State of Texas Complaints Against Terminix

How many complaints and lawsuits involving Terminix, aka Terminex, have been filed in Texas? How does the State of Texas rate as a public agency in providing information to the public and/or in their own knowledge of the pest control companies spray toxic chemicals in homes, businesses, and schools?

The following questions were sent via e-mail on February 28, 1999, to the State of Texas Structural Pest Control Board.

What is the name and address of Texas’ pest inspection/pest control licensing and regulating agency?
How many years does Texas’ licensing and regulating agency maintain records of complaints against pest control/pest inspection companies?
How many Terminix branches are currently operating in Texas?
In Texas, does each Terminix branch operate under a separate license or do all the Terminix branches operate under one license?
How many complaints, if any, have been filed in Texas against Terminix International and its aka’s; including the nature of the complaints, name and location of Terminix branch involved; and disposition of complaints (dismissed, settled, fine, suspended or revoked license, probation, etc.)?

On March 31, 1999, I received the following e-mail letter from “SPCB Legal <strupest@mail.capnet.state.tx.us>”:

the spcb has received your information request regarding terminix, however, because of the research involved, there will be a charge of $151.93 which includes a per page charge, computer resource charge, personnel charge and mailing. those charges are outlined by the general services commission, which dictates the charges made by each state agency for their responding to open records requests. if you wish to receive the information, please respond by mail, requesting information in accordance with texas opens records, and a check for the above stated charge, and the information will be sent to you within ten days.

if you have any questions, please contact susan at (512) 451-7200, fax no. (512) 451-9400.

No thanks, Texas. You didn’t answer my questions about Terminix, but you certainly answered my questions regarding the State of Texas’ responsiveness to public inquiries. After receiving a complaint regarding the handling (or is it mishandling) of a complaint of the State of Texas Structural Pest Control Board, I now understand the money wall to discourage dissemination of public information to the public.

I received the following via e-mail on 6/4/07:

Subject: A Must Read:

I am writing to tell you that as consumers we fought to shut down the SPCB (Structural Pest Control Board) of Texas and Won. The final vote came down several weeks ago, House Bill 2458 passed both the House and the Senate, and the Bill is currently sitting on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. This is for the person with the Terminex complaint that was never really investigated. I personally have hundreds of complaints against companies in Texas that were filed by consumers and given to the SPCB that were never investigated. We have even taken it the Travis County DA and to the AG's office. There needs to be an investigation why certain companies are not investigated at all, and that's our next goal.

Bates vs. Terminix. In the Supreme Court of Texas, No. 98-0030, opinion delivered June 5, 1998.

In 1990, Kay Bates contracted with Bruce Terminix Company for residential termite extermination services. The contract contained an arbitration clause. After Terminix failed to rid Bates’ house of termites, she filed suit against Terminix on February 28, 1994. Bates alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations, and she asked the court to reform the contract....

Under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 59.1, without hearing oral argument, we conditionally grant Bruce Terminix Company’s writ of mandamus. We are confident the trial court will abate Bates’ lawsuit pending arbitration in accordance with this opinion, and we instruct the clerk to issue the writ only if it does not.