UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

BEFORE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

COMMISSIONERS: Lina M. Khan, Chair 

Rebecca Kelly Slaughter 

Alvaro M. Bedoya 

In the Matter of 

DOCKET NO. D-9407 

HOMEADVISOR, INC., a corporation, 

d/b/a ANGI LEADS, 

d/b/a HOMEADVISOR POWERED BY ANGI. 

DECISION AND ORDER 

The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) issued a Complaint challenging certain acts 

and practices of the Respondent named above in the caption. The Commission’s Bureau of 

Consumer Protection (“BCP”) filed the Complaint, which charged the Respondent with violating 

the Federal Trade Commission Act. 

Respondent and BCP thereafter executed an Agreement Containing Consent Order (“Consent 

Agreement”). The Consent Agreement includes: (1) statements by Respondent that it neither 

admits nor denies any of the allegations in the Complaint, except as specifically stated in this 

Decision and Order, and that only for purposes of this action, it admits the facts necessary to 

establish jurisdiction; and (2) waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission’s 

Rules. 

The Secretary of the Commission thereafter withdrew this matter from adjudication in 

accordance with Section 3.25(c) of the Commission’s Rules, 16 C.F.R. 3.25(c) (“Rule 3.25”). 

The Commission accepted the executed Consent Agreement and placed it on the public 

record for a period of 30 days for the receipt and consideration of public comments. The 

Commission duly considered any comments received from interested persons pursuant to 

Rule 2.34. Now, in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in Rule § 2.34. 3.25 (f), the 

Commission issues its Complaint, makes the following Findings and issues the following Order: 

Findings 

1. Respondent is HomeAdvisor, Inc. (“HomeAdvisor”), also doing business as Angi Leads, 

also doing business as HomeAdvisor Powered by Angi, a Delaware corporation with its 

principal offices or places of business at 3601 Walnut Street, Denver, Colorado 80205 

and 14023 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401. 

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2. The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this proceeding and over the 

Respondent, and the proceeding is in the public interest. 

ORDER 

Definitions 

For purposes of this Order, the following definitions apply: 

A. “Home Services” means services for home projects, such as maintenance, remodeling, 

construction, inspection, cleaning, and gardening. 

B. “Lead” means any set of information about a consumer who has expressed an interest in 

Home Services, has visited a website related to Home Services, or who has been 

identified as a potential customer of Home Services, and whose information has been 

shared by Respondent with a Service Provider who has paid Respondent for such 

information or who is enrolled or otherwise participating in Respondent’s network of 

Service Providers. By way of example only, a set of information is not a Lead if it is 

shared publicly or solely for the purposes of advertising and there is no attendant cost to 

Service Providers who receive the information, e.g., a customer testimonial. 

C. “Respondent” means HomeAdvisor, Inc. and its successors and assigns. 

D. “Service Provider” means any provider of Home Services. 

Provisions 

I. Prohibited Misleading and Unsubstantiated Representations 

IT IS ORDERED that Respondent, and Respondent’s officers, agents, employees, and 

attorneys, and all other persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who receive 

actual notice of this Order, whether acting directly or indirectly, in connection with the 

advertising, promotion, offering for sale, or selling of any product or service, must not: 

A. Misrepresent, expressly or by implication: 

1. That the Leads that Respondent sells to Service Providers: 

a Concern individuals who intend to hire a Service Provider soon, including 

but not limited to through describing Leads using terms or phrases such as: 

i Ready to hire; 

ii Project-ready; 

iii Not window shopping; 

iv Not just price-shopping; or 

v Need a project done now; 

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b Exclusively concern projects that are limited to the types of services and 

geographic areas that Service Providers have specified to Respondent; or 

c Exclusively concern individuals who submitted a request concerning 

Home Services directly to Respondent; 

2. That a product or service is free when that product or service is not free or when it 

increases the price of another product or service; or 

3. Any other fact material to consumers concerning the content or central 

characteristics of Leads; or 

B. Make any representation, expressly or by implication, about the rate at which Leads 

convert into jobs or the expected outcome of Leads, unless the representation is 

non-misleading and Respondent (1) has a reasonable basis for the claim at the time it is 

made; (2) has in its possession data or written materials to substantiate the claim at the 

time it is made; and (3) can make the data or written substantiation available upon request 

to the Commission. 

