “+New Post”; and (iii) include in that post their business name, industry, a brief description of how they got started, and a question for the Community. Upon completing the above steps and submitting a qualifying introduction post in the manner prescribed above, the Pro will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes.

Limit one (1) entry per person, regardless of method of entry.  Sponsor will not verify receipt of entries.  Proof of submission of an entry does not constitute proof of receipt by Sponsor.  Released Parties (defined below) are not responsible for entries that are late, lost, illegible, damaged, misdirected, garbled or incomplete, altered or otherwise irregular, that contain false information, that are generated by script, macro or other automated or mechanical means, that have been submitted through illicit means or by any means which subvert the entry process or that do not conform with or satisfy any or all of the conditions set out in the Official Rules.  Multiple Pros are not permitted to share the same email address or Thumbtack profile for purposes of entry into the Sweepstakes.  Use of any automated program or method to enter will result in disqualification of all associated entries and of the person/account responsible for such entries.

PRIZES & APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE (“ARV”):  Ten (10) potential prize winners will be randomly selected, subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, to receive $200 in free leads on the Thumbtack Platform as a credit on the Pro’s account (ARV: $200) (the “Prize”).  Free leads are not refundable. The Pro’s Thumbtack balance doesn’t expire, has no cash value, and is subject to Thumbtack’s Terms of Use (https://www.thumbtack.com/terms/). Winners will be based on valid entry within the Sweepstakes Period.  Winners are solely responsible for all other fees associated with Prize receipt and use, regardless of whether the Prize is used in whole or in part.  Prize is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied, in fact or in law, by Sponsor, except to the extent that these cannot be excluded by law.  No transfer, assignment, cash redemption, or substitution of the Prize is permitted except by Sponsor, who reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute the Prize, or a portion thereof, with a prize, or a portion thereof, of equal or greater value in the event the Prize, or a portion thereof, becomes unavailable.  All Prize details are in Sponsor’s sole discretion. In no event shall Sponsor’s Prize liability exceed the ARV of the Prize for any reason.  Prizes will be awarded provided it is claimed properly in accordance with these Official Rules.  Prize must be redeemed in accordance with the requirements set forth below.

RANDOM DRAW & ODDS OF WINNING:  A random draw will be conducted from all entries received on or about September 2, 2026.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period.  Each entrant selected as a winner will be notified within two (2) days of winner selection by email and/or phone, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, using the contact information provided by the Pro or otherwise located in the Pro’s Thumbtack profile.

WINNER NOTIFICATIONS / PRIZE AWARDS / PUBLICITY CONSENT:  No entrant is deemed a winner until his/her eligibility has been verified and it is determined that he/she has complied with all terms of these Official Rules.  The credit (Prize) will be applied to the Pro’s account within approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks of verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.  Sponsor is not responsible for any telecommunications issues or for change of email address subsequent to the date on which a Pro entered the Sweepstakes.  If Prize or any notification is returned as undeliverable, Sponsor is unable to contact a potential winner, or a potential winner is not in compliance with these Official Rules, as determined by Sponsor, the Prize will be forfeited, and, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate winner will be selected by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries.  All alternate potential winners are subject to all requirements set forth in these Official Rules.  Only three (3) alternate winners will be selected, after which the prize will remain unawarded.  Acceptance of the Prize will further constitute and signify winner’s agreement and consent that Sponsor and/or Sponsor’s assignees may use winner’s name, likeness, city and/or state/province/territory of residence (in each case as provided as part of the Pro’s Thumbtack profile), and/or Prize information for promotional purposes in any media worldwide without limitation and without further notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law.

GENERAL:  By participating, entrants agree to abide and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, entrants further agree to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor and its parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, distributors, suppliers, and advertising and promotion agencies associated with the Sweepstakes, and all other service agencies involved with the design, execution or fulfillment of this Sweepstakes, and the respective directors, officers, agents and employees of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any liability, claims, losses and damages of any kind, including death, to persons or property, arising out of, or relating to, their participation in this Sweepstakes and the acceptance, use, misuse or possession of a Prize (if applicable), including as set out below.  Entrants who Sponsor determines to have not complied with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification.  Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any entrant from this Sweepstakes or any other promotion conducted now or in the future by Sponsor or any of its affiliates if Sponsor suspects or finds the entrant to be: (i) violating the Official Rules; (ii) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process, the operation of the Sweepstakes, or the Website; or (iii) attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking the Website, deception, or other unfair playing practices or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants, Sponsor or Sponsor’s representatives. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR MAY DISQUALIFY ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING LAWYERS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AND TO BAN OR DISQUALIFY A PRO FROM THIS AND FUTURE PROMOTIONS.

