My buddy at Probest posted this today and I thought it was some good info to pass on. We hear these stories all the time of people being ripped off by this company or that. Unfortunately there are crooks out there trying to make a fast buck. We are not about making a fast buck. We are about making long lasting relationships with our clients, treating them fair, providing a valuable service, charging a fair price, understanding their needs, addressing their concerns and resolving their pest issues. We have been doing this for over 13 years now and we continue to grow!!! We must be doing something right? We love what we do and we love to help others. Be sure to tell a friend about us, they can look us up at
http://www.azcrittergetter.com/ or
http://www.ourbugguy.com/ or they can call us directly at 480-984-2660 or 602-578-8363. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call.
Over 100 Fraudulent Pest Control Companies Pop Up in 2011 Yellow Pages
3/2/2011
BBB News Release
CONSUMER ALERT
Over 100 Fraudulent Pest Control Companies Pop Up in 2011 Yellow Pages
· Unlicensed and unchartered companies poised to burn consumers
· A local phone number doesn’t always mean you’re dealing with a local operator
· Names of legitimate pest control companies may have been misappropriated by the scammers
March 2, 2011 – The Better Business Bureau, The Greater Memphis Area Pest Control Association and the TN Department of Agriculture are warning consumers to be wary of untrustworthy pest control companies operating in the Mid-South. Some “local” pest control companies listed in the Yellow Pages are actually not physically located in the area, but are simply distant call centers that farm the jobs out to unlicensed and unprofessional operators who may end up doing more harm than good. The names may even be the same as or similar to some legitimate Memphis area companies who have been operating ethically for many years.
Business identity theft (stealing a business’s name and using it as one’s own) and creating similar sounding names are two tactics of scammers to make their businesses seem more legitimate. It creates confusion in the mind of the consumer who may have heard the legitimate company’s name in the past.
According to Scott Burnett, Greater Memphis Area Pest Control Association (GMAPCA) President, a consumer who searches for a pest control company in a yellow pages directory or online may not end up with the local business they think they are contacting.
“The local yellow pages directories list over 200 pest control companies in the Mid South area. Half of those are not properly licensed or chartered to operate in Tennessee. And if you search online, you may end up with even more names,” Burnett told the BBB. “Just because a company has a local phone number and a local address in the yellow pages doesn’t mean it is a local, licensed pest control company,” added Burnett.
According to Burnett, if you look up Damn Good Bed Bug Removal Service, you’ll see that they have a local number and a local address. Unfortunately, that phone number rings into a phone bank in an undisclosed location and the address listed is actually home to a gas station.
Currently the TN Department of Agriculture requires all pest control companies to be licensed and chartered in order to do business in Tennessee. Jerry Seabolt, Structural Supervisor with the TN Department of Agriculture, told the BBB that all pest control companies are required to maintain a surety bond and liability insurance as well as utilizing certified applicators and providing that information to the TN Dept. of Agriculture. In addition each company must have a licensee who is responsible for the supervision the certified applicators.
“A consumer can and should verify that a company has the aforementioned bond and insurance before they allow a company to make application. The information can be found at tn.gov/agriculture or by calling 615-837-5148,” Seabolt said.
The Greater Memphis Area Pest Control Association has a website, www.memphispest.com , listing all its members, who are not only licensed but also attend regular education and training meetings in order to provide consumers with the most effective and up to date treatments and options. Burnett said the GMAPCA has retained counsel to try and get these fraudulent numbers disconnected.
The Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South offers the following tips for hiring a reputable pest or termite control company:
Check out the company’s record with the BBB
Contact the TN Department of Agriculture to insure the company is licensed and chartered
Visit www.memphispest.com for a list of licensed, bonded & chartered companies who are members of the National Pest Management Association, TN Pest Control Association and the Greater Memphis Area Pest Control Association.
About BBB BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and national charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB. BBB Contact: Nancy Crawford 901.757.8627 901.213.7809 ncrawford@bbbmidsouth.org
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