The following complaints/information regarding ServiceMaster and its subsidiaries (with the exception of Terminix which appears on other pages of this web site), are unverified. I believe them or I wouldn’t post them; and you must judge for yourself if you believe them.

SVM-22 (2/03). My family has owned multiple ServiceMaster franchises for several decades. In the old days, support was cheerfully provided by the folks at corporate. They stood by their mission and their franchisees. Help was abundant for the small guy trying to make a go of the "new" on location carpet cleaning and restoration industry.  The royalties (10% off the gross revenue, yes gross) were high, but at least we received something for it then.  Life was good and we were happy.

During the early nineties and forward, ServiceMaster apparently underwent major changes in the way they conducted business. Their chemical supplies prices rose sharply. We are contractually required to use them.  Just about all training became another profit stream for them (it was free previously and conducted locally). Now training is offered at locations across the state and usually at a hotel where we have to pay for accommodations.  They added 1% to their royalties for advertising expenses supposedly to benefit us. Yes that's now 11% off my gross revenue, plus expensive chemicals; and I haven't paid my other bills or payroll yet.

Comparatively support is now virtually nonexistent.  In the past support was provided by another current or former franchise owner known as a distributor; a seasoned veteran of the industry.  “Market managers” have as of the late nineties replaced them.  These people in my personal experience and by my market manager’s personal admission have no experience in the industry. They were a cheaper option for ServiceMaster than the old distributor system.  I haven't seen my "market manager" in over a year. The last time he was here was to examine my building and ensure I was using their expensive products and make sure my vehicles were painted ServiceMaster yellow.  Not a word about "how's business?” or "how can I help you?” Just keep the royalty check coming every month, buddy…

Think your purchased territory is yours? ServiceMaster practically gave away a large territory to one of my large competitors right in my back yard. Yes I said gave away.  They call it a conversion.  The rest of us paid around $30,000 per licensed territory.  What an insult!  They were so desperate for market share they gave him everything.  My business is showing the effects now of a large competitor now sharing the same name.  Customers are calling him by mistake looking for me, and he ropes them in.  Do I blame him? No.  Does ServiceMaster care?  No, they are making 11% off the gross receipts of both of our businesses now.

This is the second time in ten years they have done this to me.  The last guy was a newbie who actually paid for a territory already sold to us back in the seventies. He soon gave up because he couldn’t compete with my established business. He lasted five years.

How can they do this?  Their territories are considered by contract to be “non-exclusive”. They can sell your territory as many times as they can find a gullible person to buy it.  Would you buy a fast food franchise right next door to another one of the same name? Of course not!

Remember, you can get all the information about our industry and support that you need to start up from the various trade organizations of our industry.  A good place to start is www.cleanfax.com.  I have learned far more from them than I ever have from ServiceMaster. Remember, most businesses (and some of the biggest ones individually) in this industry are independents.  You can help keep it that way. I would get out, but I can’t afford to.  It’s not too late for you, though.

SVM-21 (CA-7/01).  I am so happy to see this web site. I’ve had the most horrific experience of my lifetime with ServiceMaster.  It has been months since I experienced a fire at my residence.  I hired ServiceMaster to do the job, and it was botched. I had to fire them about three weeks ago.  What a relief.

I can’t even begin to tell you of the nightmare I’ve been put through other than to say ServiceMaster is a liar, a con-artist, and a thief; and they should not be in business today.  The problem I’m having right now is that they still have all of the contents of my home.  I have been unable to get a final contents list after five months. What I have been able to get, as far as a list, has items missing altogether, items that haven’t been added as totaled, etc.

SVM-20 (KS-4/01).  I see I am not the first to be screwed by ServiceMaster.  I was just let go by a ServiceMaster manager because of reasons I know are untrue!  I am going to “enlighten” several people of their “mis-doings” and follow proper protocol (but of course!).  Funny, I’ve worked for them on and off over the last three years and “all of a sudden?” my work wasn’t up to par? Hummm.....ever heard of a scapegoat? Well, I think that’s my new name.

