Frequently asked questions.
Last updated 27 May 2026
What is What's The Damage?
We're an Australian lead-generation service for residential trades. Homeowners submit jobs through our website, our system qualifies them by SMS, and we send the verified lead details to up to 2 tradies in the customer's area — or just one tradie if Exclusive Territory Lockdown applies for that trade and city. You pay per lead, with a 48-hour refund guarantee.
How much does each lead cost?
Lead fees start at $25 per lead and vary by trade and job size. The exact price for any given lead is always shown clearly on the verify page before you pay. The same lead is sold to a maximum of 2 tradies — unless you hold the Exclusive Territory Lockdown for that trade and city, in which case the lead is yours alone (one tradie, no competition).
Do I need a subscription?
No. There is no monthly subscription — you only pay when you decide to claim a lead. We also offer an optional Exclusive Territory Lockdown ($250/month per trade/city). The Exclusive Territory subscriber is the only tradie who receives leads in their nominated area — no competition, no shared leads, all dispatches go to you. This is opt-in, not required.
How are leads verified?
Every lead clears four checkpoints before we dispatch:
- Form submission on whatsthedamage.com.au (bot-filtered, rate-limited).
- SMS confirmation — the customer must reply to Sam (our SMS assistant) within an hour.
- Suburb cross-check against Australia Post's postcode database.
- Manual review before dispatch — we look at every single lead before it goes out.
What if the homeowner doesn't respond after I pay?
You're covered. If the homeowner doesn't respond to your contact attempt within 48 hours of payment, you get a 100% refund. Full refund policy here.
How many tradies get the same lead?
A maximum of 2 tradies for standard leads. Once two have paid, the lead is closed — no further dispatches. If you hold Exclusive Territory Lockdown ($250/month) for that trade and city, leads in your area go to you alone — one tradie, no competition. Either way, this is unlike hipages, Oneflare, or other aggregators that distribute the same lead to 3-10+ tradies.
How do I get signed up to receive leads?
Visit your trade and city page (e.g. whatsthedamage.com.au/tradies/painter/townsville/) and submit your business details through the form. We'll add you to our dispatch list. There is no signup fee.
Do I get the homeowner's details before or after I pay?
Before paying, you see: the trade required, the suburb, the timeline (urgent vs gathering quotes), the estimated job value, and an SMS-redacted preview showing the homeowner responded. After paying, you unlock: full customer name, direct mobile, exact address, email if provided, full SMS thread with Sam, and the original job description.
Can I opt out?
Yes — reply STOP to any SMS we send you, or email contact@whatsthedamage.com.au asking to be removed. We process opt-outs within one business day.
How do I update my contact details, service area, or trade?
Email contact@whatsthedamage.com.au with your business name and the changes you'd like. We do not currently have a self-service portal.
What if I have a complaint about a lead or a refund?
Email contact@whatsthedamage.com.au. We respond within one business day. We're a small, Australian-owned team — every email is read by a person, not a chatbot.
Who is behind What's The Damage?
What's The Damage is operated by Focus Search Pty Ltd (ABN 70 167 781 946), an Australian company registered in Victoria.