Florida - 10/00.  We are in legal proceedings against Terminix at the moment. Our case involves tens of thousands of dollars based on a clear termite inspection report provided by a Terminix employee.  Even though the local office the inspector worked out of had records dating back over ten years that documented damage to the property we purchased, he just didn’t bother to look.  Interestingly, the seller of the home works at a company called Ecoscience which sells a product called Bioblast to Terminix. Also, the house is located in one of the nine areas included in the Florida Attorney General vs. Terminix International case but was not specifically included in that class action by the previous owners even though the house shows the same signs of mistreatment; i.e., improperly drilled slab holes that go nowhere. No surprise to you I'm sure. We are currently awaiting the results of a hearing that will determine if we will have our day in court with Terminix or if we will be forced to arbitration as Terminix always wants.  If anyone would be willing to testify about similar practices, deception, plain old lies, etc., please contact me at pat@csorlando.com

Ohio - 10/00.  My husband and I purchased a house at the end of 1999 (we closed on 12/30/99).  As part of negotiating the purchase, we asked that the owners provide us with a “clean" termite inspection for the property before the closing.  They had a contract with Terminix so they called them out to the house to have it inspected.  As with the author of this web site, we really don't have any definite proof that they ever looked at the property.  Anyway, we were given a clean bill of health; so we went through with the purchase.  The previous owners disclosed only one sentence regarding termites or termite damage on the Property Disclosure Statement: "Property has been fully treated inside and out - annual ongoing contract with Terminix, transferable." To us this simply meant that at some point in the past, (the house is almost 30 years old), the home had had termites, but the home had been treated and the termites had been eradicated.  WRONG!

We moved in on January 7, 2000, and all was well for the first few months. In April, I received the notice from Terminix that the annual contract renewal was due. I called the local office and basically asked them to explain to me what the contract entailed and what exactly I got for my $116. (My husband and I had never seen a termite before in our lives). The nice lady explained to me the terms of the contract and took my information to transfer the contract into our names as the new owners.  She also went on to explain to me that it was a good idea for us to sign up because their records indicated $1600 worth of repairs had been done to the property in 1999.  At learning this tidbit of info, I was concerned, but not alarmed.  Later in April, I was vacuuming (this seems to be the discovery method of choice) when I lightly bumped into a wall in my dining room. A piece of the drywall facing fell off and inside the wall there were all these little creepy-crawly insects that looked like maggots. At this point, I became alarmed. I have a sister who lives in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, who had had problems with Terminix, so I called her and another local exterminator. The local guy encouraged me to contact the State of Ohio Department of Agriculture for assistance. I contacted the Dept of Agriculture, and they sent someone to my house.  The state inspector said that "Terminix’s inspection was misleading at best." When questioned by the state, Terminix said that the woman who had done our inspection "was no longer employed with them." How convenient!  Anyway, we threatened them; and the state flexed a bit of muscle. They became very cooperative. They came back out and treated our house in July.  I waited for about 2 months before I called them back to fix the damage because I wanted to make sure the termites were gone.  They didn't seem to think it was necessary to come back out and re-inspect before they repaired the damage, and I thought that was a bit odd.  Well, two days ago, the state guy came back out and brought his boss; and guess what -- we still have very active termites!  My contractor was out today ripping half the drywall out of my house to assess the damage. I'm at work and haven't made it home yet, but he told me over the phone that "it's pretty bad."  We just found an attorney that we like, and we plan to pursue legal action against the previous owner because they flat out lied on the Property Disclosure. We have the forms, signatures and dates, that prove it.  But no matter how this mess turns out, I would give anything to have my previous house back. This has been an emotional, stressful and expensive experience. Terminix has been HORRIBLE to deal with. They don't return our calls; every time we do talk to someone, they don't follow through and do what they say they are going to. My advice to anyone STAY AWAY FROM TERMINIX! They are totally incompetent. I have passed this sentiment on to as many people as I possibly can. It's the least I can do.

Update (5/01): Terminix did repair our house (which is a WHOLE OTHER SAGA in and of itself!) We figure they spent about $8,000 on us between repairs to our house and retreatments. The kicker?  Our initial annual premium to transfer the contract into our name from the previous owner was $116.  This year it was $290.  Go figure!  I’m not the least bit surprised.  I called my local guy to question this huge jump in my premium and was told, “I’ll check into it and get back to you.”  That was weeks ago. I’m not holding my breath on ever seeing some of my money returned.

