Termite Contract RipOff

[TimTinNewell]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!

[retiredguy123]

As I understand it, Dean's only provides an annual contract, and they do a "partial" treatment every year. I have a 10-year contract with Massey, but you would need to get a full house treatment to start the contract. It cost me $400 for the initial treatment and about $90 per year to renew. Personally, I prefer Massey to Dean's because of the long term contract, and I don't like the partial annual treatments. The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.

[TimTinNewell]

As I understand it, Dean's only provides an annual contract, and they do a "partial" treatment every year. I have a 10-year contract with Massey, but you would need to get a full house treatment to start the contract. It cost me $400 for the initial treatment and about $90 per year to renew. Personally, I prefer Massey to Dean's because of the long term contract, and I don't like the partial annual treatments. The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.
That's good info. I am confused as to why a TRANSFERABLE contract would require me to buy a WHOLE NEW CONTRACT! I'm skeptical

[MrFlorida]

Most of these so called contracts are a scam.

[retiredguy123]

Most of these so called contracts are a scam.
In Florida, it is a personal choice. In other states, like Georgia, you really do need it. Termites are rampant. If you try to sell a house and the home inspector finds termite damage, you may have a real problem.

[Stu from NYC]

Nothing like a warranty that calls for annual payments.

[dewilson58]

Dean's is a scam.

[villagetinker]

OP, contact Seniors Against Crime, show them the documentation and ask them to get involved, also the BBB, this should get Deans at least to explain what is going on. Full disclosure: I use Deans (for over 12 years) for several services at our house, I gave up lawn mowing.

[vintageogauge]

These are scams and they both are getting wealthy with them. After my first year in our new home I chose not to pay Deans or Massey for doing nothing, Deans tried to scare me into keeping them so I called Massey and they wanted $350.00 to transfer it over to them plus the annual fee which at that time I think was $140.00 so I researched how to treat my home for subterranean termites on my own have been doing it for over 6 years. I sold our home, yesterday had the inspection and today got the report, no trace of termites in or around the house and no trace of any other damaging pests. It works and for $49.00 I can treat my house for 2 years, takes about 10 minutes to do it. I'm leave TV next week and if I were staying I would not use either of them for any of their services, there are much better and cheaper options available for pests as well as lawn care.

[MSchad]

These are scams and they both are getting wealthy with them. After my first year in our new home I chose not to pay Deans or Massey for doing nothing, Deans tried to scare me into keeping them so I called Massey and they wanted $350.00 to transfer it over to them plus the annual fee which at that time I think was $140.00 so I researched how to treat my home for subterranean termites on my own have been doing it for over 6 years. I sold our home, yesterday had the inspection and today got the report, no trace of termites in or around the house and no trace of any other damaging pests. It works and for $49.00 I can treat my house for 2 years, takes about 10 minutes to do it. I'm leave TV next week and if I were staying I would not use either of them for any of their services, there are much better and cheaper options available for pests as well as lawn care.

Care to elaborate on how you treat yourself and product you use?

[Stu from NYC]

These are scams and they both are getting wealthy with them. After my first year in our new home I chose not to pay Deans or Massey for doing nothing, Deans tried to scare me into keeping them so I called Massey and they wanted $350.00 to transfer it over to them plus the annual fee which at that time I think was $140.00 so I researched how to treat my home for subterranean termites on my own have been doing it for over 6 years. I sold our home, yesterday had the inspection and today got the report, no trace of termites in or around the house and no trace of any other damaging pests. It works and for $49.00 I can treat my house for 2 years, takes about 10 minutes to do it. I'm leave TV next week and if I were staying I would not use either of them for any of their services, there are much better and cheaper options available for pests as well as lawn care.

They do use a fear factor to sell overpriced services

[Sabella]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!
Please take a few minutes go online and send a complaint to the Florida attorney Attorney General‘s office. It will only take a few minutes and you don’t have to get on the phone and talk to them. Thank you.

[jasamy2]

So what do you use and where do you buy it from?

These are scams and they both are getting wealthy with them. After my first year in our new home I chose not to pay Deans or Massey for doing nothing, Deans tried to scare me into keeping them so I called Massey and they wanted $350.00 to transfer it over to them plus the annual fee which at that time I think was $140.00 so I researched how to treat my home for subterranean termites on my own have been doing it for over 6 years. I sold our home, yesterday had the inspection and today got the report, no trace of termites in or around the house and no trace of any other damaging pests. It works and for $49.00 I can treat my house for 2 years, takes about 10 minutes to do it. I'm leave TV next week and if I were staying I would not use either of them for any of their services, there are much better and cheaper options available for pests as well as lawn care.