II. Monetary Relief 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: 

A. Respondent must pay to the Commission $4,448,000, which Respondent stipulates its 

undersigned counsel holds in escrow for no purpose other than payment to the 

Commission. 

B. Such payment (in Provision II.A) must be made within 8 days of the effective date of this 

Order by electronic fund transfer in accordance with instructions provided by a 

representative of the Commission. 

C. Respondent must pay to the Commission an additional amount not to exceed $2,752,000, 

if notified by a representative of the Commission, to supplement the mHelpDesk redress 

fund, as described below in Provision III.A.4. 

D. Such payment (in Provision II.C) must be made within 8 days of such notice by 

electronic fund transfer in accordance with instructions provided by a representative of 

the Commission. 

III. Redress 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: 

A. All money paid to the Commission pursuant to this Order may be deposited into a fund 

administered by the Commission or its designee to be used for relief, including consumer 

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redress and attendant expenses for the administration of the redress fund. Respondent has 

no right to challenge any activities pursuant to this Provision. 

1. The Commission may use up to $3,200,000 (the “Leads Fund”) for payments of 

up to $30 per membership for relief for the practices alleged in Counts I and II of 

the Complaint. 

2. The Commission may use up to $4,000,000 (the “mHelpDesk Fund”) for 

payments of up to $59.99 per mHelpDesk membership for relief for the practices 

alleged in Count III of the Complaint. Payments from the mHelpDesk Fund will 

be made only upon submission of a claim or request for payment. 

3. Not more than $448,000 is to be paid from the mHelpDesk Fund for the 

Commission’s expenses in connection with the administration of the redress fund 

and payments therefrom. 

4. In the event that claims against the mHelpDesk Fund exceed $800,000, a 

representative of the Commission may notify Respondent of the supplemental 

dollar amount for payment by Respondent, as provided in Provision II.B, to cover 

such claims. Notice via email to Respondent’s point of contact as identified 

pursuant to Provision VII is adequate notice. 

5. The Commission may make payments from both the Leads Fund and mHelpDesk 

Fund to the same person. 

B. Within 24 months of receipt of the first payment due under Provision II.A of this Order, a 

representative of the Commission will notify the Respondent in writing of its 

determination, based on the Commission acting in its sole discretion to administer 

redress, of the funds unclaimed by consumers and not needed for the administration of 

the redress fund and, within 14 days or a reasonable time, return those funds to 

Respondent. 

C. Respondent must not engage in efforts to dissuade consumers from participating in 

redress. 

IV. Additional Monetary Provisions 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: 

A. Respondent relinquishes dominion and all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in 

all assets transferred pursuant to this Order and may not seek the return of any assets, 

except as provided in Provision III.B above. 

B. The facts alleged in the Complaint will be taken as true, without further proof, in any 

subsequent civil litigation by or on behalf of the Commission to enforce its rights to any 

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payment pursuant to this Order, such as a nondischargeability complaint in any 

bankruptcy case. 

C. The facts alleged in the Complaint establish all elements necessary to sustain an action by 

or on behalf of the Commission pursuant to Section 523(a)(2)(A) of the Bankruptcy 

Code, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A), and this Order will have collateral estoppel effect for 

such purposes. In the event of default on any obligation to make payment under this 

Order, interest, computed as if pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a), shall accrue from the 

date of default to the date of payment. In the event such default continues for 10 days 

beyond the date that payment is due, the entire amount will immediately become due and 

payable. 

D. Each day of nonpayment is a violation through continuing failure to obey or neglect to 

obey a final order of the Commission and thus will be deemed a separate offense and 

violation for which a civil penalty shall accrue. 

E. Respondent acknowledges that its Taxpayer Identification Number(s) (Social Security or 

Employer Identification Numbers), which Respondent has previously submitted to the 

Commission, may be used for collecting and reporting on any delinquent amount arising 

out of this Order, in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 7701. 