BINDING ARBITRATION:  Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Sweepstakes shall be settled only through arbitration; provided, however, the Sponsor shall be entitled to seek injunctive or equitable relief in the state and federal courts in the State of California, and any other court with jurisdiction over the parties. In arbitration, there is no judge or jury, and review is limited. The arbitrator’s decision and award is final and binding, with limited exceptions, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction. Entrant agrees that, except as set forth above, any claim, suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Sweepstakes shall be resolved solely by binding arbitration conducted online by an online arbitration provider of Sponsor’s choosing in accordance with such arbitration provider’s applicable arbitration rules & procedures effective at the time a claim is made. Currently, either the entrant or Sponsor may initiate arbitration proceedings on the New Era ADR website ( https://www.neweraadr.com/create-my-account ). Both the entrant and Sponsor are responsible for their own attorneys’ fees unless the arbitration rules and/or applicable law provide otherwise. Disputes will be arbitrated only on an individual basis and will not be consolidated with any other proceedings that involve any claims or controversy of another party, including any class actions; provided, however, if for any reason any court or arbitrator holds that this restriction is unconscionable or unenforceable, then the agreement to arbitrate doesn’t apply and the dispute must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of California. Sponsor agrees to pay the administrative and arbitrator’s fees in order to conduct the arbitration (but specifically excluding any travel or other costs of an entrant to attend the arbitration hearing). Either the entrant or Sponsor may, notwithstanding this provision, bring qualifying claims in small claims court. The arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, will have exclusive authority to resolve all disputes arising out of or relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of these Official Rules, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of these Official Rules is void or voidable, whether a claim is subject to arbitration, or the question of waiver by litigation conduct. The arbitrator will be empowered to grant whatever relief would be available in a court under law or in equity. The arbitrator's award will be written and will be binding on the parties and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. Any and all actions taken under this arbitration agreement are confidential and must not be disclosed to any third party. Each entrant understands that, absent this mandatory arbitration provision, the entrant would have the right to sue in court and have a jury trial. Each entrant further understands that, in some instances, the costs of arbitration could exceed the costs of litigation and the right to discovery may be more limited in arbitration than in court.

GOVERNING LAW AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:  By entering, entrants agree that: (i) all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants’ rights and obligations, and the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of California or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than California; and (ii) any matters or proceedings which are not subject to arbitration as set forth above in these Official Rules, and/or are related to entering any judgment on an arbitration award, shall take place in the State of California in San Francisco County. BY PARTICIPATING IN THE SWEEPSTAKES, EACH ENTRANT AGREES THAT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:  (A) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, OR ANY PRIZE AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH BINDING ARBITRATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (B) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED (IF ANY), NOT TO EXCEED THE ACTUAL RETAIL VALUE OF THE PRIZE, BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS' FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (C) TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE ENTRANT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND THE ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS AND/OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES, OTHER THAN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND (D) ENTRANT'S REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONETARY DAMAGES (IF ANY), NOT TO EXCEED THE ACTUAL RETAIL VALUE OF THE PRIZE, AND THE ENTRANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF.  SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO EVERY ENTRANT.