SVM-19 (NY-3/01).  God bless you.  I was considering buying a Terminex franchise.  I called an 800 number, and a very unprofessional lady got on the phone. When I asked for literature, she sounded surprised and took my address. I never received the literature. By the way, I got their information from Entrepreneur Magazine.

SVM-18 (11/00).  I worked for ServiceMaster for five months. The day I started work there, there were four girls on day crew (I was the fourth).  One of the girls I was told to work with had an attitude with me instantly.  It made it really hard for mew to work with her, because I couldn’t ask her anything about the products we use when we clean.  My boss had been around her longer than she had been around me; so when I approached her about this situation, she tried putting me with one of the other two girls.  That worked for a little while, until the other day.

My boss put all of us together to clean a really big building, and the girl that has always had a problem with me attacked me inside the building. My first reaction was to defend myself.  Then I knew I had to call my boss.  When I finally reached her, I told her what happened. She was upset with me more than with the other girl. That girl weighs 30 pounds more than me; and when she charged me, I fell backwards into the fire extinguisher and broke the glass our of the front of the box it was in. In all of this mess, my ear was cut and needed stitches. My boss told me to go on to another job to get away from the other girl and that at the end of the day she would look at my ear. I bandaged the cut on my ear temporarily to stop the bleeding but was unable to finish the rest of the day’s work.  When I called my boss back to notify her I couldn’t finish because I needed medical attention, she told me to just go home.  I honestly think she fired me, because she mentioned to my co-workers she was turning in my social security number to the unemployment office.  She said she wasn’t paying for my unemployment due to what happened with the other girl.  The girl that jumped me has been fired from previous jobs before for the same thing.  I have never had any problems with any co-workers in the past. My boss apparently does not want to hear the truth about this situation. I feel she should have at least heard both sides about this situation.

SVM-17 (WI-10/00). I was recently fired without reason. I received a raise a month ago and my job performance was outstanding according to my employer, ServiceMaster, even at the time of termination. Upon request of the reason why I was fired, my employer refused to give me a reason. I was never given a warning or felt at any time that my job was in jeopardy.

SVM-16 (9/00). Since my husband has worked for ServiceMaster, he has been getting less and less.  They offered salary plus commission.  When he was told “commission,” it was never explained about what he would get commission for.  Each month, he gets less. “No, you don’t get anything for that.” The company received partial payment for a job that isn’t yet complete and he is still working on, but they won’t give him any of the commission until the job is complete. They get their money now.. we don’t get ours. I’m interested in finding out how to be treated fairly... how to get what is deserved, how to know what is deserved; i.e., job descriptions.

SVM-15 (CA-8/00).  I had the unfortunate experience of having to work for ServiceMaster after the hospital I worked for let them contract the dietary department.  From the day they took over, I knew it was all about butt kissing and lying just to make a buck!! If I could only become a state inspector I’d know exactly where to look for their flaws!  It’s all a big game for them. Mind you, there are some well-intentioned persons working for them; but I guarantee you they have learned how to play the game and keep their jobs and learned how to screw ServiceMaster right back.  They never could run a decent dietary department; and if you could look back on records for our hospital, you’d see the large number of turnouts.  This company (ServiceMaster) needs constant supervision by state and government officials; that is, if they haven’t learned how to manipulate them.  When I left that company, it was in complete disgust. Their mission statement needs revising.  To begin with -- “Our intent is to first and foremost screw you” and etc. etc. etc.!!

SVM-14 (CA-8/00).  I was hired by ServiceMaster Management Services and for the next 21 months suffered lies, deception, wrongdoing, and humiliation at the hands of ServiceMaster management.  I was “separated” from the company, with ServiceMaster owing me substantial back wages and commissions, which to date, I have still been unable to collect.

SVM-13 (6/00). We sold Rescue Rooter franchise to Rescue Rooter/ServiceMaster in March. SVM said in contract they would provide health insurance.  Two days after our insurance lapsed, they changed their minds.  In the meantime, I have a lump on my thyroid and have to have surgery.  It’s bad enough to think you may have cancer without the emotional and monetary hardship ServiceMaster has put us through.