Orkin Pest Control

Appalling customer service! We called to have someone come out to deal with the mice (we assumed) in our attic and inside the walls. We don't think there were ever very many of them because as soon as we heard scurrying noises we called immediately. I confirmed on the phone that they would do an inspection to determine where the mice were getting in and what action would need to be taken to remedy the problem, as well as dealing with the mice that were in the home, and they assured me that that was the entire point of their service. They sent someone out very promptly who walked around inside and outside the house and had a quick look for any signs and found a few indications of mice (mostly in places we knew about, but one surprise). They put bait stations in the attic and the places around the house where they thought they might be accessing, and a few other spots as well. We also had the chimney removed (by our very good roofer) as it was broken and we thought that might be the access point to the house. So far so good. They asked for a follow up and on the follow up the same person returned, was helpful, checked all the stations, said that they were eating from a few of them, refilled the ones he needed to, told us to do a follow up in 3-4 weeks, and left. We were still pleased. The next follow up we got a different person who had no idea where any of the bait stations were. We didn't know where they all were (I had a pretty good idea, but I didn't follow the first guy around like a lost puppy) and he didn't seem concerned that nobody was certain where they all were. He checked what he could and said that they were eating from a few of them and rebaited those. At this point I was concerned that we had gone 2 months, there were few mice to begin with, and we were making slow progress, since that was what we were told last time. I had to ask him when we needed a follow up (anytime!). He came back again a few weeks later and said they weren't feeding from any stations. I had to ask him what that meant (problem solved) and what the next steps were (someone will call at the end of the service to get the traps). I had to ask him if we needed another follow up to check (no...). A week later I was woken up in the night to scurrying noises again. I immediately called Orkin the following morning (Saturday) and was told nobody could come out for 2 weeks. We had signed up for the 3 month service plan, so I don't know what that gets you if you still have to wait 2 weeks for people to come out. 2 weeks from now would be putting us suspiciously close to the end of our 3 months. I asked to speak to a manager and was told that nobody who could possibly help us was available on weekends. We were told we would receive a call-back on Monday before noon. At 1:30 I called to find out why there has been no phone call and what someone plans to do about this problem. They had no record in the system that someone was supposed to call me. The person on the phone said that there was nobody who was there who could help me but she could email a branch manager who would call me back. I was unimpressed and asked to clarify that there was ABSOLUTELY NOBODY AT ALL WHO WAS PHYSICALLY PRESENT WHO COULD SPEAK TO ME NOW AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE and was told that was correct. So it's now 2pm and I'm still waiting for a phone call. I have now paid nearly $300 and been unimpressed with what they've done. I could go to a big box store, buy mouse traps, put them down, check them every 2 weeks myself, and add more bait as needed. It would not cost me $300. If I can't get someone to give me useful advice on how they're getting in or how to stop them, they won't come in a timely manner when contacted, they don't seem to care when I escalate the problem and cannot provide customer service, and the problem is still there 3 months later, what exactly have I paid for? Next plan - I'll buy some Tomcat bait stations and bait and do it myself. In the meantime I think I'm now in a fight to recoup some money for a service not rendered. Give Orkin a wide-berth unless you have low expectations and too much money on your hands.