Update (6/01): We’ve been doing a lot of remodeling to our home, and we’ve had some electric work done recently.  The electricians pointed out to us that our seal plate in one area appeared to be damaged.  The whole thing along the back wall of the garage is totally eaten. It’s so bad that some of our floor joists in the basement are visibly sagging.  I’m tired of living in constant fear of what’s going to happen next.

Alabama - 10/00.  My husband and I bought our first house in October 1991.  Terminix was the inspecting company that the owners had acquired for the inspection for the mortgage loan.  No active termites were found and very little past damage was found even though the house was an 80-year old farm house.  The following May, we had swarmers in two different parts of the house. Terminix (which we now had our bond with) was contacted, and we were told not to worry, “swarmers are reproducers and don’t cause any damage.” The following year, again in May, we called once again about the new swarmers and requested someone to come out and check since we thought we were entitled to an annual inspection.  Once again, the rep said there was nothing to worry about and that he’d send us some information that would help us to understand. Two weeks later, we received a little flyer that showed pictures of workers and of swarmers, but no one came out. Two months later, a nasty note was written by my husband and sent to the rep that was supposed to be handling our case... nothing. One year later, I called Terminix and presented myself as a prospective buyer of a homeowners bond. The promises made were:  annual inspections, retreat if active termites or termite damage was noted, and great tech support.  When I told him who I was, and basically that I had caught him in a lie, two days later someone was sent out and no termites were found. Two weeks later, the hot water heater broke. When we pulled the carpet back to minimize the damage, there were visible worker termites in my carpet, floor, subfloor, and supporting joist.  We no longer use Terminix.

My husband wrote to the Department of Agriculture, requesting advice.  We never received a response.

Tennessee - 10/00.  I am under contract with Terminix for pest and termite coverage.  A week ago, I reported an infestation of carpenter ants that clearly are doing damage to our home and have yet to have a response from Terminix, despite reporting the problem to a supervisor at the local office.

Approximately one year ago, a team of Terminix “inspectors” visited our residence and informed my wife that they had looked around the outside of our house and determined that we had a termite problem. They asked if she wanted them to treat the problem and begin service with Terminix.  My wife informed them that we were already under contract with Terminix, and they should take care of the problem. When they found out we were already under contract, they rescinded their statement about termite infestation. It turns out they were salesmen for Terminix, using scare tactics to drum up business. Never even got an apology from Terminix.

Tennessee - 10/00.  My problem deals with Terminix’s lack of management.  They came to my house to do service which failed.  Upon calling them to cancel the contract, Mariann (Terminix rep) asked for another chance to correct it.  Besides the service not working, they also did not return, and the service rep lied.  I decided to give them another chance.  They seemed sincere, but I was wrong. The second rep did a much better job, so I called to have him return two weeks later.  I set a date, and he never showed up or called.  I then called Mariann Clifford to find out why. She never returned my call for over a week.  I then called to talk to her to get it straightened out.  She was not in the office, but I was put in touch with Dave Pence (service manager). He tells me there is no record of the first service completed on June 21, 2000, even though I have the paperwork; and since the representative signed by using x1077, he could not tell me who it was. He does tell me that the person in charge of my area (Charlie) was expected to be at a morning meeting, and he would get this straightened out. He never called me back. Now when I call, I am told there is no record of my paying $89 for the first service. I have the agreement, and it was paid by credit card, which means if I cancel the contract, I might only get refunded $32 from the second service. Or so they say.

? - 10/00.  I am extremely disappointed and angry with Terminix.  My wife and I moved into our new home in October 1997.  It was built on a golf course from May until September 1997.  When we moved in, we had a lot of cluster flies which are common around properties located on golf courses. Our first servicer was a great guy who knew a lot about these flies. He informed us that we missed the best time to spray for them (August and September) but he would do what he could and we would have more success after a full year of treatments every two months. He was right, and our fly problem essentially resolved in 1998.  Because of his knowledge and attention as well as the fact that our problem had resolved, I did not mind paying the $64 every two months.

As always with good people, Terminix changed his district; and we were in flux for a number of months.  We were without service for awhile until I finally, in June 2000, called because we had some wasp nests under our eaves around our home. Terminix sent a new guy who did not know what he was doing. He tried to spray the nests and charged us $64.  I called a couple of weeks later when the nests were still active and was told that “couldn’t be.”  No one came for our fly spraying.