RELEASES:  To the fullest extent permitted by law, Released Parties do not assume any responsibility for, and the entrant hereby releases and agrees to hold the Released Parties harmless from and against, any and all claims, actions, damages, demands and liabilities of whatever nature or kind arising out of, or in connection with, the entrant’s participation or attempted participation in the Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, the administration of the Sweepstakes, the selection and confirmation of the winners, and the arranging for, awarding of and use of a Prize.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Released Parties, to the fullest extent permitted by law, are not responsible for: (i) the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry information for any reason; (ii) late, lost, stolen, damaged, misdirected, garbled or incomplete entries, transmissions or transactions, entries that are altered or otherwise irregular, have been submitted through illicit means or do not conform with or satisfy any or all of the conditions of these Official Rules; (iii) any loss, damage, or claims caused by, or in any way related to, the awarded Prize or the Sweepstakes itself; (iv) failure of the Website or any operations or transmission of information during the Sweepstakes Period, including, without limitation, any problems, human, production or technical errors, lost, delayed, garbled or corrupted data or transmissions, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects or failures of any telephone or transmission lines, technical malfunctions of any computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof including, without limitation, any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in or downloading any material connected to the Sweepstakes, all of which may affect a person’s ability to participate in the Sweepstakes; (v) any typographical or other error or omission in any printing or advertising relating to the Sweepstakes, in the administration or execution of the Sweepstakes, or in the announcement or notification of the Prize winner(s); (vi) the security or privacy of information transmitted via computer networks or for breaches of privacy due to interference by third party computer “hackers” or otherwise; (vii) any claims regarding the accepting, arranging for, awarding of or use of the Prize or any portion thereof; (viii) electronic communications which are undeliverable as a result of any form of active or passive filtering of any kind; or (ix) cheating or fraud by any participant.  Entry material/data that has been tampered with or altered is void. 

AMENDMENTS:  Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend these Official Rules for clarification purposes, at any time, in any way, and without prior notice, without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Sweepstakes.  Without limiting the foregoing, if for any reason the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as originally planned, including should any virus, worm, bug, technical failures, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right to modify, terminate or suspend this Sweepstakes (or portion thereof).  In the event of termination, Sponsor may select a winner from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received up to date/time of such termination, or up to the date/time of the situation warranting such termination.

WINNER LIST:  For the name of the Sweepstakes winner, enquirers may send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:  Thumbtack’s New Pro Community Sign-up Sweepstakes – Winner List, 415 Natoma St., Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA, USA 94103.  Requests for the Winner List should be submitted by September 2, 2026.

PRIVACY:  Personally identifiable information that is submitted by entrants as part of this Sweepstakes will be used to administer the Sweepstakes, select the winners, and fulfill the prizes, and will be treated in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy (https://www.thumbtack.com/privacy/).  By entering this Sweepstakes, an entrant consents and agrees to Sponsor’s collection, use, disclosure and storage of entrant’s information for the administration of this Sweepstakes and for any purposes consistent with such privacy policy.

RULES GOVERN:  The Sweepstakes will be run in accordance with these Official Rules, which shall prevail, govern and control in the event of any inconsistency with any Sweepstakes-related materials.  These Official Rules are subject to change from time to time at Sponsor’s discretion, and only the currently posted form will apply.

SEVERABILITY:  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  In the event any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; void where prohibited. Sweepstakes runs Aug 21, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2026. Open to Thumbtack Pros who, at the time of entry, are legal residents of the U.S. (including D.C.), have reached the age of majority in their state, and are not current Thumbtack Community members. Ten (10) winners will receive a $200 Thumbtack lead credit. Lead credits are non-refundable. The balance on a Pro’s account will not expire, possesses no cash value, and is governed by the Thumbtack Terms of Use. To enter, Pros must join the Thumbtack Community via the New Pro Hub and post their business name, industry, a brief description of the Pro got started, and a question for the Community. Limit one (1) entry per Pro/Thumbtack profile.  See Official Rules here for details. Sponsored by Thumbtack, Inc., 415 Natoma St., Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA, USA 94103. See official rules here for details.

Daily habits like wiping counters, vacuuming, picking up clutter, cleaning bathrooms, and mopping can do a lot to keep everyday mess under control. But over time, there are areas that are easy to overlook—baseboards, doors, cabinet fronts, fixtures, high and low surfaces, and those hard-to-reach corners where dust seems to hide.

That’s where a deeper professional cleaning can complement your regular routine. It gives the home a more thorough reset while making everyday maintenance easier to manage afterward.

At My Clean Charlotte Maids, we believe professional cleaning should work with the way you already care for your home—not replace it.

💬 What’s one cleaning task you’re happy to handle yourself, and one you’d gladly hand over to a professional?

The previous system was simpler and more practical. Customers and professionals could communicate directly without an unnecessary additional number creating confusion. The new dedicated-number system adds another layer between professionals and their customers, making it more difficult to recognize incoming calls, return missed calls, maintain accurate contact information, and keep customer communication properly organized.

