? - 12/02.  I had my house treated by Sears Pest and Termite Control approximately two years ago. Terminix purchased Sears Pest and Termite contracts and inserted Sentricon bait stations around the perimeter of our house. We purchased another year of warranty from Terminix, and they came once a quarter to check our bait stations for termite activity, each time leaving a slip of paper stating there was no evidence of termite activity. We are in the process of selling our house, we currently have a contract from a buyer who had his own termite inspector come out and inspect for termites per FHA guidelines. He informed us that we have termites and they have been there for approximately a year.  We cannot sell our house because the inspector cannot write a report stating our house is termite free. What legal rights do I have if the sale of my home does not occur solely due to termite activity that was falsely being reported as nonexistent by Terminix?

California - 12/02.  I knew we had termites in our attic so I had two of the larger fumigation companies give me estimates. Terminix was on time, professional, and gave me the best estimate (by a few dollars).  A week prior to the original tenting, I had a conflict and had to reschedule. I called to postpone the fumigation; and again, they were very friendly and professional.  I was told one of the managers would call me back in half an hour to reschedule.

End of professionalism.  Three days later, I still had not heard from a manager; but I did receive a bill for the fumigation. Mind you, the service was not performed yet. Wanting to give the benefit of the doubt to a company as big and well known as Terminex, I called them myself to reschedule the service. We settled on Dec. 27. On the morning of Dec. 26, I called the local office to see what time I could expect the crew.  The person answering the phone said the schedulers were not in but would be back around 3:00 or 4:00. She took my information and said they would call me that afternoon. I did not receive any call that day. The morning of the 27th, the day they were to show up, I called at 8:05 a.m. to see when they were going to be by.  They had me on the list to be tented but someone “dropped the ball” and didn’t schedule a crew. So let’s review:

1. Terminix had two weeks notice to make sure I was scheduled properly
2. I called the day before to verify but never got a response.
3. I had to bag up all my food, take our plants out of the house, etc.
4. I had to make reservations at a hotel for three nights (which I did through the Internet and which are nonrefundable.
5. I have a wife who works that rearranged her schedule.
6. I have a pet that I had to put up at a kennel.

It is now 12:30 p.m. the day the tenting was supposed to take place, and I am waiting to hear from the company on how I am going to be reimbursed for my expenses.  I have also sent their bill back to them with a note that the service was never performed and that I owe nothing. I will probably get a response from that.

California - 12/02.  Didn’t even know about the Terminix problems until they screwed me over good yesterday.  Been paying for a “guarantee” of no termites or they’ll pay for any damages for six years now. Found active termites with damage yesterday. T guy said they would not retreat the ground (this cost me $1800 six years ago) and the stuff they treat with doesn’t last anyway. Excuse me?  WHAT have I been paying $165/year for???  Absolutely nothing.

North Carolina - 12/02.  My husband and I have disputed with several reps and managers about services that were never done. We received a billing statement charging for services that were never done and have received several billing statements that are inaccurate.

Pennsylvania - 12/02.  Terminix keeps trying to charge me for a service they never performed and for a reservice the exterminator told me was free of charge. The services they did perform did not work.

Georgia - 12/02.  The morons inspected my home and told me that I had termites. I decided to get a second and then third inspection by competing companies. As it turns out, I DO NOT have termites.  I have since contacted the local office to let the manager know about this. He has not returned any of my calls.  The lady answering the phone a few of the times I’ve called is by far the most arrogant and  unhelpful person I have ever dealt with.  The last call I made, the ever trusty [expletive deleted] Diana informed me that if I was this upset with the inspection, I should contact their corporate office.  So I decided to do one better and contact the state inspector.  I just wish I had found this web site before I called these clowns and wasted my time dealing with these criminals.

Arizona - 11/02.  We had our home treated during construction as required by Arizona construction laws. The law requires that the treating company provide a warranty period of 5 years. While our initial treatments were provided by a company called BioChem, this company was purchased by Terminix. We have been trying for three years to get Terminix or BioChem to retreat under warranty; but all we get is the run around. No answers to phone calls, no response to certified letters, etc.  Calls to their national office in Memphis go unreturned also.

Georgia - 11/02.  I had several similar complaints. I wrote four letters to Terminix officials requesting a refund. After about six weeks of agony, I prevailed! I paid for an annual contract and COULD NOT get service.

Texas - 11/02.  With the recent rain/flooding in Houston, I have been having trouble getting Terminix to come out to my property. The first time they mentioned that they couldn’t come out because the ground was too wet.  The second time they rescheduled because one of the drivers was out. Then today they claimed I never rescheduled the appointment -- even though I called to confirm this morning to see if someone was coming out. I had to cancel my radiation treatment.  I have had nothing but headaches from them.

Georgia - 11/02.  Spent $$ on Sentricon.  Haven’t seen or had them come to my house in over a year.  Now they say they have no record of my house. A BIG rip off. Don’t know what to do.

New York - 10/02.  They don’t mind selling you the little plastic containers, but good luck getting them checked!

Massachusetts - 10/02.  The inspector used my bathroom, no problem; but he helped himself to my cologne and then took a tube of my Eternity shower gel. It’s not right.

Alabama - 8/02. Here is a copy of my complaint filed with the BBB about Terminix.  Terminix is yet to respond.

Date Received: 8/22/2002
Complaint: We signed up for this service on July 9th and still noticed bugs two weeks later.  We called to set up an appointment and no one ever showed up, called again and set up an appointment, no one ever showed up (not sure of these dates).  Had an appointment on August 21st, again no one showed up. Called Terminix this day and complained about them missing our third appointment. Whomever answered the phone responded “Oh Lord” and connected us with a guy named Derrick (who apologized for missing the appointment again) and promised he would be by on August 22 (the following day) between 12-3. He never showed up. My husband has taken off work four days to make these appointments without anyone showing up. This costs us twice as much as the entire Terminix contract. We want our money refunded promptly and we do not want Derrick nor any Terminix employee showing up at our house. This is the most ridiculous service I have ever seen, them finally “showing up” for an appointment will not satisfy me. As I stated earlier, we have lost much more than the contract amount just trying to schedule these appointments.
Desired Settlement:  Refund
Settlement Explanation:  I just want a refund and I do not want another Terminix employee at my house.  If the amount is refunded and the contract is canceled, I will be happy.  I no longer want their service.

[Better Business Bureau’s “reporting” of this complaint.]