V. Customer Information 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent must provide sufficient customer 

information to enable the Commission to efficiently administer consumer redress to current and 

former purchasers of Respondent’s membership, Leads, and mHelpDesk products. Respondent 

represents that it has provided redress information to the Commission, and within 8 days of entry 

of this Order shall provide the most current contact information (including full name(s), physical 

address(es), email address(es), phone number(s)) available for all such customers. If a 

representative of the Commission requests in writing any information related to redress, 

Respondent must provide it, in the form prescribed by the Commission representative, within 14 

days. Each day of noncompliance with this provision is a violation through continuing failure to 

obey or neglect to obey a final order of the Commission and thus will be deemed a separate 

offense and violation for which a civil penalty shall accrue. 

VI. Acknowledgments of the Order 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent obtain acknowledgments of receipt of this 

Order: 

A. Respondent, within 10 days after the effective date of this Order, must submit to the 

Commission an acknowledgment of receipt of this Order sworn under penalty of perjury. 

B. For 10 years after the issuance date of this Order, Respondent must deliver a copy of this 

Order to: (1) all principals, officers, directors, and LLC managers and members; (2) all 

employees having managerial responsibilities for conduct related to the subject matter of 

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the Order and all agents and representatives who participate in conduct related to the 

subject matter of the Order; and (3) any business entity resulting from any change in 

structure as set forth in the Provision titled Compliance Report and Notices. Delivery 

must occur within 10 days after the effective date of this Order for current personnel. For 

all others, delivery must occur when or before they assume their responsibilities. 

C. From each individual or entity to which Respondent delivered a copy of this Order, 

Respondent must obtain, within 30 days, a signed and dated acknowledgment of receipt 

of this Order. 

VII. Compliance Report and Notices 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent make timely submissions to the 

Commission: 

A. Ninety days after the effective date of this Order, Respondent must submit a compliance 

report, sworn under penalty of perjury, in which Respondent must: (a) identify the 

primary physical, postal, and email address and telephone number, as designated points 

of contact, which representatives of the Commission, may use to communicate with 

Respondent; (b) identify all of Respondent’s businesses by all of their names, telephone 

numbers, and physical, postal, email, and Internet addresses; (c) describe the activities of 

each business, including the goods and services offered, and the means of advertising, 

marketing, and sales; (d) describe in detail whether and how Respondent is in compliance 

with each Provision of this Order, including a discussion of all of the changes the 

Respondent made to comply with the Order; and (e) provide a copy of each 

Acknowledgment of the Order obtained pursuant to this Order, unless previously 

submitted to the Commission. 

B. For a period of 10 years after the issuance date of this Order, Respondent must submit a 

compliance notice, sworn under penalty of perjury, within 14 days of any change in the 

following: (a) any designated point of contact; or (b) the structure of Respondent or any 

entity that Respondent has any ownership interest in or controls directly or indirectly that 

may affect compliance obligations arising under this Order, including: creation, merger, 

sale, or dissolution of the entity or any subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any 

acts or practices subject to this Order. 

C. Respondent must submit notice of the filing of any bankruptcy petition, insolvency 

proceeding, or similar proceeding by or against Respondent within 14 days of its filing. 

D. Any submission to the Commission required by this Order to be sworn under penalty of 

perjury must be true and accurate and comply with 28 U.S.C. § 1746, such as by 

concluding: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of 

America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on: _____” and supplying the 

date, signatory’s full name, title (if applicable), and signature. 

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E. Unless otherwise directed by a Commission representative in writing, all submissions to 

the Commission pursuant to this Order must be emailed to DEbrief@ftc.gov or sent by 

overnight courier (not the U.S. Postal Service) to: Associate Director for Enforcement, 

Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue 

NW, Washington, DC 20580. The subject line must begin: In re HomeAdvisor, Inc., D9407. 

VIII. Recordkeeping 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent must create certain records for 10 years after 

the issuance date of the Order, and retain each such record for 5 years, unless otherwise specified 

below. Specifically, Respondent must create and retain the following records: 

A. accounting records showing the revenues from all goods or services sold; 

B. personnel records showing, for each person providing services, whether as an employee 

or otherwise, that person’s: name; addresses; telephone numbers; job title or position; 

dates of service; and (if applicable) the reason for termination; 

C. records of all consumer complaints and refund requests, whether received directly or 

indirectly, such as through a third party, and any response; 

D. a copy of each unique advertisement or other marketing material making a representation 

subject to this Order; and 

E. all records necessary to demonstrate full compliance with each provision of this Order, 

including all submissions to the Commission. 