For service professionals, dependable communication is essential. We are often working on job sites, driving between appointments, coordinating with vendors, and managing several customers at once. We need a communication system that is direct, familiar, and reliable. We should not have to determine which temporary or unfamiliar number belongs to a particular customer while trying to run our businesses.

This new system also creates the potential for customers to become confused. Customers expect a straightforward way to contact the professional they hired. When unfamiliar or substituted numbers are introduced into the conversation, customers may hesitate to answer, have difficulty reconnecting, or assume the professional is being unresponsive. That can damage the professional’s reputation even when the communication problem is caused by Thumbtack’s system.

Professionals already pay significant amounts for leads, including leads that do not always result in a conversation or completed job. Thumbtack should be making it easier for us to communicate with those customers—not adding more friction after we have already paid for the opportunity. Reliable and direct communication should be one of the most basic parts of the service.

Making the dedicated-number system optional is not the solution I am requesting. I am asking Thumbtack to remove this system completely and restore the previous communication system for everyone. The old system was more direct, easier to manage, and better suited to the way service professionals conduct business.

I am respectfully but firmly asking Thumbtack to:

1. Discontinue the dedicated-number system completely.
2. Restore the previous communication system.
3. Allow professionals and customers to communicate directly using their established phone numbers.
4. Consult active professionals before introducing future changes that affect communication, customer relationships, and paid leads.
5. Provide clear advance notice before making major changes that directly affect how professionals operate their businesses.

Thumbtack professionals are paying customers and business owners—not test users. Changes that affect our ability to communicate with potential clients should be carefully evaluated and tested with meaningful input from the professionals who rely on the platform for revenue.

The dedicated-number system is not an improvement. It creates unnecessary confusion, interferes with direct customer communication, and increases the risk of losing opportunities that professionals have already paid to receive.

Please listen to the professionals who use this platform every day. Remove the dedicated-number system and put the old system back in place.

When we asked, “What made it easy or difficult to get in contact with a pro?”

About 3% of customers who found hiring difficult pointed to two main issues:

• Pros didn’t respond or didn’t follow through
• Pros came across as dishonest or unprofessional

That 3% is small… but avoidable.

How to stay out of that group

• Be clear about scope and pricing upfront. If something changes, say it early.
• Show up like a pro. On time, prepared, and respectful of the space.
• If something goes wrong, own it fast and offer a fix. Customers remember how you handle problems more than the problem itself.
• Send a short written recap after the job so everyone’s on the same page.

We asked one more thing: “How satisfied were you with the work done?”

A few things stood out:

• 86% of customers said they were extremely satisfied with the work Thumbtack pros did for them.
• 10% of customers said they had extra costs outside of what they paid the pro
• Customers who chose “Other” for changes mentioned:
  • New issues came up or the job was bigger than expected
  • Timeline changes
  • Price or quality changes

None of these are unusual… but surprises are where trust breaks.

How to avoid surprises for customers

• Walk through possible unknowns during the estimate. A quick “If we find X, here’s what usually happens” goes a long way.
• Use written estimates with optional add-ons so customers can see choices clearly.
• Communicate timeline or price changes as soon as they come up. Don’t wait to be asked.
• Do a quick walkthrough before you leave. Show what you did, answer questions, and ask for a review if they’re happy.

When we asked, “What made it easy or difficult to get in contact with a pro?”

Customers said getting in contact felt easy when:

• Pros responded quickly
• Communication was direct and clear
• Pros followed through after the first message

Sounds simple… and it is.

Where things felt hard:

• Response speed was inconsistent
• Messages were unclear or vague
• Follow-through stopped after the first contact

Basically… customers just want to know you’re paying attention and that you’ll do what you say you’re going to do.

What to do now

• Reply fast, even if it’s just to say when you’ll follow up. Then actually follow up.
• Call out one detail from their request so they know you read it.
• Confirm next steps in writing. Time, date, what happens next. No guessing.

For all the Pros what usually causes the most friction for you early on?

A little preparation now can help busy mornings run more smoothly throughout the school year.

