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Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   Contractors and Services (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/)
-   -   Termite Contract RipOff (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/termite-contract-ripoff-352600/)

retiredguy123 08-31-2024 06:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimdecastro (Post 2365823)
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 08-31-2024 06:52 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimTinNewell (Post 2365728)
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 08-31-2024 06:53 AM
Termidor SC
 
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 08-31-2024 07:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkjelenbaas (Post 2365831)
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 08-31-2024 07:23 AM
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 08-31-2024 07:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimTinNewell (Post 2365728)
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 08-31-2024 08:01 AM
Thanks for bringing this up. I'm a new owner too and hadn't thought about the issue.

Margefrog 08-31-2024 08:02 AM
Thanks for that info.

Wondering 08-31-2024 08:07 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2365749)
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 08-31-2024 08:09 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimTinNewell (Post 2365728)
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 08-31-2024 08:59 AM
Termites can
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2365731)
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 08-31-2024 09:04 AM
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 08-31-2024 09:12 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaucyJim (Post 2365839)
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 08-31-2024 09:14 AM
I have cinder block and attic had life time treatment.

Topspinmo 08-31-2024 09:15 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2365909)
I have cinder block and attic had life time treatment.
Whose life time?


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