[jimdecastro]

As I understand it, Dean's only provides an annual contract, and they do a "partial" treatment every year. I have a 10-year contract with Massey, but you would need to get a full house treatment to start the contract. It cost me $400 for the initial treatment and about $90 per year to renew. Personally, I prefer Massey to Dean's because of the long term contract, and I don't like the partial annual treatments. The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.

I have the opposite. I had Massey for termite, lawn, sprinklers and more. My lawn looked like cr@p - full of weeds. I had to beg for them to do pest control when they appeared. When I went to cancel they were COMPLETELY inflexible. I reported I was moving and they still renewed me - and took an auto pay 3 days before I did. I have Deans. The termite contract was far less than Massey and my lawn looks GREAT. I had fire ants recently and they were here within 90 minutes.

[ithos]

Dean's is a scam.

A scam is a dishonest or fraudulent scheme designed to deceive people, typically for financial gain. Scammers often use various methods to trick victims into giving them money, personal information, or access to resources. Scams can take many forms, such as phishing emails, fake investment opportunities, online marketplace fraud, or identity theft. The primary goal of a scam is to exploit the victim's trust or lack of knowledge for the scammer's benefit.

Would you care to elaborate?

[retiredguy123]

I have the opposite. I had Massey for termite, lawn, sprinklers and more. My lawn looked like cr@p - full of weeds. I had to beg for them to do pest control when they appeared. When I went to cancel they were COMPLETELY inflexible. I reported I was moving and they still renewed me - and took an auto pay 3 days before I did. I have Deans. The termite contract was far less than Massey and my lawn looks GREAT. I had fire ants recently and they were here within 90 minutes.
Two things about Dean's that make no sense to me. They do not offer a multi-year termite contract. Basically, you are getting a new contract every year. So, they can raise your rate or cancel you at any time. And, they only treat about 20 percent of your house every year. That is absurd.

Massey treats the entire house and guarantees it for 10 years.

[mkjelenbaas]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!
WARNING- DEANS is a complete rip off - if they mow your lawn and you go away for a period of time they don’t mow - SCAMMERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

[Normal]

We use Termidor SC around the base of the house 3 times a year and it’s only 70 dollars for the concentrate. I think the bottle makes 25 gallons? Haven’t had an ant or any bug near the house since we started spraying the base of the home.

[SaucyJim]

WARNING- DEANS is a complete rip off - if they mow your lawn and you go away for a period of time they don’t mow - SCAMMERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

And how do they know you went away? We get a detailed report every time Dean’s treats, which is bi-monthly. Their new system is for monthly billing, but still bi-monthly treatment. If you have any issues, they are onsite same day or next day.

I swear I do not work for Dean’s, but I don’t understand all the negative comments here. If they are so bad, why are they so prolific in TV?

[retiredguy123]

A house is treated for subterranean termites by inserting a metal rod about 18 inches deep into the ground and pumping a chemical into the soil every 16 inches around the entire perimeter of the house. This process poisons the soil and creates an underground poison soil barrier around the house. Subterranean termites live underground and travel up and down into the house eating soft woods, drywall, and carpet. You never see them because they cannot stand the light. Once they move in, they never leave. The only time you see them is once per year when they mate and some of them fly away to find another house. Spraying chemicals aboveground will do nothing to kill or deter subterranean termites. Aboveground spraying may kill ants and other insects, but it will never kill any subterranean termites because they never come to the surface.

[SaucyJim]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!

Not a scam, but you should be able to continue the existing contract until it runs its course. The beagle inspection is real. I just had mine on my second TV home in order to get the termite insurance. It makes complete sense that, before insuring an item, that a company would protect themselves from negligent owners who try to hide termite damage using various means. Beagles can smell them, which protects Dean’s financial interests, which is just sound business if you ask me.

[Margefrog]

Thanks for bringing this up. I'm a new owner too and hadn't thought about the issue.

[Margefrog]

Thanks for that info.

[Wondering]

OP, contact Seniors Against Crime, show them the documentation and ask them to get involved, also the BBB, this should get Deans at least to explain what is going on. Full disclosure: I use Deans (for over 12 years) for several services at our house, I gave up lawn mowing.
BBB only protects businesses. They are useless for consumers. Florida Attorney General office gets better results.

