California - 12/99.  In August 1998, we discovered we had termites in a small part of our 12-year old home.  We called Terminix, since we had a contract with them for regular house spraying for ants, etc. The tenting was scheduled, and it was done.  However, just before the date, they decided to use Methyl Bromide instead of Vikane; and so we called them to ask what should be removed from the home. We were told nothing other than open bottles (perfumes, wine, etc.) and any food in the refrigerator or open containers.  The day the tenting was done, we walked through the entire home with a representative of Terminix to make sure all was in order; and we were told everything was okay and we could leave. The house was released, after tenting, and we gave it another two days before we entered the home; but when we did, everyone got violently ill within 15 minutes -- throwing up, tightness in chest, throat constricted, lightheadedness, memory loss, burning throat and eyes, etc. When we called Terminix, we were told it was our “imagination” and not to worry. To make a long story short, after a couple of weeks of this, and us staying out of the house as much as possible, things did not get any better. As a matter of fact, all brass in the house turned black, copper turned black, wood discolored, buttons melted off clothes, clothes turned different colors, and furniture had holes eaten in it, plus other furniture bleached out.  Other things happened, too many to name.  But finally, Terminix came to see the damages after our insurance company called them.  (We had called several times with no response.) When they saw the damages, they told me, personally, that they were responsible for it, that they didn’t know what happened, but they would do immediate testing and we should not stay in the house, they would get us a hotel room right away, which they did.  I stayed in the hotel for 5 1/2 months until I could no longer take it and left for another place, where I am still, since they have never found out what happened to the house or all belongings; and it is not safe, in my opinion, for anyone to be in that environment and have not been told by Terminix it is safe to live in it.  My daughter has been told by doctors who have examined her (since she was exposed the most to the chemicals) not to get pregnant for at least six months after her contact with the house. Since the contract had an arbitration clause in it, it was ordered to arbitration by a judge, and we have to wait until May of 2000.  They have literally put us out of house and home since August 1998, and we never have heard from them after they asked us not to get an attorney, that they would take care of the problem.  We found out a few months later they had turned it over to their attorneys and left us no choice but to get our own. Now we have to pay not only for our attorneys but also $40,000 just for the arbitration.  Is this justice???  And it is binding arbitration. How can something like this happen in the U.S. where people sue for a spilled cup of coffee? Depressing isn’t it? Be removed from family and friends.... We are now at the mercy of the arbitrators.....

Florida - 12/99.  In 1994, for the second time, we suspected a dry wood termite infestation in the frame house we built in 1962.  The inspector from Terminix assured us we did indeed have another infestation and recommended tenting and fumigation, which was eagerly done, at an expense of $1,128.  After the fumigation, I pointed out that a lizard, which had established its home in the eaves, was apparently still there and in good health.  The company’s response was that the creature had doubtless moved out before the treatment and returned afterward. I was skeptical. When an annual policy was offered which insures against dry wood termites (unless they are Formosan) and nothing else, for $113, we accepted and have renewed annually despite an increase to $144. We are in the final year of that contract, having paid a total of $771. If we believed we were being protected against having to pay for tenting and fumigating, we would continue the contract; but on the two occasions we have called for inspection, the inspectors have simply squirted something into the new termite holes (once flushing out a wet termite) and pronounce the problem solved.  Obviously, they don’t want to spend the money to tent and fumigate any more than we do.  Fine strategy, especially since the policy doesn’t specify the insurer’s liability for repair should its self-serving strategy prove disastrous.

Indiana - 12/99.  Wow!!!  I just spent a few hours reading your web site, tears running down my face, for someone (many) know what we are going through! We have had a contract with Terminix for five years.  Every year, they call in January, February and want to come inspect.  We set a day and time, and they walk around our basement and say they see nothing.  Then in the spring when it warms up, we have swarmers.  I call; and they say those are just mating, they don’t do damage, just vacuum them up!  They have had to retreat about three times, and we have had to replace a piece of paneling twice. This year, we said we have had it, they are eating through the wall again, and you are supposed to take care of this. Each time someone visits our house, it is a new person (at least six different employees this time).  They shot on one side of the wall; and the next week, the termites came through a wall on the other side of the house.  Terminix came again and shot the whole side of the house. (This guy had been with the company three months). In Indiana, you cannot sell a house without disclosing a termite problem.  As we want to sell in a few years, we want to have this taken care of; but we don’t know what to do. I called the manager of this Terminix Co., and he said he never knew we had a problem. He got very nasty with me when I told him I had talked to an attorney and he wanted to see the damage right away. Well, he showed up two hours late and didn’t even look at the house. He offered us the Sentricon baiting system free, though he was not saying they were at fault. After looking into this company, I feel we should find a different company.  Our contract says they will not cover any damage; the only thing they guarantee is they will keep coming to our house!

