This has happened to me three times now. While looking for a local service contractor online, I find a website purporting to be a local firm that provides the service I am looking for. I input my contact information and describe the job I would like estimates for.
Seconds later, I am being innundated with calls and emails from local contractors, all of whom have received my data from Angi/HomeAdvisor without my permission! Bear in mind that there is no place on these websites that indicate that there is any asociation with Angi/HomeAdvisor at all. In fact, the websites take great pains to make themselves look and sound like just any other local business front page.
How is this NOT fraud? If I want to use your crappy service, Home Advisor, I will go to YOUR website and ask. This is data phishing, plain and simple, and they will sell you contact information to as many businesses as they can.
Bear in mind that Home Advisor is a rebrand for the failed Service Magic, which was rightfully shunned for exactly this type of fraudulent business practice. I do not want to do business with anyone who thinks it’s accpetable to get contacts in this way, or who abuses their contractors by making them pay for leads that don’t pan out, or who abuses clients by hiring contractors who aren’t professionals and wreck clients’ homes and business. SCREW these people!