[Wondering]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!
If you have a block and stucco construction house it's a waste of money. If you have a stick/wood construction house you might need it. I have and like Deans lawn service.

[ldj1938]

As I understand it, Dean's only provides an annual contract, and they do a "partial" treatment every year. I have a 10-year contract with Massey, but you would need to get a full house treatment to start the contract. It cost me $400 for the initial treatment and about $90 per year to renew. Personally, I prefer Massey to Dean's because of the long term contract, and I don't like the partial annual treatments. The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.
There are No termites in the Villages. There is one building south of the villages with a problem.

[coleprice]

A "Transferable Contract" would not require you to pay for a new contract because the company's "policy" changes. The first "tell" is that the administrative person couldn't handle the conveyance of your contract over the phone . . . So, it Sounds like Deans is not an ethical company if they're trying to pull those shenanigans.

[Topspinmo]

And how do they know you went away? We get a detailed report every time Dean’s treats, which is bi-monthly. Their new system is for monthly billing, but still bi-monthly treatment. If you have any issues, they are onsite same day or next day.

I swear I do not work for Dean’s, but I don’t understand all the negative comments here. If they are so bad, why are they so prolific in TV?


Cheaper than competitors maybe?

[Topspinmo]

I have cinder block and attic had life time treatment.

[Topspinmo]

I have cinder block and attic had life time treatment.

Whose life time?

[retiredguy123]

And how do they know you went away? We get a detailed report every time Dean’s treats, which is bi-monthly. Their new system is for monthly billing, but still bi-monthly treatment. If you have any issues, they are onsite same day or next day.

I swear I do not work for Dean’s, but I don’t understand all the negative comments here. If they are so bad, why are they so prolific in TV?
When I first bought my house, I wanted to hire Dean's but I went with Massey. The reason was that I can pay Massey whenever they perform a service. No service, no payment. Dean's requires that you provide them with a credit card that they can charge at their convenience. I have discussed this several times with the Dean's manager, but their credit card policy has no flexibility. So, they have never gotten any business from me.

[nn0wheremann]

As I understand it, Dean's only provides an annual contract, and they do a "partial" treatment every year. I have a 10-year contract with Massey, but you would need to get a full house treatment to start the contract. It cost me $400 for the initial treatment and about $90 per year to renew. Personally, I prefer Massey to Dean's because of the long term contract, and I don't like the partial annual treatments. The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.
Termites have been found in two locations in The Villages. In one instance these came in with some furniture moved from New Orleans. Termite distribution in Florida (updated 10-1-2023) - Google My Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?usp=sharing&mid=1YNo4MTPGEAK7O39K6GFvn6CfQRk)

[retiredguy123]

Termites have been found in two locations in The Villages. In one instance these came in with some furniture moved from New Orleans. Termite distribution in Florida (updated 10-1-2023) - Google My Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?usp=sharing&mid=1YNo4MTPGEAK7O39K6GFvn6CfQRk)
I don't disagree that termites seem to be pretty rare in The Villages. Not so in other places I have lived. So, it is really a personal decision whether or not to get a termite contract.

[mikeycereal]

I've seen Massey get some flack on this site for grass maintenance which may be justified. I had a nice talk with the Massey lady who came over to check my sprinklers and she sounded very knowledgeable and was very helpful. She told me about the treatment they do for termites. Said watch out for door to door scammers asking for payment because they may not be part of my contract. She said they treat the ground where termites breed and once they get in it could be too late because they attack the wood very quickly. She also added that they are in the large trees around the villages and it is not good to leave your garage open for long because a few could fly in and you don't want that. So I try to remember to close mine when not in use. They have been great coming out to check my sprinklers.

[retiredguy123]

I've seen Massey get some flack on this site for grass maintenance which may be justified. I had a nice talk with the Massey lady who came over to check my sprinklers and she sounded very knowledgeable and was very helpful. She told me about the treatment they do for termites. Said watch out for door to door scammers asking for payment because they may not be part of my contract. She said they treat the ground where termites breed and once they get in it could be too late because they attack the wood very quickly. She also added that they are in the large trees around the villages and it is not good to leave your garage open for long because a few could fly in and you don't want that. So I try to remember to close mine when not in use. They have been great coming out to check my sprinklers.
Subterranean termites are not in trees, they are underground. There are several different types of termites and some of them may be in trees. But, the most common treatment for termites is for the subterranean type. Massey offers an attic treatment for flying termites, but I don't think it is needed because, if you get this type of termite, you will be able to detect them before they do much damage.

