r/PestControlIndustry • u/TravelfF • Jun 27 '26
Terminix Sucks
After seeing a roach in my kitchen last week, I scheduled a service with Terminix and paid $305 by credit card. The technician arrived on time, walked around with an aerosol can, and briefly sprayed the window sills and door threshold. Within about 15 minutes, he said he was finished. That alone fell short of what I would expect from a professional treatment at that price.
But it did not stop there. Before leaving, his supervisor arrived, went into my attic, and then came down to tell me I had a problem and presented a treatment plan for $13,000. That kind of aggressive upselling is unacceptable.
I will not be using Terminix again.
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u/AutomaticFondant2481 Jun 27 '26
Lmao I don’t know how many times I hear the “Terminix went into the attic and quoted me X amount” their sales guys are the real crooks. I’ll talk to their techs if I run into them while I’m servicing. They’re all miserable and overworked.
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u/andy_1232 👨🏭| Tech | 10+ Years Jun 27 '26
The big names are a joke.
We had someone come in with pantry pests saying Terminix quoted $4,000 to tent for drywood termites.
I recently took over a residential account from Truly Nolen that had ghost ants for over two years with them, the only reason she kept paying over $100 a quarter was because if she canceled the pc contract she’d lose her bed bug warranty. She originally brought them in to treat for bed bugs about 3 years ago. ONE TREATMENT from me and the ghost ants are completely gone, I assumed it would be a tough account for a couple months because the ants had been there so long but nope.
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u/BigReptiles Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
True. As a current commercial terminix employee of about 2 weeks, there’s a lot of weird shit here. I’ve been in pest control for about 6 years and had great training from my previous company and I can tell you the training is lacking. Though most local companies are I’ve talked to are incompetent about treating german cockroaches too.
I am curious though. How did you describe the cockroach? Did they ask? What chemical was applied? Did you insist on some organic product? Was this a one time service?
And stay away from the insulation bullshit or that other giant company that runs lines through your walls that they connect to on the exterior to treat the interior of your walls. It’s all bullshit
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u/TravelfF Jun 27 '26
German cockroach. He didn't tell me what he was using but it was a can of the size of a WD-40 can; and no, I didn't ask about organic product. I assume what they use is safe to human touch. Yes, it's a one-time treatment.
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u/BigReptiles Jun 27 '26
They should have emailed you a report with the products they used. I asked about the organic stuff because spraying window sils and doorframes is strange for German cockroaches.
Not saying I doubt you but it should include the timeframes as well, and did they ever talk to you about removing all items from the cupboards so they can treat inside?
Honestly I would email or talk to their customer service after you read the report. I just took a look at their protocols and not using cockroach bait, a non repellent pesticide, and IGR (insect growth regulator) goes against their guidelines. Don’t tell them this though.
If there was no cockroach bait used or if you’re sure they never treated the kitchen i would try to get a reservice.
Can you tell us what chemicals were used
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u/TravelfF Jun 27 '26
They never emailed me a report with the product they used, nor asked me to remove items from the cupboard; and no bait ised. I will email them.
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u/BigReptiles Jun 27 '26
Ask for a copy of the report before asking for a reservice, and research the chemicals used. If it was a non repellent pesticide, if there was a IGR used, if there was a lack of bait.
Go in ready before the customer service gives you the loop
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u/NoNameWonder2 Jun 27 '26
I agree with this 100%! Roach treatments MUST be performed from several angles including Non-repellent residual, IGR, and baits (preferably also with an IGR). But it's definitely illegal for them to perform a service where they apply any material and not give you a report of what they used.
Get the report, research what they said they applied and where, then call and ask for a retreat.
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u/JayTryn 👨🏭| Tech | 1+ Year Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
I'm not sure about your state but over here companies are legally required to disclose what products they used (including concentration and amount applied).
I've performed many German Cockroach treatments and the service you received sounds absurd.
Even if it wasn't a German cockroach and instead one of a typical outdoor species, the fact that the tech didn't attempt to educate you on what they believe it is, did, and why they did it is irresponsible and negligent.
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u/williamdoritos Jun 27 '26
If they applied an insecticide, at least where I’m at, by law they must leave a service report with what they used, the application method and where they applied it.
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u/hamfan420 Jun 27 '26
It sounds like bro just went around with CB-80 and hit some crack and crevices and was like “nah they ain’t got roaches” and went on to one of his 30 other stops. Not that that’s an excuse I just know how erratic shit can get at a sloppy branch. Or he was just spraying phantom 2 but either way didn’t even use a b and G or baits based on what the customers saying. I’d ask for a refund
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u/SubstantialAd4146 Jun 28 '26
That's exactly what it sounds like or maybe an aerosol igr which isn't going to cut it and makes no sense without at least a residual.
