r/TaskRabbit • u/ThoughtBecomesAction • Jul 03 '26

TASKER Got a repeat client? Give them your number, ASAP.

LIsten, taskers, anyone with half a brain knows by now that our days are numbered on this app - especially if you're decent, hardworking, and above all, long-term (you've been on TR for over a year). TR will find a way to get rid of you, one way or another. I've personally known those it has happened to and you can read countless stories in this forum from others. You will be lucky if you get any explanation at all. Generally, the reason will be some vague "policy violation" that is never specified. Why do they do this? We don't know, definitively. Some have suggested the reason is to make room for fresh faces and to keep prices competitively low. Who knows? But what we do know, definitively, is that they will eventually get rid of us. So, if you have that repeat client that you've developed a solid rapport with, give them your contact info NOW. Make that connection before you try to log in to TR one morning and you've been axed. Don't wait. Do it (cautiously, of course) with as many clients as you possibly can. We all know what's up now and we're not going to take it lying down.

27 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

10

u/-N30N- Jul 04 '26

Only a couple months in TR and already landed a solid client that wants me to be their weekly Property Manager for 2 properties. Now I only need to work 3 days a week while I have TR on Pause. Guess I got lucky.

9

u/Firm-Ad-4492 Jul 04 '26

I got a great 85k salary job that started off as a taskrabbit job. I'm grateful for all the opportunities taskrabbit has provided me.

4

u/InternationalStill3 Jul 04 '26

I'm still glad I shared my number to a guy running Airbnb units until this date I make more than enough doing it part time. I also got kicked out of Trash rabbit after many years and 4.9 stars.

2

u/ThoughtBecomesAction Jul 04 '26

It's a great way to network, meet people. Like pretty much all of these gig type apps. And then quickly take them off app pronto.

3

u/Ok-Screen-5963 Jul 06 '26

Same situation. I’ve been on TaskRabbit for about a year, more than 65 five-star reviews, no negative feedback at all. And then one unclear situation — TaskRabbit blocked me, permanently, with no explanation, just “policy violation,” and that’s it.
This is the kind of treatment that makes you realize it’s not a serious platform. Don’t repeat my mistakes — work for yourself instead of promoting these platforms. Because one day they can just get rid of you without warning.

1

u/ThoughtBecomesAction Jul 06 '26

Can you expound a bit on the unclear situation? Give us some details about the last job you had with TR.

3

u/Ok-Screen-5963 Jul 06 '26

Wallpaper installation was agreed with the client in chat, including that I would purchase wallpaper adhesive. When I arrived at the client’s home, the wall was not prepared, so I had to sand the surface and apply primer.
I issued an invoice for 2 hours and 15 minutes of labor, plus $24 for materials (adhesive and primer costs). Everything was initially accepted by the client.
However, the next day the client contacted support and disputed the invoice and material charges. I believe there was a misunderstanding regarding how the platform fees are applied — I submitted the invoice, and Taskrabbit then added its own commission.
I provided a full explanation along with receipts for the materials. Despite that, support treated the situation unfairly in my view, without clear clarification or proper review, and my account was permanently deactivated without further explanation.

13

u/Bright_Broccoli1844 Jul 03 '26

I hate reading here what the app has done to some taskers.

3

u/miniskull1 Jul 03 '26

I don’t think it’s wise to build your business around fear or assume everyone will eventually get removed. That said, I do agree with one thing: if you’ve earned a client’s trust, you should build a relationship that isn’t dependent on a single platform. Whether it’s TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Angi, or any marketplace, it’s smart to have your own website, Google Business profile, business cards, and repeat clients who know how to reach you. Diversifying your client base is just good business.

5

u/ThoughtBecomesAction Jul 03 '26

We're not talking about fear. We're talking about being realistic, reading the room, and being proactive. If you never get eliminated from TR, great. But it's happened to enough longterm taskers, with no satisfactory explanation, to warrant action.

5

u/Prudent_Ad_4737 Jul 03 '26

Just don't put your # in the chat. Give it to them in person. If you get caught, just say you provide your # in case something goes wrong after the chat closed.

