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Virginia - 4/02. Our complaint started in August 2001. We signed on for Sentricon. Like most people, we don’t have $1,700 up front; so we financed. We paid; but no one called us to set up inspections, and no notes were left to show if anyone had even been out. We called our provider in Richmond. We were told the branch manager would contact us. We called three times. No one ever returned our calls We finally called customer service and canceled our service. We were told we would not have to pay any more on our contract. We also had someone call us from Richmond a week later wanting to know why we were canceling our service. Even their record showed no one had been out to service us since the installation of our service in August 2001. They tried to give us a “deal.” We still wanted to cancel. We were told we were released from our contract. Two months later, a serviceperson called and wanted to service our home. Shocked, my husband told the gentleman we had canceled our service two months ago. Guess what?? There was no record of that conversation. A week after that call, we were sent a late payment notice stating we were late on our payments. I called the number listed (finance) and was told I had to call my local bookkeeping office in Richmond. I did and was told I was still responsible for all payments because we had financed our payments and there was no record of us canceling our service. I was told to call back the finance company to see if they would dismiss the charges. When I told the gentleman I had just talked to finance and they told me to call the local branch, I was told “sorry,” I was still responsible. I called the home office and was told the same thing and referred back to the branch office salesperson to be offered another “deal.” When I asked what the finance charges were and offered to pay them and still cancel the service, I was given the runaround. Another sales pitch, call this number, etc. Finally, I called customer service again and lodged another complaint. So I brokered my own deal. I agree to pay finance charges -- that’s it! Also, any money that went to service, I want to go towards finance charges since I did not receive any service for the months I paid for it. I am still waiting for a reply.
Oklahoma - 4/02. I guess my complaint is trivial after reading some of the ones you have listed. After all, none of my family has died or suffered brain damage (that I know of yet). They just threatened me with a collection agency over a bill for services NOT rendered.
Webmistress Note: This sounds like extortion to me, and I do not consider extortion to be trivial; I consider it a criminal act reportable to law enforcement.
Oklahoma - 4/02. Pest problems worsened after Terminix treated our house, and the company did not want to come back to treat it but did after we threatened action.
? - 4/02. I cannot believe I was fortunate enough to find your web site!! Apparently, this company has been ripping me off for over six years!! Year after year, I experienced almost the identical scenarios as described within your pages -- unreturned phone calls, rude phone responses, missed appointments for treatments, and so on; meanwhile, enduring annual swarming. After the most recent infestation, last week, almost as major as the initial one six years ago, I began to do some research of my own. My only regret is that I waited so long. Tomorrow, I’m going straight to the Better Business Bureau and am contacting a local TV news station which runs a weekly troubleshooting/public advocate piece exposing dishonest, incompetent grunge companies and individuals. Looks like Terminix fits this description to a “T.”
Ohio - 4/02. Terminix in Eastgate, Ohio, sold my grandmother a pricey plan and treated her home once. When she called again, they came to her home; told her they could not treat because she had no gutters on the back of her home; sprayed one wall in the home with Windex; and told us to spray Windex at the site of the termites. All calls to any office are not returned. Buyer Beware.
Pennsylvania - 4/02. Too bad I didn’t find this site two years ago. They have failed to inspect, say they inspected but left no paperwork. Failed to inspect per the contract... what a joke!
California - 4/02. Terminix employees routinely did not show up when scheduled; or when they did show up, did not actually do the job. I quit the service after a few months. I had no serious problems other than lousy customer service.
? - 4/02. For two years, I have been trying to get Terminix to complete repairs of termite damage which they continue to promise to schedule and then postpone. They often do not return phone calls and have not put me in contact with the contractor they claim to have hired to perform the repair. The phone number they gave me to reach him was a wrong number. Their current stall is that we have to wait for warmer weather.
Connecticut - 4/02. Tired of unkept appointments and bad work.
Tennessee - 4/02. Before building a new home ten years ago, we paid an enormous amount to have the ground treated and later the slab treated by Terminix. We’ve paid our yearly contract religiously. Even though it’s due by March 31st yearly, we start getting the bill in November of the previous year.
In May 2000, we found tracks in some paneling of my den and determined they were from termites. I called Terminix, and it took them over a week to come out and treat. They did absolutely nothing to treat behind the paneling; did not look behind to determine if there was damage. Instead, they went on the front porch and drilled a hole in my porch and supposedly sprayed something. The hole in the porch is poorly patched and looks terrible. Yesterday (Monday), I walked into my home; and there were MILLIONS of termites all over my floors, furniture, rugs, window sills, everything. I immediately got out my renewed contract, which I had received the week before, and called the “24 hour 7 days a week” service number only to be referred to another number, which referred me to another number for the Dyersburg, TN office. After relaying the situation to the manager, he asked if there would be someone home on Wednesday to have someone come out and look into the matter. Angrily, I told him I was not waiting until Wednesday for someone to come; that I wanted someone out there immediately. After repeatedly demanding sooner service, he finally said he would have someone leave Dyersburg at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday and arrive at my home about noon. I told him we would be unable to live in our home until someone came in and sprayed, because the termites covered everything. He told me I could use some insect spray to “knock them down” and then vacuum them up. I spent two hours vacuuming; sprayed the house and left for four hours; returned home and spent another three hours moving furniture, removing rugs, and vacuuming again. When there are as many termites as were in my house yesterday, they have got to be coming from somewhere. It’s unsatisfactory that I’ve paid for service this many years and nothing is done until termites are sited. No doubt, by then it’s too late -- damage has been done somewhere. Terminix has done a good job of fooling many, many people.