[BlueStarAirlines]

The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.

Actually, what you are describing is the technique Deans uses. Massey uses the "bait" technique which draws termites to the bait traps which the termites take the poison back which by design kills the others. It really comes down to preference.

Do you want a poison barrier around your home (Deans) or a bait trap that draws termites towards your home to take the poison back to the others (Massey)?

[MightyDog]

The beagle inspection is real. I just had mine on my second TV home in order to get the termite insurance. .............. Beagles can smell them, which protects Dean’s financial interests, which is just sound business if you ask me.
Make sense to me that dogs could be used for that purpose. They are trained to detect all sorts of things via scent. Bombs, drugs, human remains, chemicals, etc.

It's also now been realized that dogs (and cats) can sometimes detect cancer in their human owners before the owner has been diagnosed. I don't have all the details but, apparently, the scent of the human's urine can change and that's how the animal knows.

I had one friend who had skin with new moles that appeared sometimes and she'd get them checked every year. One time she had grown two new ones on her leg and her cat would come over and press it's nose against one of them, day after day, and only that one. She went to the dermatologist and, sure enough, that mole had the beginnings of melanoma. Good cat!

[retiredguy123]

Actually, what you are describing is the technique Deans uses. Massey uses the "bait" technique which draws termites to the bait traps which the termites take the poison back which by design kills the others. It really comes down to preference.

Do you want a poison barrier around your home (Deans) or a bait trap that draws termites towards your home to take the poison back to the others (Massey)?
Not true. I have a 10-year contract with Massey and it is NOT the bait system. They pumped chemicals completely around the perimeter of the house. I actually watched the guy do it. According to Dean's, they only treat about 20 percent of the house every year. I went over what both companies offer in great detail when my initial 5-year new house contract expired. Both Massey and Dean's came to my house and explained exactly what they would do. I specifically did not want the bait system, and I don't think Massey even offers the bait system anymore. Dean's would not provide a multi-year contract, only a year-to-year contract, and they would not treat the entire house at the same time. That was my personal experience with Massey and Dean's about a year ago. The annual contract renewal fee for Massey is $79 guaranteed for the first 5 years. The annual fee for Dean's was about $140, but it can change every year. Dean's fee is higher because it includes treatment for 20 percent of the house. The Massey renewal fee only includes an inspection and contract extension.

[Stu from NYC]

I've seen Massey get some flack on this site for grass maintenance which may be justified. I had a nice talk with the Massey lady who came over to check my sprinklers and she sounded very knowledgeable and was very helpful. She told me about the treatment they do for termites. Said watch out for door to door scammers asking for payment because they may not be part of my contract. She said they treat the ground where termites breed and once they get in it could be too late because they attack the wood very quickly. She also added that they are in the large trees around the villages and it is not good to leave your garage open for long because a few could fly in and you don't want that. So I try to remember to close mine when not in use. They have been great coming out to check my sprinklers.

Some years ago a Massey employee told us not to get the grass cutting maintenance as they were a revolving door and could not keep up with their work.

Had them for a year for irrigation system and was a terrible experience. 5 different guys came and set up the system 5 different ways. Asked them to make an appt so I could see what they did and was ignored.

The guy doing the pest control has been great for the past 4 years.

[TimTinNewell]

The guy told me they are switching to the bait system. This was going to cost more of course and then he started off with the new kind of termite that is only killed with this bait thing. I'm gonna go with what the guy said in an earlier post and do my own work. We had a house in Georgia that had an infestation before we moved in. We used a termite company after we got there and they were great. I got a BAD feeling about the guy calling me from Deans and after reading enough comments about them here, I think I'll move on. By the way, I see several of their little signs in yards around my neighborhood. I'm assuming snow birds are living there. I would pull out that little plastic sign if they put one in my yard.

[Bonanza]

In Florida, it is a personal choice. In other states, like Georgia, you really do need it. Termites are rampant. If you try to sell a house and the home inspector finds termite damage, you may have a real problem.

