Is Thumbtack doing this? Travel Agents look out for different requests that are likely same person.

SME
SME Posts: 14
edited November 19 in Business Resilience

I cannot believe that all of these inquiries, that TT is charging mutliple TA's for are not the same person or entity. I clicked "pass" on two of them that read exactly the same before I started taking screenshots and came across EIGHT more. So at least TEN in total showing now, as I am posting this, in the "jobs" section with the same exact comment of "Can you let me know if you're available for this, and how your pricing works?"

Coincidence? I don't think so. What will TT do to avoid this going forward or what will you do to stop this, please?

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Comments

  • SME
    SME Posts: 14
    edited November 19

    @DustiO

  • SME
    SME Posts: 14
    edited November 19

    Didn't seem to recognize the initial tag so tagging again in hopes of an answer/response. @DustiO

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    @SME I would recommend reporting these leads as spam if you suspect that they are - have you done that and/or requested refunds for these?

  • SME
    SME Posts: 14

    @DustiO  Thanks for responding.

    For context, since my original post on Tuesday evening, I’ve now documented an additional seven nearly identical inquiries posted across the platform — all with the same wording. That brings the total to at least 17 leads in the past 48 hours using the same verbiage.

    Because these aren’t showing up as direct leads to me, only as “opportunities,” I’m not able to report them as spam — the system does not give me the option to flag or request a refund on leads that aren’t routed to me directly.

    That’s why I’m asking whether Thumbtack has:

    • Any internal tracking/flagging for repeated, duplicated language?
    • Any auditing process for suspicious or patterned lead activity?
    • Any protections to prevent multiple pros from being charged for what appear to be recycled or automated prompts?

    These look and behave like spam, and several pros are paying for them EACH TIME THEY COME THROUGH. Even if it’s not intentional, the pattern is extremely clear.

    Please advise whether Thumbtack can escalate this or review the lead source, because right now there seems to be no way for pros to protect themselves from being charged for obviously duplicated inquiries. I'm turning my leads off for now.

    Thanks — looking forward to a solution here.

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    We do have systems in place to catch these types of things, but sometimes they still get through — I would recommend sending this same information to support@thumbtack.com, I can also flag for the team, but you should send through support so it gets logged under your account

    Sorry this is happening!

  • TreDome
    TreDome Posts: 1

    This is enlightening and I have had DIRECT leads with this same wording. Wow, thank you for taking note of this!

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    Please be sure you are reporting those when they do happen! @TreDome

  • SME
    SME Posts: 14

    @DustiO

    This should not be on the Pros. This should be on TT to handle and avert from occurring in the first place. We are small businesses, TT is not. With as many as I documented, this should have absolutely been caught by the TT team and refunded proactively to the Pros that did not benefit from these "leads" (arguably, all of them, as it appears it was a scam).

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    I totally understand where you are coming from, as you are running a business and probably very busy. However, as mentioned above, we do have systems in place to catch these, but as I you are likely aware people find new ways every single day to scam/spam. So, please report if you believe something is spam. Also note that I am unable to help with refunds here so you should be reporting these and submitting for refunds.

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    PS If you do report or submit refund requests I can then help track/follow up, so let me know if you do or have!

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