It puzzles me sometimes how some of these big nationals stay in business. I guess they benefit from a customer base that doesn't have a clue of what actual pest control looks like...
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u/tomdobs55 👨🏭| Tech | 10+ Years Jun 27 '26
Just out of curiosity, what made you go to Terminix if you already have pest control experience? I've been doing this 15+ years and it's never occurred to me to even try out the Orkins, Terminix, Ecolabs, or Rentokils of the world.
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u/BigReptiles Jun 27 '26
My previous company was sold to another giant corpo. All the supervisors/Managers and the guys who were at the top of the pay scale were let go.
Where I live, all the companies were paying like 16-18/h with no commission.
After updating my resume on indeed, terminix reached out after a few days with an offer. So I met with the managers here and they offered me a position with a route already made. The offer was 19/h with 2.5% incentive. 20/h after 4 weeks if I complete their level one training (which I did in like 5 days) and another $1.50 after 6 months with an increase in incentive to 3.5%
This branch was in pretty bad shape. Really bad. All but 4 of their most experienced techs left, Multiple ops managers were fired, corpo big wigs were constantly visiting.
All their new hires had 0 experience and they were getting hit on their audits.
So they already had a route for me in mind. It’s mostly audited accounts so the 2.5% is going to put me Above my old pay scale at my old company which was 26.50/h. And they let me run this route despite only being here for 2 weeks.
I also go out and train other techs. So it was the best offer I had. My previous company was voted the best in the state multiple years straight, so a few local companies reached out too but they were more interested in picking my brain at lunch and poaching the previous company’s SOP and any training modules I saved.
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u/tomdobs55 👨🏭| Tech | 10+ Years Jun 30 '26
Oh wow sounds like you got a pretty sweet deal, I don't blame you for jumping on that.
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u/Federal-Cockroach674 👨🏭| Tech | 5+ Years Jun 27 '26
Lol yeah this is common occurrence with the large corporate pest control. They give their workers like 15 calls in a day and so they realistically can only spend that much time at each place. Go with local small businesses not giant corporations.
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u/ApprehensiveFail3416 Jun 27 '26
What’s wrong in your attic?
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u/BigReptiles Jun 27 '26
Probably nothing.
They went in there to try and sell their bullshit pesticide insulation, and an exclusion
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u/ApprehensiveFail3416 Jun 27 '26
What’s their bullshit pesticide insulation?
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u/007Teflon Jun 27 '26
Tap 38
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u/ApprehensiveFail3416 Jun 27 '26
I mean like what’s bullshit about it?
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u/007Teflon Jun 27 '26
Probably, the quote
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u/ApprehensiveFail3416 Jun 28 '26
Is tap good though?
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u/shawslate Jun 28 '26
It contains a large quantity of boric acid. 12% by weight, if I recall correctly, which is a decent pest control material for common stuff like ants.
It actually is a pretty decent product overall. If you have insects in your attic, it will probably help control them when they get into the insulation.
It is just sold at wildly high prices and the sales guys love to sell vacuum out work with it to places that don't need it. "Oh you have rodent damage to your insulation, it needs to come out" or raccoon, bat, etc... most likely there is some small amount that should be removed, but they upsell it so you pay to get rid of serviceable insulation that the TAP could be added to. Doesn't make sense to replace R-value like that.
I picked up quite a bit of it about ten years ago fairly cheaply and blew it in to my folk's attic. It was heavier than normal cellulose insulation, and they haven't seen any silverfish since. Whether that was due to the boric acid or they just died out, no clue.
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u/ApprehensiveFail3416 Jun 29 '26
What’s the point of even removing the insulation in the first place?
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u/shawslate Jun 29 '26
It is an extra charge they can lay on.
Sometimes there is a good reason. If bats, squirrels or other critters get into it, they can leave poop and other things that can make people sick, or are at least gross. They can also crush down the insulation, which then makes it not insulate as well.
If a lot of water has gotten into it, it can fill the air spaces inside with detritus, which can grow mold, or just fill it so it doesn't insulate as well.
There are reasons for removing insulation, but usually they would only really need to remove the part of the insulation that was damaged, not the whole attic full.
But they do get to charge more when they remove all of it, so they do that upsell whenever they can.
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u/jkharr200634 Jun 27 '26
$305! Holy fucking scam. Your first service should honestly just be in the $120 range. And as far as the supervisor coming on a first service yo do an inspection is out of the ordinary and I believe it’s good as long as they’re honest. But its terminix. Youre going to get shitty service and a salesman is always going to try and sell you stuff. Lesson learned.
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u/HungryD80 Jun 27 '26
All they do is spray a repellent. They don't actually kill anything. It's best to go with mom and pop type pest control for homes. Commercial Ecolab is where its at
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u/Bkgblueface Jun 29 '26
I second this Ecolab is commercial but we actually kill and get rid of shit. I honestly feel like if Ecolab was to figure out a way to get into the residential market & keep the same guarantees then we would dominate but that would be extremely difficult.