Termites are a fact of life in Florida, however, the damage is easily taken care of if ongoing damage has not been left with no treatment. I've moved many times and in my 40+ years in Florida have never had a contract with any company, nor have I cared if the house I bought had one. The inspection told me what I needed to know and there is never a "real problem" if you do what needs to be done. If someone is concerned about termites, it's easy enough to have a yearly inspection without preventative and unnecessary treatment.

Pest control companies and your neighbors put the fear of God in you, telling you that you MUST have pest control. Nothing could be further from the truth! If you have a real issue, treat the specific issue. But one or two cockroaches is not a reason to call in a pest company (this is Florida remember?).

Please remember these insecticides and similar treatments do NOT dissipate. Once in the ground they are there FOREVER. The Villages and surrounding areas are poisoning our environment and ultimately there will be a huge problem.

[BunnyA]

Clark Howard, a consumer advocate, has said that it doesn’t matter so much if you go with the bait system or chemicals, but what you really want is a good repair bond with your company.
The termites that someone brought in with furniture are dry wood termites and not covered under most policies. If you get an infestation of them, they usually have to tent your home $$$

[Lisuccia]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!

We had a similar situation with Dean's. We had them at our previous residence for 12 years and thought we wanted to continue with them. The owners of our new house had a contract with Massey. It's too long of a story to get into but Dean's "new system" also sounded like a ripoff to us. We ended up staying with Massey at our new residence as they simply transferred the current contract to us. We got a refund from Dean's. Since you're not going to use Dean's the previous owners of your house should request a refund from them.

[ithos]

Deans uses the Sentricon system which is used all over country. I could not find any negative reports about it. It if was a "ripoff" then there would be plenty of reports about it.
Sentricon(R) | The No. 1 Bait System for Termite Control (https://www.sentricon.com/en-us)
So far I have not seen any reports of infestation in homes treated by Deans or Massey. According to Terminix we are in a high risk area.
Just a moment... (https://www.terminix.com/termites/where-are-termites-most-common/)

[Nana2Teddy]

How does a company do a deep treatment every 16” around the home’s perimeter if most of the home is concrete or pavers up against the house? We have only two small areas where there isn’t hardscaping against our home. We currently have no termite plan as we had the Massey bait traps removed last year when we had our landscaping redone, so we’ve been unsure what to do. Our current lawn and pest control company, Fertigator, has a termite plan that they haven’t tried to sell to us yet. Our home is almost 2 years old, and is tilt wall construction. It feels like a never ending barrage of chemical exposure since we moved here, so we have been hesitant to add termite treatment to the list.

[ithos]

How does a company do a deep treatment every 16” around the home’s perimeter if most of the home is concrete or pavers up against the house? We have only two small areas where there isn’t hardscaping against our home. We currently have no termite plan as we had the Massey bait traps removed last year when we had our landscaping redone, so we’ve been unsure what to do. Our current lawn and pest control company, Fertigator, has a termite plan that they haven’t tried to sell to us yet. Our home is almost 2 years old, and is tilt wall construction. It feels like a never ending barrage of chemical exposure since we moved here, so we have been hesitant to add termite treatment to the list.
FWIW, Sentricon has received recognition from the EPA:
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2000 Designing Greener Chemicals Award | US EPA (https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/presidential-green-chemistry-challenge-2000-designing-greener-chemicals-award)

[karostay]

They did exactly the same thing to me.
I took over previous owners on record pest agreement.
I said well I have time left on my contract. I’ll shop around and get back to you
Their tune change instantly

[retiredguy123]

How does a company do a deep treatment every 16” around the home’s perimeter if most of the home is concrete or pavers up against the house? We have only two small areas where there isn’t hardscaping against our home. We currently have no termite plan as we had the Massey bait traps removed last year when we had our landscaping redone, so we’ve been unsure what to do. Our current lawn and pest control company, Fertigator, has a termite plan that they haven’t tried to sell to us yet. Our home is almost 2 years old, and is tilt wall construction. It feels like a never ending barrage of chemical exposure since we moved here, so we have been hesitant to add termite treatment to the list.
Good question. The best treatment you can get in The Villages is to inject the chemicals into the closest non-concrete area and create a wider than optimal perimeter. In other areas of the country, where I have lived, the termite treatment involved drilling holes through the concrete, including inside the garage, and then filling the holes with a concrete patch. But, as long as you do proper inspections, termites can be found and killed.

