5/08 termites were swarming in a duplex apartment I own, where pets and children are present, so I sought out no-tent termite services.
AAA took my $2,600 (!), stated the treatment would take several hours, then left for 'supplies'. The technician returned for less than 2 hours, told the tenant he ran out of chemicals and told me the company called him to another job and that he'd coordinate w/the tenants to return the next day. He'd trenched around the building.
Weeks later, the tenants complained that termites were still swarming and the technician never returned. I called AAA offices, e-mailed, and faxed requesting response from a manager or owner, and got no response!! Over the months I continued to call.
In 6/08, AAA reception/phone gal insisted the work had been completed, and my maintenance guy backfilled the trenches. I once again called and faxed, requesting response from a manager or owner, to no avail.
The following May, we were replacing exterior doors and exposed tons of active termites and damage! Once again, we aggressively pursued AAA to "re-treat" and paid their outrageous $750 annual renewal fee.
This is December 2009, and another company has just informed us we've active infestations at the building! Obviously that's $3,350 wasted!! How's a landlord to make money with such services!? And in the meantime, termites are eating away my property!
Also in the meantime, we had swarmings occur at another property I own. I wanted to work with any company BUT AAA, so I called Thrifty Pest Control, and scheduled an appointment. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when the technicians pulled up in a AAA truck!?
I don't understand how/why an owner would not respond to customer issues - ever, much less in a timely manner. I intend to file a complaint with the Dept. of Agriculture about the owner, Bill Robles.
Please, please, only work with pest control offices you've been referred to.
Poor Landlord
Ft Laud,#2Author of original report
Thu, August 05, 2010
All I wanted in 5/08 was to rid my property of termites. I never imagined that for over 2 years I would have to fight to get that done.
At AAA's request, I agreed to update my complaint. After this ripoff report appeared on-line, I actually got a return call from the owner and a request to meet. He promised to finally and aggressively address my long-standing termite issues. So consumers: ripoffreport.com works!!
The pest company owner arranged for numerous 'spot treatments' of the termites, however the problems persisted. Tenants and staff complained about swarmings, new wood damage, hundreds of wings present throughout the property. AAA only went into the attic to inspect or treat 2x since 5/08, both times at my insistence, which is bothersome to me. In my opinion, spot treatments do not work. Two years, 2 months and many 'treatments' later, we still had severe infestation.
Regardless, AAA continued to send technicians to spray a few areas each visit until finally they offered to tent the property at no charge, which was done last weekend. After tenting, maintenance staff reported 'hundreds if not thousands of dead termites' in the apartments, so our problem was very much still present. All we can hope is that tenting finally relieves us of our termites for now.
I must say - if AAA Pest had been anywhere near attentive when we started working together in '08 or '09, no ripoffreport would've been filed and my property would not have sustained the damage it did, I would not have had to pay thousands of dollars to carpenters to replace damaged wood, I would have had a lot less tenant complaints and inconvenience. In Mr. Robles defense, he's continually stated he was unaware of my previous attempts to reach him (in '08 and '09), and he has followed through on promises made to me early this year.
Also consumers: termite guarantees or warrantees are basically useless. Firms will typically claim you were originally treated for a different type of termite than you need treatment for later, will do as little as they can get away with doing, and will simply buy other companies or names and/or change their company names through the years to avoid having to fulfil their warrantees. It seems to be a shady business, and unfortunately our property investments and we pay for it in myriad ways, not only financially but in worrying and in long-term and on-going damage caused by the very pests we pay companies to eradicate.
For now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no more termite swarms appear..at least until my annual 'warranty' comes up for renewal...Good luck to anyone with termites in south Florida!