? - 3/99. I’ve looked all over on the web knowing I’d come up with a page where Terminex would be uncovered for its professional services which lack, in my opinion, a lot. I called Terminex to come to my home because I had a mouse -- ONE mouse!  I agreed to a contract where I would give them an initial payment and they would return every 6 months, I believe it was. The other visits, of course, were for less money than the original amount. They came for the first visit and the technician looked around.  He put a couple of coversized glue traps and that was it. What I found strange was they were so insistent to give me a termite inspection and wouldn’t let me alone until I agreed to one. They did say I was termite free; but then again, after hearing all these stories, I don’t put it past them supplying the eggs to give me termites. My mouse problem never was controlled, and they never returned for the next scheduled appointment.  In the meantime, my husband, after catching a mouse on a store-bought glue trap, went to dispose of it and was bitten.  I called Terminex, and they never returned my call. About a month ago, I got a call from someone at Terminex who said if I wanted them to come back, it would cost me $300.  I explained I had a contract.  They said that had been canceled and were very arrogant.  I explained I had called and requested a return call which was unanswered when my husband had been bitten; and they said they had no response. The only thing he kept saying was, listen lady, if you want us to come back it’s $300.  I told him I was going to call someone above him once I found my contract.  I have called and am given the runaround.  They act like they don’t know what I am talking about.  I now have so many mice I can hear them in the walls.  I am afraid to call anyone else, and I don’t think I should have to since I have a contract for services.

Florida - 3/99. We had Terminix do three yearly inspections on our house and nothing was found until the soft floor started to give way. Guess the termites all got together one night and said "let’s have the floor for dinner tonight."  Have not been happy with Terminix either in their inspections or treatments to this date.

New York - 3/99. Terminix has been treating my house for 12 years, and I still have termites in my house in the same location.  The last time a technician came to inspect, he found nothing visible. My husband had to point out the tunnels in the basement.  I am totally exasperated.

Indiana - 2/99. I am an attorney representing a client in a similar situation to you in Indiana....

Yuba City, California - 2/99. We wound up in small claims court over an inspection done by Terminix.  We lost our case, only because we sued the previous owners instead of Terminix. The judge was kind enough to tell us that was the only reason we lost. They also claimed we had a clear inspection, only to find out three months later that the last “tag” was dated almost a year before we purchased the house. To make matters worse, once a reputable company came in to look, they said it would have been impossible for Terminix to have done a proper inspection and if they had they would have found dry rot, leaks, animal activity, and other things under our home.  Our homeowner’s insurance finally paid for necessary repairs.  I would never call Terminix.  After my personal experience with them, I encouraged my employer to change pest control companies.  We canceled our service with Terminix.  When the new people came on and started inspecting, they found Terminix had not even done some of the work they claimed to on their log sheets. Maybe in other places they are better, but the “gentleman” (I use that term cautiously) that runs the Yuba City branch needs to find another job.  We found him to be rude and unresponsive to our inquiries.  Since our experiences with them, we have also come across ex-employees who claim harassment, threats, and a less than pleasant work environment.  This is a classic example of what happens when a company thinks their big name will protect them. They should be held accountable just like the rest of us.

Web Mistress Note:The same branch still doing the same things they did to us -- 7+ years later!

Louisiana - 1/99. Having problems as a result of misdiagnosis and poor recommendations for type of treatment needed for my home. Trying to find out exactly what responsibility Terminix has towards damages to my house. Thanks for your report.

South Carolina - 1/99. How I wish I had seen your web site prior to paying Terminix $3100 for the Sentricon System.  I am going to write to the Attorney General of SC and refer them also to your web site so they can see the extent of the problem. The following has been sent on four separate occasions to Terminix without any response:

Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find an address for Terminix anywhere on your website. I would have much preferred to contact you through conventional mail.  My wife and I finished building our retirement home in Myrtle Beach in March of l996. During my professional career, I was in the insurance profession and was responsible for all accounts, insured by us, within the United States. Our 100 year old company provided property insurance for the larger industries throughout the world.  Dow Chemical was one of our valued clients and I was privileged to be directly responsible for their account for many years and got to know and respect them during my many visits to Saginaw. The significance of this you will understand later.

Having spent my entire career in the insurance field you can understand why I am very careful to ensure that all of my interests are properly protected and that such protection is provided only by companies of the highest integrity. After completing our house in 1996 and learning that we were in an area of the country where termites were a serious problem, I began to do my due diligence to determine how best to protect our interests. It did not take long.  The Sentricon System, using Dow Chemical Technology and administered and supported by THE name in the pest control business, Terminix, convinced me there was but one way to go.  What a mistake we made.  Not, I'm sure, in our choice of the Sentricon System but in our choice of Terminix.  I might add that the problems began almost immediately with your local salesman lying to us, and as I attempted resolution, to your local manager at the office here in Myrtle Beach.  Further disappointment came when I received a Terminix survey a few months later and expressed my concerns via that vehicle and received absolutely no response at all.

The problem: We were told when entered into the contract for protection with Terminix that we would receive our Damage Repair Commitment in three months if termites were not discovered by the Sentricon System.  When three months passed without any incident of termite infestation and I did not get any news from Terminix about the commitment, I tried to contact the salesman, who prior to my contract was always immediately available; and now, almost a year later, I have still not heard from him. After not being able to reach him, I contacted your local manager here; and while I have had promise after promise from him to resolve the problem, I still have not received my Damage Repair Commitment.  And I can assure you it has not been through lack of effort on my part. All I am able to get from any of your representatives is "lip service."

Sorry to have taken so much of your time with such a long letter, but felt it necessary to explain fully my problem. Hopefully, you feel it is in your company’s interest to know how you are being represented by those that provide your services.

? - 1/99. I have a termite contract with Terminix as a result of a buyout or merger from an existing company, and I have had nothing but grief from them since day one. Their service (or lack thereof) is horrendous. Everything is done at their convenience and without thought or regard to others’ schedules. I called in a service call to retreat my home, that is currently rented, due to termite damage to the stakes outside my home.  I was told the representative would treat my home between 9:00 and 12:00, so I had someone on the site to let the technician in the back yard. Needless to say, he never showed up. When I got home last night, the notice of treatment was in the door of the home I'm residing in now (the bill I paid in November was clearly marked with the property address). When I called this morning, the receptionist was argumentative when I explained that no one had shown up to treat my home. I further explained that the notice had been left at the mailing address, and the property address listed was in fact the incorrect property. She said she would check with the technician and call me back.  She made light of it when she called and confirmed that he had, in fact, treated the wrong residence with 20 gallons of some substance they're using today (by the way, they only saturate the ground around the infected area).  I had to insist she have the technician page my fiancé before treating the house so he could give him access to the back yard, and she very reluctantly took the number.  Since it is still two days before he is to treat the correct property, the jury is still out on the fact that they will call. I've never experienced so much lack of customer service in my life.  I would love to see how they treat new customers as they certainly don't do much for you once you've signed up. My only recourse would be to cancel the contract, which I'm sure they're hoping I'll do, and have a new contract/retreatment done to the tune of approximately $1,200. Thank you for the information on this very sadly run company.