Florida - 3/02. I am the president of a condominium association. Our property consists of six buildings with three townhouses in each. Wood construction with originally masonite siding around 1983 to 1985. In 1995, most of the severely damaged siding (termites, dry rot, mold) was removed and replaced with plywood and foil-backed insulation, and then everything was covered with blue vinyl siding. The original contract with Terminix is dated 1987. Terminix has been on the property consistently in the last ten years as all buildings have termite damage or infestation to some degree. For the most part, they refuse to pay for the repairs to our building, citing the presence of moisture in the wood substructure. They feel the moisture has been there since the late 80’s or early 90’s. The presence of water in the wood voids the contract and their liability. We are anticipating the total repairs may cost as much as $70,000 or almost $4,000 per owner. A couple of points to clarify some of our issues:
They agree the damage is from termites, and the damage has taken years to get to the state it is today. The contract has been renewed every year since 1987. Terminix has taken responsibility for repairing two condos in the past but can’t tell us which units or when. Terminix inspects yearly; and usually we are told there are no problems, including the inspection of November 2001. Currently, six condos have clear evidence of live termite infestations; eight more with definite termite damage, but no evidence of live termites; and four more with dry rot, water damage, and maybe termite damage. One unit was completely repaired recently, then much drilling and spraying were done, only to find evidence of new termite infestation within three months. Early this year, a Terminix employee indicated two units had evidence of live termites, and it did not appear there was any water damage. A Terminix inspector visited the property a few days later and agreed there were live termites, lots of damage, and no apparent evidence of water. In a telephone conversation with a supervisor from Terminix, he agreed they were responsible for the damage to the two units; and he would get his best contractor on the job. Less than a week later, the contractor supposedly found wet wood or water-damaged wood; and Terminix refused to pay for the repairs. Terminix told us we have had water-damage problems for 15 years; and until we fix those problems, there is nothing they can do other than an occasional ineffective drilling.
California - 3/02. I, too, have been injured by Terminix and am seeking to sue them in a Southern California small claims court but cannot seem to find whom to serve as it appears they do not have corporate status in California.
Florida - 3/02. When Sears sold to Terminix, we were not given an option to go with another company and were reassured by a telephone serviceperson that nothing would change. It has changed. In January, we received a bill of $220 for a termite inspection that had not yet been completed. I called and informed Terminix that I was not accustomed to paying for a service I had not received. They told me this was a common practice and an inspector would come out shortly. On February 8, an inspector came out to the house to conduct our annual termite inspection. He did find a couple of termites and indicated that a treatment specialist would come out later to take care of the problem. He said Terminix could not treat my home again with the same chemicals Sears had been using, that state law prohibited Terminix from using those chemicals again, and informed me the current treatment system was in fact inadequate. He offered me a contract for a new system, which would cost me an additional $799 with an annual fee of $350.
I initially paid Sears an enrollment fee of $1300 and continued to pay Sears an annual fee for treatment, not to mention that I paid an additional pest control fee. I called Terminix to inquire about this new service and got what I feel was a runaround. The person told me he was not a termite specialist. When he called back, the information he gave was vague and confusing. I also inquired about the bond policies and again got a runaround. They were to call back; but to date, I’ve only received a call on my answering machine indicating they need to get someone else on the problem. I’ve called twice again since that initial inspection. It’s been over a month and no one has contacted me about treating for the existing termites the inspector found. What is more alarming is that I’ve heard from several people in the county that Terminix is dumping Sears customers throughout the area. If this is true, the residents of my area need to know that. I know Terminix would like to sell me the new system. My problem is that I already paid for the Sears system. Why should I now have to pay for a new system because Sears sold out to Terminix? What about the bond issue? Is it transferable as we were told by Sears? What about the $220 I just paid for the Terminix inspection? Am I going to also have to pay for treatment?
? - 3/02. My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a home. There may be some water damage near the toilet and tub. He won’t fix. I started looking up sites on dry rot and came upon yours. It made me very angry, but very aware. The seller had a pest inspector give the house a clean bill of health. I now am going to ask to see the inspection report, see if it is a ServiceMaster-owned company.
Update: My realtor returned my call and informed me that the pest inspection company that inspected the house was Western Termite. I thought OK... Went online, did an “anywho” search, and came up with about 20+ Cal-Western Termite. I telephoned my local, and they answered, “TERMINIX.” I said, “Oh, you guys are all over.” She replied that Terminix had just bought/merged with all the Western Termite companies. She sounded real proud. I thanked her, terminated the call, and contacted a local/private/independent company to do MY inspection. I also referred the gal at the independent to your web site. If I hadn’t run across your site, I’d be none the wiser.
Florida - 3/02. I’m in a battle with them now. Over four years of neglect of service have caused over $50,000 of structural damage at my home.
Tennessee - 3/02. A week ago, I had a free termite inspection by Terminix. They told me I had termites (though I don’t remember the exact statement he made indicating how he determined this). Another person came by a week later to install the Sentricon. Mind you, the service so far had been good...on time, lots of information, etc. When the person installing the Sentricon came to me with the paperwork, he offhandedly remarked that he had not actually seen any termites. I started asking questions and ended up beeping the guy who had done the inspection to see if he had actually seen that I do currently have termites, or if he had, perhaps, seen evidence of past termites who are no longer there. The guy who installed the Sentricon told me he would hold onto the papers until I could get my questions answered (the other guy hadn’t returned my call yet). So, I didn’t sign. When the inspector called back, I was not satisfied with his answer. He did not state (despite my very direct questions) that he had actually seen termites. He stated, instead, that the mud tubes were wet and therefore that indicated I had termites. Being unknowledgeable about such things, I decided to research the Internet about that statement. What I found was your site. I think I have decided to have Terminix come get their Sentricon out of my yard; and in return, I will choose to not pay for it. I may still need termite treatment, but I know it won’t be from Terminix. Thank you for educating me.
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