[rsmurano]

All of my neighbors have moved away from Deans/Massey/or another 3rd party to do their own lawn service. When I travel thru neighborhoods, some of the worst lawns have the deans/massey sign in the yard. Some real nice lawns have the signs too, but why pay a firm to do their lawn and the lawn looks terrible?

[retiredguy123]

All of my neighbors have moved away from Deans/Massey/or another 3rd party to do their own lawn service. When I travel thru neighborhoods, some of the worst lawns have the deans/massey sign in the yard. Some real nice lawns have the signs too, but why pay a firm to do their lawn and the lawn looks terrible?
Because they are too lazy to do it themselves. I am one of them.

[ithos]

All of my neighbors have moved away from Deans/Massey/or another 3rd party to do their own lawn service. When I travel thru neighborhoods, some of the worst lawns have the deans/massey sign in the yard. Some real nice lawns have the signs too, but why pay a firm to do their lawn and the lawn looks terrible?

Do they back them up with a gurantee?
Deans Services offers a $1,000,000 lifetime warranty on their termite treatments.
I believe Massey does too.

[retiredguy123]

Do they back them up with a gurantee?
Deans Services offers a $1,000,000 lifetime warranty on their termite treatments.
I believe Massey does too.
My Massey contract does not specify a dollar limit, but it also does not rely on a named insurance company to cover the damage. So, apparently, Massey is self-insured to make damage repairs and retreatments.

[mrf6969]

During my annual termite renewal with a local pest control company, the technician came out to do the inspection. His inspection amounted to walking around my house with a flashlight and casually looking in every room. This took a total of 3 minutes. For this I pay $145.00 a year. I asked him if he has ever seen subterranean termite damage in The Villages and he said no. Subterranean is the only type of termite covered. What we are getting is an insurance policy in case we ever have damage. We have a poured concrete block on slab home, so I doubt this is money well spent.

[retiredguy123]

During my annual termite renewal with a local pest control company, the technician came out to do the inspection. His inspection amounted to walking around my house with a flashlight and casually looking in every room. This took a total of 3 minutes. For this I pay $145.00 a year. I asked him if he has ever seen subterranean termite damage in The Villages and he said no. Subterranean is the only type of termite covered. What we are getting is an insurance policy in case we ever have damage. We have a poured concrete block on slab home, so I doubt this is money well spent.
In my experience, a good termite inspector can find termites in a matter of minutes because they know where to look. However, a technician who has never seen termites is probably not very skilled. Also, the type of construction has nothing to do with the need to protect against termites. They tend to go after the soft wood in the house, like door frames and window sills.

[DAVES]

So, we just closed on a pre-owned home. The owner, God Bless Them, left us the receipt and the contract they had with Dean's Termite Control. On the contract, it specifies a $1,000,000 termite damage policy and transferable to new owners. The previous owners paid for another year contract in February of this year.

I contacted Dean's. The girl on the phone had one of the techs call me back. I thought this was strange to start with. All I needed to do was change my name with them and get on with other matters.

The guy calls me back and explains that I have to start over and pay for a whole NEW contract with them and they are using a different 'system' now. I asked him if the original owners were still there, what would THEY be doing under the current contract? He said they'd just start in with the new system in February of '25.

Besides the "new system", He also said they will bring over 3 beagles to sniff around the house for termites. WTF? :1rotfl:

I basically told him this sounds like a scam and a ripoff and if I decide to go with a new contract, it isn't gonna be with Dean's. You gotta be whackin' me!

Far from an expert. We are ex-northerners. In Florida we have two different types of termites. Subterranean the ones that need to have access to soil, build mud tunnels etc-they type in the north. We also have another variety that does not need ground contact. If, you read the contract
they do not cover damage from the termites that do not need ground contact. A termite damage claim. Not any particular company. It is easy to buy and pay for insurance. Collecting is not so easy. Customers? They are not honest either.

We had a neighbor who was a retired cop. He worked as an insurance investigator. Always had amusing story's. I was into boating and fishing at the time. Some guy put in a claim for stolen rods and reels, they can be quite expensive. He had receipts and all from some bait shop.
The owner of the shop said the most expensive rod they sell is twenty dollars.

Back to termite insurance. I believe if you choose to have a mortgage you must have termite insurance. This is Florida. Termites do not take winters off.

