The lead business is booming—but not always in a good way.
Here’s the truth: for every legit seller, there are five marketplaces pushing overpriced, recycled, or flat-out non-compliant data. If you’re not careful, you’ll waste money, hurt your brand, or worse—run into legal trouble.
Here’s how to spot the warning signs and protect your wallet (and your license).
1. No Clear Opt-In or Compliance Info
If the seller can’t tell you where the lead came from, when it was submitted, or how the consumer opted in—run.
Red flags:
- No mention of TCPA, DNC, or consent documentation
- No timestamp or source field in the lead file
- “We scrape our leads from public sources” = 🚩
Always ask:
- Are the leads opt-in via web form?
- Do you provide timestamped opt-in info?
👉 Read: What Makes a Good Lead Provider
2. No Filtering or Customization Options
Real lead marketplaces let you filter by:
- Product type (life, solar, mortgage, debt)
- State or ZIP code
- Lead age
- Consumer data (debt amount, coverage interest, etc.)
If you can’t segment your list, you’re wasting money on mismatches. Red flag if:
- You can’t preview filter options
- “Customization” means a $1,000+ monthly minimum
- You’re forced into bundles that don’t match your target
👉 Learn: Best Practices for Filtering Aged Leads
3. No Clear Pricing—Or Pricing That Makes No Sense
If you can’t see price per lead until you fill out a quote request form, watch out.
Red flags:
- No pricing page
- Forced demos just to get basic info
- Prices way above industry norm (e.g., $35+ for basic data)
Aged leads should cost:
- Final Expense: $0.30–$0.75
- Mortgage: $0.50–$1.25
- Solar: $0.60–$1.35
- Tax/Debt: $0.60–$1.75
👉 See: How Much Do Aged Leads Cost?
4. Pushy Sales Tactics or “Exclusive” Only Packages
The word “exclusive” doesn’t always mean better—it usually means “more expensive” and “harder to scale.”
Watch for:
- High-pressure pitches
- No self-service checkout
- Locked into 12-month contracts or $5K minimums
Good lead providers let you:
- Buy in small batches
- Test before scaling
- Access leads instantly with no commitment
5. No Real Support or Transparency
Once you buy, can you:
- Talk to someone if there’s an issue?
- Get help choosing filters or verticals?
- Access scripts or training?
If it’s “all sales, no service,” that’s a problem.
Bonus red flag: they sell leads but don’t know what a CRM or TCPA rule is.
Final Word: Do Your Due Diligence
If the site feels shady, the seller dodges questions, or the pricing is too good (or bad) to be true—it probably is.
Aged leads are a powerful tool, but only if sourced from a provider that gets your business and plays by the rules.
Ask smart questions. Review before you buy. And trust your gut.
👉 Want leads from a marketplace built for real agents? Buy Aged Leads Now
Related Reading
- What Makes a Good Lead Provider?
Ask these questions before committing to any data vendor. - How Much Do Aged Leads Cost?
Pricing by vertical, lead age, and filter customization. - How to Work Aged Leads Effectively
Turn even older leads into fresh conversations with proven cadences.
