Kentucky - 12/99.  They have destroyed so many homeowners and their dreams.  Thanks to you for your hard work and the Wall Street Journal for reporting this, I may have recourse for the extensive damages to my home that have been caused by poor workmanship on the part of Terminix!

Texas - 12/99.  I have tried several times to cancel a contract with Terminix because they have not properly treated my home and have even refused to treat my home for termites.  Although they have not met their end of the contract, ServiceMaster still expects me to pay over $800 for the contract I signed last summer but canceled after three months.

Oklahoma - 12/99.  I wanted to start by saying something nice about Terminix. I CAN’T! The guy who came to our house was very nice. His name is Jim. He was the only positive thing I got out of them. They did not kill any pests that we had. They did not speak to us nicely on the phone; they were flat-out rude. We had problems with crickets, so we called them.  They sent a man out when my wife was alone.  She said she wanted a one-time spraying.  They told her after they sprayed that they do not do one-time sprayings and she had to sign the contract. She did. They didn’t show up twice during the year, and boom they charge us for it.  I told them NO... the fight started there. The only way we got out of our contract was Jim, the guy that came to our place. He said he would pay the rest of it out.  Good Customer Service, Jim. You can come work for me anytime. Terminix, You can Burn baby Burn (and I don’t mean Disco Inferno).

Texas - 12-99.  I work for a small church that doesn’t have much money. For the last few years, I have suggested that we find someone else to do business with.  Those decisions are made by people on our session (volunteers).  Since they change from year to year, I have to start over explaining why I am so unhappy with Terminix.  We have had a termite contract with Terminix for at least five years.  In May 1994, we paid the renewal fee for the termite contract; no annual inspection was made. In May 1995, paid the renewal fee, called Terminix and insisted they come do an annual inspection. We had some renovation being done at the church, and there was some damage to the ceiling in our kitchen area. When the contractor began to make the repairs, he found termites in the ceiling and told me we needed to have them treated before he could do any further work.  Perhaps if Terminix had done annual inspections previously, they would have discovered the termites and we would not have had the expense of repairing this ceiling.  In May 1996, paid the renewal fee and again had to call Terminix to come inspect.  I do not ever have to do this with any other companies. We have contracts with other companies, and they always call me to set up an appointment when the renewal time comes. In addition, I always have to call at least twice to set up appointments as they never seem to show up the first time. In May 1997, paid renewal fee and again had to call Terminix to inspect. In May 1998, paid renewal fee and had to call them again.  In May 1999, paid renewal fee.  Our regular pest control company (not Terminix) came to do our quarterly treatment and found termites.  I called Terminix and asked them to come treat the problem as well as do the annual inspection. I made two or three appointments before someone finally showed up. In October 1999, our regular pest control company came to do the quarterly treatment and found termites again in virtually the same area. I called Terminix to set up an appointment first part of November -- no one showed up.  Due to a very hectic schedule and illness, I did not call back until December 9 to ask why no one showed up. I was informed that someone did come out and treated our garage.  We don’t have a garage. I was then told they didn’t come back because we hadn’t paid our renewal fee in May. We did pay our renewal fee.  I got the check number, amount paid and date paid from our church treasurer and called again on December 10. I was told that I must send in proof that we paid.  I was disgusted at all the work they seem to think I should do and asked for a manager.  The receptionist asked for my zip code and found out that I didn’t even have the right office.  Surely, when I spoke to the person the day before, gave the name of the church and address, they could have figured this out.  I felt as if they were making things up as they went along when I spoke with them. I called the correct office and set up an appointment for Dec. 13.  As expected, Terminix did not show up between 9 a.m. and noon as I was told they would. I called their office at 1:15 to ask why.  The office contacted the person that was supposed to come out, called me back, and said he would be out within the hour. I had other appointments that I had put off waiting for them to come or call and told them we would have to reschedule.  I then stated that I am very unhappy with the service we are getting (or NOT getting), and the lady at Terminix asked if I’d like a manager call me. I said yes, I would.

Update 2/00 - We finally got our property treated recently.  I spent quite a long time with the young man that showed up, explaining to him why I was so unhappy.  I told him that I asked for a manager to call me on more than one occasion and have never heard from any.  He was very apologetic and polite, treated the property, but refused to give me any samples of the chemicals being used.  He said he is not allowed to. I told him that I’ve read numerous complaints about Terminix using watered-down chemicals, and he assured me that he does not do that.

Louisiana - 12-99.  First I must apologize for my writing.  I am one who has been Crimmaly Poisoned by few of Terminix hired applicators. My nightmare began in March of 1993 and we were one that was forced into arbitration in 1999. We were railroad by the hearing attorney and Terminix.  We came out all plucted and had to accept what was handed.  I have been poisoned with Chlopriphous and God knows what else. We are not sure because the applicators and the office manager stopped having me sign after each application.  First the application that we hired them and was sucked into taking their protection plan is the enitional app that harmed me. I along in our home and the app. stayed at our home all day flooding the underneath of our house from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.  When I felt like I had been hit on the head and was feeling ossy I left the house and asked the app. if I had to make plans for us to sleep somewheres and he replied (oh-no these chemicals are safe). I am now forced into being disabled because I have lost the feelings in my hands and I have toxic encephalopathy which is some area of my brain has been damaged causing me to have cognitive problems and much more. I would have to get some one to write all that took place in some format.  Terminix even wanted the case thrown out after they heard I was found to be disabled by a federal judge, crying foul because they had not taken the time to read the material we were presenting. They were too busy coaching the app., and the salesman who were terminated shortly after we filed case in district court. The manager was also coached and was moved to another location.  I would most like to share my story and ask you if you could align me with a law organization who would look at this case for further prosecution because my injuries was from the first treatment and has nothing to do with there Garuntee protection plan. The hearing (lawyer) judge/arbitrator did not rule on that and did not say any thing as for his rulling from the hearing.... in other words he kept it hush-hush and all the

Florida - 12-99.  Like many others, I had good service before my contract was transferred to another (not local) branch.  I have been very frustrated with their billing as they bill monthly whether or not the guy shows up or not.  Several times I have called and gotten credits. In July, the guy came and left a bill saying I owed nothing, so I assumed they had got my credits caught up.  I also got notice that service was going up to $30 a month starting in August.  In August, the guy never showed up, but I got a bill for $58. On September 4, I wrote a letter of complaint canceling the contract and a check for $58 and sent it to them.  In October, I got a bill for $88 and a call from the service guy. I told him I had canceled the contract and not to come out.  I checked my account, and the check hadn’t cleared; so I sent them another check and a letter plus a copy of the Sept. 4 letter.  In November, I got another bill for $88.  So I called the office and they said they didn’t have either letter or check and so I gave them my debit card number and authorization to deduct the $58.  I told them to send me a copy of the receipt for service for August if they wanted me to pay that. They called and left a message that said everything was fine and I didn’t owe any more.  I later noted that the second check I sent cleared.  Imagine my surprise when, in December, I received a notice from a collection agency to collect on the $88 I “owe” them!  I called and talked with another lady; and after a long discussion, she promised to call back.  When she didn’t call back, I called her again. She said the supervisor said they would “forgive” my $88 debt if I wanted to schedule another service. Not no but ()*&^& NO!  Mind you -- this is after I paid them $58 - check cleared - $30 of which I didn’t owe!!  Anyone in Florida want to file some charges for fraudulent billing practices??