IX. Compliance Monitoring 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purpose of monitoring Respondent’s 

compliance with this Order: 

A. Within 10 days of receipt of a written request from a representative of the Commission, 

Respondent must: submit additional compliance reports or other requested information, 

which must be sworn under penalty of perjury, and produce records for inspection and 

copying. 

B. For matters concerning this Order, representatives of the Commission are authorized to 

communicate directly with Respondent. Respondent must permit representatives of the 

Commission to interview anyone affiliated with Respondent who has agreed to such an 

interview. The interviewee may have counsel present. 

C. The Commission may use all other lawful means, including posing through its 

representatives as consumers, suppliers, or other individuals or entities, to Respondent or 

7 
any individual or entity affiliated with Respondent, without the necessity of identification 

or prior notice. Nothing in this Order limits the Commission’s lawful use of compulsory 

process, pursuant to Sections 9 and 20 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 49, 57b-1. 

X. Order Effective Dates 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the final and effective date of this Order is the 60th day 

after this Order is served. This Order will terminate 20 years from the date of its issuance (which 

date may be stated at the end of this Order, near the Commission’s seal), or 20 years from the 

most recent date that the United States or the Commission files a complaint (with or without an 

accompanying settlement) in federal court alleging any violation of this Order, whichever comes 

later; provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of: 

A. Any Provision in this Order that terminates in less than 20 years; 

B. This Order’s application to any Respondent that is not named as a defendant in such 

complaint; and 

C. This Order if such complaint is filed after the Order has terminated pursuant to this 

Provision. 

Provided, further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that the Respondent 

did not violate any provision of the Order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or 

upheld on appeal, then the Order will terminate according to this Provision as though the 

complaint had never been filed, except that the Order will not terminate between the date such 

complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date 

such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal. 

By the Commission. 

April J. Tabor 

Secretary 

SEAL 

ISSUED: April 20, 2023

8 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580 

Office of the Secretary 

April, 20 2023 

Ms. Nikki Stone 

Administrator 

Superior Home Specialists 

209 Michigan Ave 

Nitro, WV 25143 

Re: In the Matter ofHomeAdvisor, Inc., FTC Dkt. No. 9407 

Dear Ms. Stone: 

Thank you for collllllenting on the Federal Trade Collllllission's proposed consent order in 

the above-referenced proceeding. The Collllllission has considered your collllllent and placed it 

on the public record pursuant to Rule 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Collllllission's Rules of Practice, 16 

C.F.R. § 4.9(b)(6)(ii). The Collllllission is collllllitted to protecting consumers from deceptive, 

unfair, and other unlawful practices, and we appreciate your feedback on this matter. 

The order prohibits HomeAdvisor from: (1) misrepresenting central characteristics ofits 

leads, including that the leads concern individuals who intend to hire service providers soon, that 

they concern projects that will match service providers' stated task type and location preferences, 

and that they concern individuals who submitted a request concerning home services directly to 

HomeAdvisor; (2) misrepresenting products as free; and (3) making any representation regarding 

the rate at which HomeAdvisor's leads convert into paying jobs unless that representation is nonmisleading and suppo1ted by data or written materials in HomeAdvisor's possession when the 

claim is made. Fmt her, the order requires HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million, which will be 

used to partially reimburse service providers who were haimed by the practices described in the 

complaint. 

Your collllllent describes your experience and dissatisfaction with HomeAdvisor. We are 

sony for your experience. The Collllllission will obtain from HomeAdvisor the info1mation it 

needs to identify service providers who were haim ed by the practices described in the complaint 

and eligible for payment. You do not need to submit any info1mation at this point. If the FTC 

dete1mines you ai·e eligible for payment, it will contact you directly. 

Having considered all the facts of this case and all of the collllllents submitted in response 

to the proposed consent order, the Collllllission dete1mined that the public interest would best be 

served by issuing the Complaint and the Decision and Order in final fo1m without any 

modifications. The final Decision and Order and other relevant materials are available from the 

Collllllission's website at http://www.ftc.gov. 

Thank you again for your collllllent. The Collllllission is aided in its analysis by hearing 

from a vai·iety of sources, and we appreciate your interest in this matter. 
By direction of the Commission. 