[DAVES]

During my annual termite renewal with a local pest control company, the technician came out to do the inspection. His inspection amounted to walking around my house with a flashlight and casually looking in every room. This took a total of 3 minutes. For this I pay $145.00 a year. I asked him if he has ever seen subterranean termite damage in The Villages and he said no. Subterranean is the only type of termite covered. What we are getting is an insurance policy in case we ever have damage. We have a poured concrete block on slab home, so I doubt this is money well spent.

Any insurance you are paying a company to assume risk. Local pest control company? I would check with the insurance board about their record. One forty-five is very reasonable when your realize if you call a plumber, ac repair, appliance repair it will cost you a hundred for them to show up.

Far as your slab, It likely has cracks in it. Concrete block. It is not solid concrete. There are huge air spaces in each block. Termites can zig zag inside the blocks and not be noticed. They are supposed to be sealed-are they????????

[DAVES]

Because they are too lazy to do it themselves. I am one of them.

Sort of morphed from Termites to lawns. For what it is worth. I do my own fertilizer, weeding and hedge trimming. First time in my life I ever hired someone to mow my lawn.
As a kid I had a very small lawn mowing and snow shoveling business. Snow shoveling does not have much potential in Florida. Lazy? Perhaps. REALITY is in my mirror. I'm not 17 anymore nor do have space for a lawnmower.

[DAVES]

Do they back them up with a gurantee?
Deans Services offers a $1,000,000 lifetime warranty on their termite treatments.
I believe Massey does too.

Thought posted previously. Insurance is easy to buy and pay for. Collecting is far harder.
A million dollar warranty? I have no idea how you could have a million dollars worth of termite damage. Assuming a fire destroys your home. And you have a million dollar home. Insurance does not pay for the land your home stood on.

Far as a warranty on anything few read it or understand what they are reading. Typically we cover everything that never fails. Prorated warranties as for Tires, and batteries are based on list price no one pays list price for new ones.

[KatieRN]

As I understand it, Dean's only provides an annual contract, and they do a "partial" treatment every year. I have a 10-year contract with Massey, but you would need to get a full house treatment to start the contract. It cost me $400 for the initial treatment and about $90 per year to renew. Personally, I prefer Massey to Dean's because of the long term contract, and I don't like the partial annual treatments. The Massey treatment lasts 10 years, and they pump chemicals around the entire perimeter of the house, every 16 inches.

So does Deans. I know because I have them. They do a great job and yeah sure a beagle lol! How come I never got the Beagles when I signed up with them a year ago?

[retiredguy123]

So does Deans. I know because I have them. They do a great job and yeah sure a beagle lol! How come I never got the Beagles when I signed up with them a year ago?
What does Dean's do? They came to my house and refused to provide anything but a year-to-year contract, with partial annual treatments. They would not provide a full house chemical treatment. That is what their representative offered to me. No long term contract and no full house treatment. Period. If you have something different, can you please post your Dean's contract?

[Bonanza]

How does a company do a deep treatment every 16” around the home’s perimeter if most of the home is concrete or pavers up against the house? We have only two small areas where there isn’t hardscaping against our home. We currently have no termite plan as we had the Massey bait traps removed last year when we had our landscaping redone, so we’ve been unsure what to do. Our current lawn and pest control company, Fertigator, has a termite plan that they haven’t tried to sell to us yet. Our home is almost 2 years old, and is tilt wall construction. It feels like a never ending barrage of chemical exposure since we moved here, so we have been hesitant to add termite treatment to the list.

Do NOT buy a termite treatment program!!! It is totally unnecessary for your house which by most standards is new.

If you have a concern, have an inspection done but do NOT let anyone sell you a preventative treatment or a contract of any type.
Please do not poison the ground any more than it already has been done by others.
If you have a problem, treat the issue but do not do any type of ongoing treatment.
PLEASE!

[Pairadocs]

That's good info. I am confused as to why a TRANSFERABLE contract would require me to buy a WHOLE NEW CONTRACT! I'm skeptical