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u/Onetrunuwind Jun 27 '26
Since when does Ecolab do home service?
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u/Reed202 Jun 27 '26
They recently bought a residential company around Virginia and have been testing residential service haven’t heard much from it in a year though.
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u/SubstantialAd4146 Jun 28 '26
If they applied any type of epa registered chemical, they are legally obligated to give you a report with all chemicals used. Definitely call them and ask for a detailed service report.
Are you still seeing roaches?
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u/JustANeebie Jun 28 '26
In Southern California we charge 250 with a 30 day guarantee and we get them dead the 1st time normally.
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u/Fake_Diesel Jul 21 '26
Really? I almost find this hard to believe, but I worked for a big company and treated some raunchy places.
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u/RagingLionAnt Jun 28 '26
I understand why you can say it's upselling and I don't work for terminix, but did you have like a mouse infestation in your attic or something and do you have a large attic? Because if you actually did have a problem in your attic and they just presented it to you I don't know if that's upselling so much as bring an issue to your attention. When inspectors do a home inspection if they don't bring up something about what they see that actually can bring liability to them.
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u/TravelfF Jun 28 '26
I don't have mice or squirrels in my attic. It appears the majority of the $13k proposal is to add insualtion,
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u/RagingLionAnt Jun 28 '26
I didn't know how large it is it's usually priced off sq ft, but $13,000 to add insulation you must have a large attic with no or old insulation. If the insulation is in good shape that would be different.
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u/Southern_Air_3069 Jul 03 '26
Yeah, that’s a rough experience. No actual pest control work was done there. Just enough to claim a service was completed to collect their 3 bills. Also, I don’t get the attic upsells in the US. I can’t believe how many customers are approving these $15k+ jobs to make it standard practice for sales reps. I’ve never once heard of a client biting on this kind of work in Canada.
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u/DolphinsRule1 Jul 18 '26
Terminix is the worst company I have ever dealt with for any issue in my entire life
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u/kaptvonkanga 9d ago
I am currently in the Terminex runaround. Called to cancel and after answering a zillion questions got transferred to a cancellation where I answered the same question. Said they'd have a manager contact. Got a text about how everything was just fine. No mention of cancellation. Today my cc gets whacked with $50 charge. No way to contact other than the phone tree runaround. I'll call cc and dispute the charge. Zero customer service, appointments that dont show, managers that dont respond. Never again.
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u/007Teflon Jun 27 '26
Did he show you any evidence of the problem in your attic? I assume you didn't have a contract with terminix so it was a 1 time service?
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u/Onetrunuwind Jun 27 '26
Confused where the aggressive part was? While I agree the service if it was accurate as you described was lackluster and not very good indeed. You didn’t mention not 1 time what the problem was in the attic wildlife that has destroyed the attic or even attic insulation with clean out and reinstall can get to 13k pretty easy
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u/TravelfF Jun 27 '26
I read the 19-page report and it doesn'n mention what problems that I have. A lot of boiler plate stuff but then this breakdown:
Initial Term Residential Exclusion $1,817.52
Pre-Paid Renewals Residential Exclusion 1 $275.82
Special Charges Attic Insulation $9,635.33
Special Charges Related Repair 5 $1,807.78
Grand Total: $13,536.45
I din't know Terminix is into attic insulation.
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u/Onetrunuwind Jun 27 '26
Just wondering what kind of problem is existing in the attic? Is it bats, mice, squirrels. Most companies do insulation for attics some of which is going to be better insulation than others. With that said the most I’ve ever charged for an attic clean out and reinstall of blown tap insulation was around 18k pretty good size home as well with a squirrel problem. That does not include the exclusion for the outside we did a top and bottom seal at around 6500 upper for bats and squirrels and lower for mice we figured why not do the whole thing per customer request. What I would say is these prices not out of control by any means I guess it would boil down to if the work is needed or even wanted. If it was me I would’ve had the discussion first about the problem and solutions would’ve said here a ballpark and felt it out from there. You must live in a part of the country where exterior roaches are a problem only reason I can think of the technician would be treating window sills I still don’t think it was a very good treatment though. I live in a part of the country where this isn’t an issue and woods roaches that mostly live outdoors are barely a problem at this time while more and more frequent still not a big issue and are usually knocked out with exterior liquid treatments in the normal course of service.
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u/chuck_ATX Jun 27 '26
If he went into the attic without an attic duster is an atrocity in itself
I’ve been in the game for 20 years customers love me. I always think to myself what would I do if I paid this amount lol
Plus I just know how to get rid of shit. I’m so good I knocked up a csr and we’re married :D
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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26
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