There’s been a myth floating around contractor circles this past year: Google killed off LSA credits.
The rumor started when Google announced “evolution” in lead feedback, adding more automation and dropping the word dispute from the dashboard. Blogs piled on, claiming that because credits were now automated, “the system decides everything” and marking lead quality is pointless.
That’s wrong.
Disputes aren’t dead, they’ve just been renamed. The button is now “Rate this lead,” but your feedback can still flip a bad lead from Charged to Credited.
How the LSA Credit Process Works
When a lead comes in through LSAs, you’ll see a “Rate this lead.” option on the top right. When you click on it, you’ll be prompted with a deceivingly simply survey, smiley faces & all.
The trick is however, if you mark “dissatisfied,” you get a list of reasons just like you found in the former “Dispute” option:
Submit the reason, and when justified, you’ll see the lead flip to “Credited” status, sometimes right away. We’ve even seen credits for tire kickers come through, with the “Customer not ready to book” submissions.
In some cases, flagged leads go “In Review.” During this period, Google assesses the lead to determine if it qualifies for a credit or if further action is required. This status gives you visibility into the process so you know the lead hasn’t been ignored and can track whether a credit is coming.
Why Contractors Think It’s Dead
Google’s automated filters already catch a lot of junk before it hits your account. Combine that with the disappearance of the word dispute, and it’s easy to assume everything is AI-driven.
But it does. We still mark call quality for our clients and consistently see credits applied even as quickly as instantly, as a direct result of that feedback. The backend tells the same story: Google recently updated the LSA API with the same categories to make sure power users can flag issues.
- Geo Mismatch
- Job Type Mismatch
- Not Ready To Book
- Spam
- Duplicate
- Solicitation
- Other Dissatisfied Reason
If disputes were gone, why would Google be providing credits for lead feedback, and adding the capability into their API?
Why It Matters
Ignoring the rating tool could be expensive. LSAs run on a cost per lead (CPL) model, not CPC. That means every un-credited spam call is wasted spend. Using the rating system protects your budget and keeps Google’s lead pipeline cleaner for everyone.
Credits put money back in your pocket.
Flagging leads helps the algorithm filter better next time.
Your true cost per booked job improves when you dispute junk.
How to Maximize LSA Credits
Rate every lead. Don’t wait. Train your CSRs to flag bad ones immediately, or work with an agency that does it for you (but not for 20% of ad spend).
Be specific. Use the closest category, spam, geo mismatch, or solicitation are the most common.
Audit monthly. Compare disputed vs. credited leads to see how much you’re saving.
The Bigger Picture
Google wants contractors to trust LSAs. That only works if lead quality is high and bad leads get credited. So while AI screens a lot on its own, user ratings are still part of the equation.
Disputes haven’t disappeared, they’ve just been renamed. And if you stop rating leads because you think it’s pointless, you’re the one losing out.
So call it what you want, disputes, credits, or ratings. Just don’t call it dead.
