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11/4/2016 Don't Get Stung by These Pest Control Scams | Angies List
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Here are four of the most common
pest control scams and how to spot
them.
Pest control (https://www.angieslist.com/household-
pest-control/) is sometimes a necessity.
March 3,2016
By DougBonderud,Angie's ListContributor
Don't Get Stung by These PestControl Scams Local Offers
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(https://www.angieslist.com/articles/bed-bug-infestation-risks-pesticides-and-insecticides.htm)
Bed Bug Infestation: Risks fromPesticides and Insecticides(/articles/bed-bug-infestation-risks-pesticides-and-insecticides.htm)
Getting rid of a bed bug infestation can
become costly, but it doesn't have to
pose a risk to your health.
Serious bed bug or termite infestations aren't
something you should tackle on your own with retail
products because they treat only the symptom
(visible pests) rather than the cause (hive or nest). To
remove pests in your home completely, professional
help is often the best choice, but unfortunately the
market is filled with pest control scams.
Here are four of the most popular rip-off
schemes and how to spot them.
Related Article
The "licensed" company scam
This one is tough to spot at first glance. You call a
company — a reputable one, at that — and they
send out a licensed technician. Every state has its
own laws concerning pest control, but most require
companies to certify any employee who sprays
pesticide in a home.
You take a look at the employee's license
(https://www.angieslist.com/articles/angie%E2%80%
99s-list-license-check.htm), agree to the
estimate and everything seems legit. When your
appointment time rolls around, a different technician
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shows up and goes to work. Since he has a
company truck and uniform, you don't worry about
it, until your pests don't disappear.
Here's what you need to know: In some states,
companies can have a single, licensed professional
who "trains" other employees on the job. Scam
artists have their single trained employee sit at the
shop, available to "consult" workers in the field, who
might not know how to proper handle chemicals.
Always ask to see a license from anyone using
pesticides in your home.
The free inspection scam
These scammers show up unannounced and offer a
free pest inspection. What starts out innocently
enough turns into a minor emergency when the pest
control "pro" finds evidence of termites, ants or bed
bugs. In some cases, pest control scammers deposit
the corpses of a few dead bugs on your floor while
walking around and then "discover" them.
Never hire someone who's just come to your door,
and never take their word for a pest infestation.
Always get a second opinion.
The permanent contract scam
This is one of the most insidious pest control scams.
It starts out well enough, with you contacting a pest
control pro who provides a solid estimate, shows up
on time and completes the job. But when he's done
spraying, he tells you a single application won't
eliminate all of your pests, and you need to sign a
year-long contract to ensure complete eradication.
What's more, he tells you if there's still evidence of
bugs at the end of the year, the contract renews
automatically.
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While most states have laws against these type of
self-renew contracts, it's easy to feel pressured into
signing something long-term, especially if it means
better pest control. The truth is, however, that you
should need only a single pesticide application to
control most infestations. If there's a reason a
second round is required, your pest control expert
should be able to explain why and should never
pressure you into signing anything.
The bed bug box scam
Bed bugs (https://www.angieslist.com/pest-
control/bedbugs.htm)are a hot topic because they're
on the upswing in many major cities. This pest
control scam takes advantage of your fear when you
discover you have bed bugs and want to get rid of
them immediately.
The pest pro tells you he's going to "heat kill" the
bugs, which comes from a University of Virginia
study showing that bed bugs and their eggs die
when exposed to extreme heat. 140 degrees
Fahrenheit or more maintained over several hours
will kill all bed bug nests in your home. A pest
control scammer, however, tells you he can
accomplish this by raising your home to this
temperature using portable heaters.
The problem? That he won't be able to keep your
entire house this hot for long enough, and the bugs
will simply migrate to cooler areas, such as the
basement. When your contractor leaves, the bugs
will come back, and you'll put in another call for
service.
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Name *
Subject
(https://www.angieslist.com/articles/5-reasons-hire-pest-control-company.htm)
5 Reasons to Hire a Pest ControlCompany (/articles/5-reasons-hire-pest-control-company.htm)
How much does it cost to hire an
exterminator to eliminate pests?
If you need to hire a professional pest control expert
(https://www.angieslist.com/pest-control/hiring-an-
exterminator.htm), always ask to see that person's
license, check Angie' List
(https://my.angieslist.com/Angieslist/join/pages/new
account.aspx)for company reviews and never sign a
contract for ongoing work. Real pros stand on their
reputation and service, not high-pressure scare and
deception tactics.
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article
originally posted on March 19, 2013.
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