Very truly yours, 

April J. Tabor 

Secretary 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580 

Office of the Secretary 

April, 20 2023 

Mr. Todd No1ion 

Re: In the Matter ofHomeAdvisor, Inc., FTC Dkt. No. 9407 

Dear Mr. Norton: 

Thank you for commenting on the Federal Trade Commission's proposed consent order in 

the above-referenced proceeding. The Commission has considered your comment and placed it 

on the public record pursuant to Rule 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 16 

C.F.R. § 4.9(b)(6)(ii). The Commission is committed to protecting consumers from deceptive, 

unfair, and other unlawful practices, and we appreciate your feedback on this matter. 

The order prohibits HomeAdvisor from: (I) misrepresenting central characteristics ofits 

leads, including that the leads concern individuals who intend to hire service providers soon, that 

they concern projects that will match service providers' stated task type and location preferences, 

and that they concern individuals who submitted a request concerning home services directly to 

HomeAdvisor; (2) misrepresenting products as free; and (3) making any representation regarding 

the rate at which HomeAdvisor's leads conve1i into paying jobs unless that representation is nonmisleading and suppo1ied by data or written materials in HomeAdvisor's possession when the 

claim is made. Fmi her, the order requires HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million, which will be 

used to partially reimburse service providers who were haimed by the practices described in the 

complaint. 

Your comment describes your experience and dissatisfaction with HomeAdvisor. We are 

sony for your experience. The Commission will obtain from HomeAdvisor the info1mation it 

needs to identify service providers who were haim ed by the practices described in the complaint 

and eligible for payment. You do not need to submit any info1mation at this point. If the FTC 

dete1mines you ai·e eligible for payment, it will contact you directly. 

Having considered all the facts of this case and all of the comments submitted in response 

to the proposed consent order, the Commission dete1mined that the public interest would best be 

served by issuing the Complaint and the Decision and Order in final fo1m without any 

modifications. The final Decision and Order and other relevant materials are available from the 

Commission's website at http://www.ftc.gov. 

Thank you again for your comment. The Commission is aided in its analysis by hearing 

from a vai·iety of sources, and we appreciate your interest in this matter. 
By direction of the Commission. 

Very truly yours, 

April J. Tabor 

Secretary 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580 

Office ofthe Secretary 

April 20, 2023 

Mr. William Martin 

Re: In the Matter ofHomeAdvisor, Inc., FTC Dkt. No. 9407 

Dear Mr. Maliin: 

Thank you for commenting on the Federal Trade Commission's proposed consent order 

in the above-referenced proceeding. The Commission has considered your comments and placed 

them on the public record pursuant to Rule 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 

16 C.F.R. § 4.9(b)(6)(ii). The Commission is committed to protecting consumers from 

deceptive, unfair, and other unlawful practices, and we appreciate your feedback on this matter. 

The order prohibits HomeAdvisor from: (I) misrepresenting central characteristics ofits 

leads, including that the leads concern individuals who intend to hire service providers soon, that 

they concern projects that will match service providers' stated task type and location preferences, 

and that they concern individuals who submitted a request concerning home services directly to 

HomeAdvisor; (2) misrepresenting products as free; and (3) making any representation regarding 

the rate at which HomeAdvisor's leads convert into paying jobs unless that representation is nonmisleading and suppo1ted by data or written materials in HomeAdvisor's possession when the 

claim is made. Fmther, the order requires HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million, which will be 

used to partially reimburse service providers who were haimed by the practices described in the 

complaint. 

Your comments describe your experience and dissatisfaction with HomeAdvisor. We are 

sony for your experience. The Commission will obtain from HomeAdvisor the info1mation it 

needs to identify service providers who were haimed by the practices described in the complaint 

and eligible for payment. You do not need to submit any info1mation at this point. If the FTC 

dete1mines you ai·e eligible for payment, it will contact you directly. 

Having considered all the facts of this case and all ofthe comments submitted in 

response to the proposed consent order, the Commission dete1mined that the public interest 

would best be served by issuing the Complaint and the Decision and Order in final f01m without 

any modifications. The final Decision and Order and other relevant materials ai·e available from 

the Commission's website at http://www.ftc.gov. 

Thank you again for your comments. The Commission is aided in its analysis by hearing 

from a vai·iety ofsources, and we appreciate your interest in this matter. 
By direction of the Commission. 

Very truly yours, 

April J. Tabor 

Secretary