Some areas I like to focus on include:

• Organizing the entryway for shoes and backpacks
• Refreshing the kitchen and pantry for lunches and snacks
• Tidying bedrooms and homework spaces
• Cleaning bathrooms and high-touch surfaces
• Vacuuming and mopping high-traffic floors
• Tackling often-forgotten spots like baseboards, ceiling fans, and vents

You don't have to do everything in one day. Even checking off a few tasks each weekend can make a noticeable difference.

What’s the one cleaning or organizing task that helps your family feel most prepared for back-to-school season?

I'd love to hear what works for other homeowners and cleaning professionals.

A simple 10-minute reset can make a big difference. Some of the habits that help the most include:

• Returning shoes and backpacks to the entryway
• Clearing the kitchen table
• Loading or emptying the dishwasher
• Wiping down kitchen counters
• Gathering loose items into one basket
• Preparing water bottles and lunch containers
• Straightening the main living area

You don't have to clean the entire house every evening. Just focusing on the spaces your family uses most can help mornings start a little calmer and with fewer last-minute surprises.

What part of your morning routine causes the most stress—the kitchen, the entryway, or the bedrooms? I'd love to hear what small evening habits have made the biggest difference for your family.

The feedback is already crystal clear, unanimous, and completely aligned: This system is fundamentally broken and it needs to be rolled back immediately. The Reality on the Ground

• Zero Trust, Zero Conversion: When we call or text a paid lead through your proxy system, it shows up as a random, spammy-looking number on the customer's phone. They ignore us because they think it's a robocall.
• Paying for Ghost Leads: You charge us massive, inflated lead fees upfront, but then strip away our basic ability to form a direct human connection and close the deal.
• The Refund Trap: You tell us we can get an automatic refund if a customer ghosts everyone for 72 hours, but if we drop our actual business line in the chat to rescue the communication, your AI text-scanners flag it and strip our refund eligibility anyway. You have turned lead management into an intentional cat-and-mouse game.

The Challenge to Corporate

Your staff keeps repeating the corporate script that this change was implemented to "help pros communicate." If that is an actual fact, publish the internal articles, case studies, and hard data proving it. 

Show us the statistics that prove customer response rates went up after you masked their numbers. Because right now, every actual contractor on the ground is experiencing the exact opposite: tanking response rates, wasted marketing spend, and dead-end leads. We don't want any more support tickets opened, and we don't want any more passive-aggressive feedback logging.

We want a direct answer from leadership and an explicit action plan outlining when direct numbers will be restored. Treat us like the paying business partners we are, not an open wallet to be corporate-tested on.

@DustiO

A standard cleaning usually works well for routine upkeep—dusting, bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, vacuuming, and mopping. A deep cleaning is more helpful when there’s buildup around baseboards, doors, corners, fixtures, or kitchen grease.

Sometimes a home may look fairly clean at first, but the details tell a different story.

For other cleaning pros, what signs help you decide that a client needs a deep clean instead of a standard service? And how do you explain the difference without making it feel overwhelming?

a lot of window shopping and nearly 99% of leads don’t even open the email response. Let alone respond back to my front desk immediate response that I pay for on top of the lead cost. 99% don’t answer phone call or text message from me now .

Use to be a way to grow my business now all I am doing is babysitting leads and making sure I get my refund from no responses. This is a negative way to spend my hours.

Don’t know why corporate Thumbtack doesn’t realize they made a mistake implementing this phone number change .

sorry for the repeat post that is going to deaf ear !

Mark

and since posting this got leads that are not even in the service profile that I am promoting . Charging my account holding funds for me to have to request a refund . Wasting more time and effort . 🤷🏻‍♂️

and guess what the wrong lead I bought responded back

Tired of the chase game

The answer really depends on your home and your lifestyle.

Monthly cleaning is often a great fit if:

• Your home has lighter day-to-day traffic.
• You stay on top of basic cleaning between visits.
• You want a regular refresh without spending your weekends cleaning.

One-time cleaning may be the better choice if:

• You're preparing for guests or a special event.
• You're moving in or moving out.
• Your home needs a deeper reset after falling behind on cleaning.

There's no one-size-fits-all schedule. The best cleaningplan is the one that fits your routine, budget, and household needs.

What works best for you? Do you prefer a recurring monthly cleaning, or do you book a one-time deep clean when your home needs a fresh start? I'd love to hear what has worked for your household.