? - 12/99.  We had been faithful patrons of a locally-owned pest control service. The trust and service were impeccable, even to the point of allowing the pest control service people alone in our house while we went to work, shopping, etc.  Not one service problem or bug problem UNTIL Terminix stepped in and acquired the local company.  The first issue came with the first phone call to the “new” company.  Originally, exact time appointments could be set. This was no longer the case.  We were given a three hour “window” when the representative would be coming by. I was annoyed, but we were going to live with the changes as long as the technicians were the same.  Wrong!!! New tech, new attitudes. They were unwilling to listen to our problems and our issues.  This culminated with a recent “service” call (you will note “service” is in quotations). We had been having bug problems IN our house and called and set an appointment “range” for the technician to spray the inside AND outside of our house. A funny thing happened.  The technician NEVER showed.  We did not receive a phone call, a note, a mea culpa, nothing.  But what we DID get seven days later was a BILL FOR $43.85 for services rendered.  A BILL FOR SERVICES to the external spraying and treatment of our house.  The supervisor signed the service note and dated it five days AFTER the “service” was performed. There is one BIG problem with the “treatment” of our exterior and his name is Rusty, our dog. He would have eaten one of the techs if he/she decided to enter our backyard. So much for “exterior treatment.”  When we called the manager, he reluctantly refunded our money but asked perplexingly, “(W)ell why do you need the inside of your house treated anyway?” DUH!!!!! By writing this complaint, I hope for two things:  (1) think twice before using Terminix (meaning DON”T USE THEM); and (2) use a locally-owned and operated firm you can TRUST!!!!

Georgia - 12/99.  I have owned my house for 11 years and assumed a Terminix contract that had been in place for over 15 years prior to my ownership. When completing an addition on the house, termite damage was discovered. I called the local office to schedule an inspection, treat the new addition, and repair the termite damage. No one came to my house after repeated calls.  A manager called and said that if I could not see any live termites, they were not responsible for past damage even if they had a 25-year history with this property.  I called back about a month later and asked for a copy of my contract and asked the person on the phone if the damage would be covered. She said yes it would. Then another manager called back to say they could not repair the damage.  After 3 or 4 months, no one had visited the property. They finally came to treat the new addition.  I paid to fix the termite damage myself.  The Terminix guarantee is full of loop holes open to subjective interpretation.

? - 12/99.  I unfortunately have been stuck with Terminix for well over 10 years. Over the last few years, they have gotten better but are still far from a quality company. They must have trouble keeping employees, because the kids that come to my house have no idea what they are doing.  I actually had to place dead termites on a paper and circle them and label them “termites” to prove that the termites were again back. This was after one so called inspection that I was told they didn’t see any termites.  I also have many damaged beams in my basement after 10 to 15 years of treatment. I also tried to get another exterminator.

Pennsylvania - 12/99.  Approximately five years ago, I was applying for a loan and using my paid off 20-year old home as collateral.  I had to have a termite inspection. Not having any problems in my 20 years since building our home, I called Terminix, one of the two companies in our area.  A man came out and immediately said we had termites because I had some wood on the garage with water damage.  Then when questioning him further, he stated, and I remember this exactly because of its incredibility, “This whole hill is termite infested!” I knew he was trying to rip me off after he stated this and that it would cost me $2500 to have my home sprayed. I immediately told him to leave. He was under the impression that he had me hooked due to my needing him to obtain my loan.  Well, I called the other company and sure enough -- a very thorough check and testing was done and NO termite infestation was found. I then cut out the piece of wood that he questioned to check for termite tunneling and intending to complain to the company but later changed my mind.  Now I wish I had not.