It is now October 2000.  We have cluster flies in our house, and I can hear the nest of wasps outside my study window buzzing away on this warm Fall day.  I have called Terminix numerous times and even spoke to a regional manager.  He sounded sympathetic and promised to rectify the situation. Terminix has not come through. We now have to start all over with our pest control. My anger and frustration regarding this situation is not able to be put adequately into words.  Is our money no good? What ever happened to service? It is reassuring, at least, to know that my family and I are not alone.

North Carolina - 10/00.  I am in the process of selling my house, and termites were found on my property.  The home buyer has delayed the closing due to Terminix improperly treating the termites.  I have had a contract with Terminix for seven or eight years.  When I found termites earlier this year, they came out and put out baiting stations, which did not rid the property of termites.  Two months later, I found termites again.  This is around the time I put my house up for sale. The inspection done then revealed termites.  Terminix then states my contract has expired. My last inspection was December, and it clearly states I have 12 months of coverage. The office bills in August, so they tried to argue that I didn’t have coverage.  I can’t help it if they bill in August and it takes their guys until December to do the inspections.

So once they realized I still had coverage, they came out and said they treated the property.  The buyer wanted to be present for the treatment, but Terminix came without notifying him or his realtor.  When asked for a written form of the treatment and what chemicals were used, Terminix stated they don’t have any forms they usually fill out out and they don’t give out information regarding chemicals, they only send a note stating subterranean termites were treated.

The realtor got in touch with the State inspector, and they came out and tested the soil to find out that Terminix only spot treated for termites.  They took shortcuts and kept avoiding properly treating the property. As a result, the closing on this house was delayed, monies are being held in escrow until the work is done. If Terminix would have treated the property as they are required to do, there would be no delays in the sale of the house or delay in the buyers moving in.  I think Terminix avoids doing their job and spends more time finding ways out of work than actually doing it.  Why else would one bill in August and it take four months to get an inspection? It also seems to me that you are less likely to find termites in December when things are dormant.  I have lost all faith in Terminix and glad I found this web site to forewarn any further customers.

California - 10/00.  I have start order the termite inspection at Terminix, San Jose location, August 8, 2000. Michell, who is responsible for scheduling, scheduled the termite inspector at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, August 14. Before I went to the appointment, I got the inspector’s message that he would be late one hour. He did not show up.  The inspector made another appointment with the tenant from 1-3 on Thursday, and he did not show up again. August 24, I called Michell. She told me another new appointment at 1-3 Friday, August 25. Because she cannot contact the inspector, she wasn’t sure the inspector would show up then.  What the hell of Terminix service?  I believe I am one of Terminix’s victims.  I have 15 days to do a termite inspection for the house.  The time is running out. I believe that if you already select Terminix service, be careful about their word.  If you did not, you are lucky.  Run away as fast as you can.

California - 10/00.  Removed per complainant’s request.  Case settled.

California - 10/00.  Thank you for your courage in your fight to reveal Terminix for what it really is.  We had to vacate our house for one year due to negligence from Terminix. My wife, myself, and five small children have been the victims of Terminix’s malicious, deceitful practices.  It has cost us over $150,000 in damages thus far, and much pain and suffering including our children’s health from crawling around in their mess after they said it was nontoxic. Terminix will lie, cover up, and defraud without remorse in order to protect their own interests. They were willing to allow us to live in a toxic house.  Rather than advise us to leave a toxic area, they advised my then-pregnant wife to clean up, unprotected on her hands and knees, their toxic mess.  When confronted by a state protection agency, they committed forgery in a foiled attempt to conceal their despicable acts.  They lied about what chemical they had sprayed in our house, and only due to our own persistence did we discover otherwise and expose them. Terminix contaminated my house by spraying a toxic chemical all over my children’s toys, bedding, and sporting equipment. This was not a mistake.  When [the technician] came to do an inside flea treatment, he saturated our house with an oil-base chemical called Diazinon.  He was supposed to spray limited areas with the chemicals Precor and Conquer; but instead, he destroyed our house and belongings. Prior to spraying, I specifically asked if my sporting equipment or the children’s toys and bedding would be affected. He assured me that it would be unnecessary to wash any of these items prior to use because they would not be sprayed. Many toys and sporting equipment were tucked away and stored up away from the floor areas; yet, they were sprayed directly with high concentration oily Diazinon.  How can someone spray toys and personal items that are well away from the floor without a conscious, deliberate effort to do so?

I believe Terminix is worse than raw evil itself and the arrogance and disregard for people and families like mine is completely and absolutely unacceptable and should not go unpunished. Please continue to stand up to these demons of commerce.  We are currently waiting for a ruling on our right to a jury trial or binding arbitration.