Something's definitely "OFF" here for sure ! My advice: I'd check with the Senior against crime office (they have no legal power, but sure can give you a LOT of information on "Dean's" and their "transferable" contract, THEN make sure to contact the state of Florida's department of consumer affairs (number is on state of Florida government website). We have found them to be VERY helpful... sometimes takes awhile as the departments attorneys ALL have huge caseloads, but they DO work on your complaints/inquiries. Also, not going to help you legally, but absolutely take the time to report your experience to BBB. Although it too late to "save" the original owners of the home from wasting the $$$ on a "transferable" contract, the MORE of these consumer supports YOU contact, the MORE the business will have to explain their business practices and all of that is put in the record. We has a problem with City Furniture delivering the WRONG furniture, an entire room of furniture which was paid for 100% in advance. When we showed them the receipt with the model/style we'd paid for, they (truckers) refused to remove the furniture. City was NOT willing to have the furniture picked up and the actual furniture we ordered delivered. It took 18 months, but, working thorough the state of Florida we DID finally get the furniture we had paid for, but it took patience and was very frustrating. Most will say NEVER pay 100% before you get items or services, however, but most places will not order goods or services unless you pay the full amount in advance. That leaves the consumer with very few alternatives if the products or services are not delivered, so we found it's important to use what resources do exist !

[Pairadocs]

When I first bought my house, I wanted to hire Dean's but I went with Massey. The reason was that I can pay Massey whenever they perform a service. No service, no payment. Dean's requires that you provide them with a credit card that they can charge at their convenience. I have discussed this several times with the Dean's manager, but their credit card policy has no flexibility. So, they have never gotten any business from me.

So many of examples of how businesses, not consumers, are "in command" so to speak; give US your CC or, no service for you. I ALWAYS go back to a bit of wisdom a grad school professor offered up during my MBA studies: "note, annotate, and make a written record of EVERYTHING, complete with date in time, when push comes to shove, he with the DOCUMENTATION wins !" As well as putting c.cards on "file" with a business, I am growing increasingly unwilling to deal with those who insist you must put their "app" on your phone to take advantage of sales, discounts, etc. Their "right" of course, but my right to "just pass"....LOL ! Lowe's has recently changed their policy on My Lowe's Members. Spent many thousands with them, had My Lowe's card since the program began, but they no longer honor memberships unless you have their "app" on your phone ! And of course all those "apps" constantly update, track, etc. Sometimes I do wonder, is my cell phone MY cell phone for me ? Or is it only a tracking device I PAY FOR as a convenience for others ? ? :cryin2:

[Glowing Horizon]

Not a scam, but you should be able to continue the existing contract until it runs its course. The beagle inspection is real. I just had mine on my second TV home in order to get the termite insurance. It makes complete sense that, before insuring an item, that a company would protect themselves from negligent owners who try to hide termite damage using various means. Beagles can smell them, which protects Dean’s financial interests, which is just sound business if you ask me.

Right. Beagles are used by bed bug exterminators especially in hotels. Very accurate.

[Glowing Horizon]

Something's definitely "OFF" here for sure ! My advice: I'd check with the Senior against crime office (they have no legal power, but sure can give you a LOT of information on "Dean's" and their "transferable" contract, THEN make sure to contact the state of Florida's department of consumer affairs (number is on state of Florida government website). We have found them to be VERY helpful... sometimes takes awhile as the departments attorneys ALL have huge caseloads, but they DO work on your complaints/inquiries. Also, not going to help you legally, but absolutely take the time to report your experience to BBB. Although it too late to "save" the original owners of the home from wasting the $$$ on a "transferable" contract, the MORE of these consumer supports YOU contact, the MORE the business will have to explain their business practices and all of that is put in the record. We has a problem with City Furniture delivering the WRONG furniture, an entire room of furniture which was paid for 100% in advance. When we showed them the receipt with the model/style we'd paid for, they (truckers) refused to remove the furniture. City was NOT willing to have the furniture picked up and the actual furniture we ordered delivered. It took 18 months, but, working thorough the state of Florida we DID finally get the furniture we had paid for, but it took patience and was very frustrating. Most will say NEVER pay 100% before you get items or services, however, but most places will not order goods or services unless you pay the full amount in advance. That leaves the consumer with very few alternatives if the products or services are not delivered, so we found it's important to use what resources do exist !
Although I realize that you did not want the unordered furniture, legally ANYTHING unordered which was delivered to you is yours to keep. If you had wanted to, you could have kept the unordered furniture & you still could have demanded the furniture you actually bought. Hope the legal help you received told you that.

[Pairadocs]

BBB only protects businesses. They are useless for consumers. Florida Attorney General office gets better results.

They certainly got results for US, but it was a long process, we had to be patient, but state A.G. and dept. of consumer affairs are very responsive....however... we still report these things to BBB and to Seniors against Crime.... BBB is for definitely "business friendly", but the complaints ARE recorded and can be a found on line, helpful when considering a business !