Tennessee - 5/98.  Another dissatisfied Terminix customer.

? - 5/98. I, too, am having a problem with this outfit.  I admit I was late making a few payments of $31.09 due to a financial setback. After being informed by phone that I was late on my payments (twice), I informed them about my problem and that I would get my payments up to date. After making such payments, I was requested to appear in court.  As of this time, my payments were paid up to January 15, 1999.  Their law rep informed me Terminix wanted their money in full and I am to appear in court in June (98).  It’s not the money that matters; it’s the way I feel that they are treating me like this.

Maryland - 4/98.  Thank you for standing up for the consumer! I am also having a problem with Terminix.  Your other guest book entries leave me with little faith Terminix ever will solve the problem. My problem is I hired Terminix to pre-treat before having some additions done on my home.  This “pre-treated” area became infested in less than a year.  When I called them, they did not know I had a contract, and their “technician” (who was really a salesman) tried to sell me the $900 treatment (the one that involves drilling through the basement, etc.).  When I showed him the contract, he called the office for a confab and reported that all I needed was a re-treatment; and he made an appointment. They did not show up at the appointed time, and I had to call and raise hell before they sent out some bozo who only sprayed some stuff around. Now it is six months later, and the infestation is back. In fact, they were starting to swarm in the house just a few days ago. Now when I call, I can only get a secretary and the “technicians” never call back. I understand your anger and frustration.  I had to dismantle part of my porch so the guy could spray. Then I tore out the inside walls to inspect for damage.  Then I had to replace the drywall, re-mud, and paint. Now I have to go through this all over again.  Since Terminix has proven they cannot and/or will not handle the job, I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to find a reputable pest control company and what kind of treatment will actually work.

? - 4/98 - On January 30, 1998, my parents (who are in their sixties) were visited by a “Terminix man” who had been setting up a treatment with the people who live across the street from them. He told them that their neighbors had termites and the treatment they had installed would drive the termites from their (neighbors’) home but that they would probably come over to my parents’ home.  The Terminix man then did an “inspection” and told my parents they have termites.  Before signing the agreement to treat their home, the Terminix man said he would be back in a month to show them the termites that were dead in the trap. My parents paid him $200 as a down payment on January 31.  Dad called the regional office after a month had elapsed and no one ever came to inspect the traps. He was told that the manager would return his call.  They never did. Since then, Terminix has been billing him for the balance owed.  Dad has not paid them, and on Friday, April 17, called the regional office again to talk to the manager. Once again he was told the manager would return his call but never did.

Texas - 4/98.  Terminix “treated” my home for over three years, during which time I have incurred thousands of dollars in damage from ongoing termite damage.  After inspecting the damage, they denied they were liable for any of the repairs, returning my money, or even stopping the termites. I have turned this over to the State of Texas Attorney General.  The world needs to know about such unethical and thieving companies.  Consumers BEWARE.

Florida - 4/98.  I’m just starting my battle with Terminix.  I have a protection policy with Terminix and found three years ago that I had termites. I bought my house about 4 years ago. I had no problems with Terminix three years ago, they paid for all of the damages to be repaired. Almost the whole front of the house had to be replaced. I just recently found that they’re back and in the same area.  I found out through this that they have a compliance department that has to come to anyone’s home that has problems with termites and report back to the state. They found that the front of my house had never been treated.  You would think that after all of the trouble I had, someone would have made sure the house had been properly treated.  I’m not sure what is happening now because no one is ever in the office that I need to speak with and I can’t get anyone to call me back. I don’t know who I should contact now. Good luck in your battle.  It is too bad we have to go to such extremes to get any results.

New Jersey - 4/98.  I am having problems with termites. For seven years I had Terminix.  I started out with termites in my kitchen; and after seven years of Terminix, they spread through my entire house.

New Jersey - 4/98.  I have been using Terminix for over three years.  Everything came to a head just this week when we experienced swarming (believe they were termites) - wife called local Terminix office requesting some assistance and was told there was nothing they could do. I called their 800 number and was again told that there was nothing that could be done, to vacate the room where the swarm was taking place (kitchen) and soon everything would be fine.  I asked why was I having a swarm when they (Terminix) had been treating my house for over 3 years - they informed me that the swarm did not indicate that I had termites and this would all go away. The next two days, my wife experienced swarming but not as bad as before - she located where the swarm was coming from and upon inspection found the area (frame around the door) to be infested. Terminix’s contract states that they are not responsible for any damages even after treatment.  I am actively seeking another exterminator, but none of them will pick up Terminix’s contract and therefore I must start all over again - this will cost an additional $700 to $900!  So far I have heard nothing but bad reporting on those people who had Terminix in the past.  I feel for you - us “little people” seem to have no recourse!!!!!  Thanks for the warning - it only confirms my reasons for dropping Terminix.

New York - 3/98.  I hired Terminix in 9/97 to treat carpenter ants; they’ve been back twice and the guy they are sending just doesn’t seem to have a strategy (once he manages to make an appointment, that is) to solve the problem... all he does is spray the interior baseboards and where I point out problem areas. Two requests by me to spray the outside perimeter of the house were ignored. I called another company to ask what they would do to treat this problem if Terminix were to leave the situation unmanageable. The answer was far more extensive - for only $150 more, including spraying the exterior perimeter AND possibly injecting chemicals into the wall voids if indicated. I got fed up with Terminix and called another exterminating company for my ant problem.  They came last Saturday and their first plan was to inject the interior walls and spray outside... two things I couldn’t get Terminix to do.  Twenty minutes later, the main nest was discovered and destroyed. Some ants are still showing up dead but that may have been it. As a result, I filed a complaint with Consumer Affairs, requesting “return of amount paid” due to shoddy and superficial work and Breach of Contract; evidence was the new company’s success.

5/98 - Consumer Affairs called two weeks ago to inform me I will be getting a refund of the fee paid to Terminix last September for the carpenter ant contract they were apparently unable to fulfill, after I showed the new company I hired - for exactly the same price! - eliminated the nest the day their technician arrived.  The ants have been gone for 3 weeks so far. We’ll see if the check is really in the mail, though.

6/98 - The manager of the Hicksville, NY, franchise told Nassau County Consumer Affairs that refunds must be processed through headquarters (Tennessee?). So far, nothing; and Consumer Affairs told me 3 days ago, “I have your case in front of me.  I have to call her (the manager) to harass her again.  Did I forget to say I’d be surprised if Terminix lived up to a refund?”

7/98 - After the promised refund by Nassau County (Long Island) Consumer Affairs didn't appear week after week, I finally e-mailed Terminix HQ. A quick apology followed, and this week a check arrived. So maybe it was the combination of e-mail and badgering by Consumer Affairs.  Perhaps Terminix is trying to clean up its record?

North Carolina - 12/97. Thanks for your web site.  I am embarking on a fight against Terminix here in NC for damages of $16,000. I thought it was hard already. Now I know what to prepare for. I am calling the attorney tomorrow.

Georgia - 11/97. I, like you, have had trouble with Terminix. Mine is a case where they have ruined my carpet and will not take responsibility. They refuse to return calls, etc. etc. I was a monthly patron for over 9 years. They will never set foot in my home again.