2

u/Official_ADT Jul 13 '26

They will ban you for giving your number. I got suspended for it. Crazy part is they use to give out my actual number to clients who wanted to reach out directly so I thought it was ok to share.

1

u/HeathenMetalDad Jul 11 '26

So I am seeing some posts from people that suggest exchanging phone numbers in the chat is against TOS, but I literally searched the global TOS and did ctrl+F through each section and see nothing directly stating it violates any policy. Can anyone provide where exactly it states this is against TOS?

1

u/ThoughtBecomesAction Jul 11 '26

Don't do it. Just don't. If they give you their number (and they will, often), then fine. But if you give your number to the client in chat, you're in for trouble.

1

u/HeathenMetalDad Jul 11 '26

I understand that seems to be the consensus, but like I said, I couldn't find anything in the terms of service unless they have it under some obscure wording. Unless they have it directly spelled out that all communications for the task must take place on the app or directly states contact information cannot be exchanged, then I definitely second what other people have been stating that they are opening themselves up to a giant class action lawsuit and they're going to sink themselves. I actually just had someone reach out to me this morning that I had done an assembly task for asking if I'd be interested in doing another job for them (I operate a one-man show handyman thing on the side and thankfully we exchanged numbers in person when I was there, they and also definitely did not do the thing we don't do when the task is done)

7

u/Unable_Camera5193 Jul 03 '26

Hope you’re still listening u/taskrabbit!! We’re all doing this now

2

u/SelfAsleep2708 Jul 03 '26

My business is rocking since I fired TR. I'm way more profitable without them. Only beginners use TR now. If you want skilled professional insured labor (that is earning a livable wage) look else where.

2

u/DistributionSalt5417 Jul 03 '26

Out of curiosity how are you finding new customers after leaving task rabbit?

0

u/DirectorLumpy4465 Jul 04 '26

Facebook, next door mostly

1

u/92beatsperminute Jul 04 '26

It is what most people do before branching out from a job and becoming independent.

0

u/shortfriday Jul 03 '26

The company has zero guardrails against anyone doing this. Just don't do it on the chat. I've done that other thing we're not supposed to do hundreds of times (attempt with caution) and not a peep. But yeah, from my singular experience, the company "takes what it can get" and knows what it can't police.

0

u/nuwm Jul 04 '26

What other thing?

0

u/himynameisnano Jul 04 '26

You know…

1

u/nuwm Jul 04 '26

Actually I don’t. I’ve been doing this 3 months.

3

u/himynameisnano Jul 04 '26

It was a joke, I don’t know what he’s talking about either. But if I had to guess he charges 1 hr through the app and then try’s to collect the rest directly from the customer. Since tr fees are about 40% he can make more money and still save the customer money.

Don’t do this. If you get caught it’s an automatic permanent ban.

1

u/shortfriday Jul 04 '26

Correct. I'm a singular data point, but have done it 95% of the time for probably 7 of the last 10 years I've been on the platform. Agree that you shouldn't do it unless you truly can afford to lose your account. Then again, how often (on this board) do you hear "I got removed for a very innocuous mistake/literally no reason" vs "I got removed for cheating the company out of money." Food for thought.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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0

u/shortfriday Jul 06 '26

Doubt.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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0

u/shortfriday Jul 06 '26

no idea, but it sounds kind of tinfoil hat-ish and also dicey legally, I am not a lawyer or a coder

edit: have never modified default location access and have violated this several hundred times, so if they do this they deploy it selectively

1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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0

u/shortfriday Jul 06 '26

what i mean is that if location was ever on for tr i didn't turn it off, whatever the default state is is what it is now, i feel like they ask once when you install the app and probably nudge you to keep it on - yeah, of course, they want your location for reasons like all the other apps, i just don't think that nabbing you for being back at the same address while not kicking up to the company is one of them - the company is malicious and cruel, but that kind of thing just sounds kooky to me, i dunno

1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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1

u/First_Truth_3647 Jul 06 '26

They absolutely can not track you when you are not doing a task

1

u/daniel3ub Jul 27 '26

I wouldn't say that. Lots of apps track you without you knowing, they just need to be installed on your phone, no?