Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/05/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I hired this company to perform extermination services for bed bugs. I was told by both the employees; ****** and *****, that heat treatment is the most effective means for treatment since there are no chemicals being used and that heat kills the bugs and the eggs immediately. I was charged $1,847.00 and put $600.00 deposit with the agreement of making five monthly payments for the remaining balance. On the morning of July 21st, the technician ***** arrived shortly after 9:00 in the morning. I opened the door to my residence allowing him access to plug in four heaters. I asked him if he was going to wear protective clothing and he stated "No. I am not touching anything or leaning up against anything." I did not pick up my mattress and box springs in order for them to be properly heat treated since I have a lower back issues and assumed that he would do so. He stated that I did an amazing job prepping the home and that he has only had to return to clients' homes on two separate occasions but that was because they did a poor job prepping. I returned the next day to complete a thorough cleaning as instructed. A male friend picked up the mattress and box springs to properly clean and the following day, he ended up with four large bites and welts. *** did not wear any protective clothing bc we were told that the heat would immediately kill them. I did not spend the evening at my home Friday and returned Saturday afternoon to finish cleaning. I finally laid down on Sunday morning at 4:30 and within 15 minutes, a large bedbug landed on my cheek. Sunday, I fogged the bedroom and living room and then returned Monday to repeat laundry and through cleaning. The owner of the company offered to return to the residence for a chemical treatment but I suggested to wait until early next week. The owner stated that the heat treatment takes **** days for the full results which was not what was told to me by her employee and contradicts what other exterminators have stated.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/09/2022

  These are copied from our scheduling system. I was willing to help in any way until she went against all things we instrucuted & made the problem worse. In an effort to resolve the issue, I will not take her to small claims court for the ******* balance & I will remove the balance with the understanding that this complaint is closed & nothing negative will be posted online, the experience will be kept private. Thank you. 
  
   
  ********************;
  President 
  Armed Force Pest Control. Inc. 
  ************
  www.armedforcepest.com
  
  
  
  
  
  5 payments of $259.00.
  Red Note
  ************************* 7/22/2022 10:22 AM PDT
  Sent Payment Failure Email. Prompted them to update credit card through the portal.
  Status: delivered, Opens: 1, Clicks: 0
  Sent to: **************************
  Receipt Email
  ************************* 8/30/2022 2:06 PM PDT
  Sent Payment Failure Email. Prompted them to update credit card through the portal.
  Status: delivered, Opens: 1, Clicks: 0
  Sent to: **************************
  Receipt Email
  ******************* 8/22/2022 3:50 PM PDT
  Sent email reflecting balance of $1,295.00
  Status: delivered, Opens: 1, Clicks: 0
  Sent to: **************************
  Statement Email
  8/21/2022 8:00 AM PDT
  Hello *******, Just a friendly reminder that your account for 550 ************* Unit A - ******** is currently 29 days past due. The current amount due is $*******. Please call ************** for payment arrangements or login online to make payment. https://armedforce.pestportals.com/loginc/5d95e245066a8c644229a740a506a71d$armedforce$7901 Have a great day, -Armed Force Pest Control, Inc. *This is an automated message*
  Status: delivered
  Sent to: **************
  SMS Sent
  8/19/2022 9:00 AM PDT
  I have contacted the owner and left a voice message that Im not paying for a service that I did not feel I received therefore Im not paying the remainder of the balance.
  Reply From: **************
  SMS Reply
  Customer 8/4/2022 10:44 AM PDT
  Hello *******, This is a friendly reminder that we have not received payment for your account at 550 ************* Unit A - ******** that was just completed two weeks ago. The bill is not considered late until after 30 days from the appointment. The current amount due is $*******. Please call ************** for payment arrangements or login online to make payment. https://armedforce.pestportals.com/loginc/4ccea238ecdeb587712d7eca7358903f$armedforce$7901 Have a great day! -Armed Force Pest Control, Inc. *This is an automated message*
  Status: delivered
  Sent to: **************
  SMS Sent
  8/4/2022 9:00 AM PDT
  Sent email reflecting balance of $1,295.00
  Status: delivered, Opens: 1, Clicks: 0
  Sent to: **************************
  Statement Email
  8/4/2022 8:00 AM PDT
  F/U email: Unfortunately *******, fogging is literally THE WORST thing you can do for bed bugs. Bed bugs will continue to die for days after any treatment. We say a minimum of **** days for the full results. I offered to do a chemical treatment as well as a preventative in case of re-infestation at no charge. The treatment was performed on 7/21, so it has been only 6 days. We are professionals and do these treatments all the time with excellent results, but we have to be allowed to do the job & let it work. Fogging makes bed bugs scatter, thus spreading the problem into areas that possibly are or were not infested. Never fog for bed bugs or roaches. Looking forward to hearing from you.
  Notes Visible To Tech
  ******************* 7/27/2022 8:54 AM PDT
  F/U to email ***** ***********************, I left you a message with my personal contact info & have heard nothing from you. I just did the same again. Please call me to resolve this issue.
  Notes
  ******************* 7/26/2022 3:39 PM PDT
  email from *******: >>>> I am very upset and angry right now so I dont wish to talk to you therefore I decided to send you an email instead. What did I pay $600.00 deposit for let alone over $1800.00?! I did all the work! There were no other options discussed or offered to me rather ****** and ***** both stated that heat treatment would be the most effective way to get rid of the bugs and eggs and that they would be killed instantly. I busted my a** prepping the day before and I didnt pick up the mattress or box springs bc I was so exhausted and thinking that the technician would do that but he never did!!! ***** arrived on Thursday and said that I did an amazing job prepping and once again reiterated that the heat treatment would kill the bugs and eggs immediately. He did not rotate anything or touch my mattress or box springs rather he set up four heaters and periodically went into the home with a sensor machine to read the temperature in the home thats it!! I returned Friday with my friend to do clean up which took me a day and a half of thorough cleaning. My friend picked up the mattress and box springs in order for us to vacuum the entire bed along with the headboard, footboard and frame and thinking that the bugs and eggs were all dead, therefore did not wear any protective gear and as a result, my friend has four large bites that led to welts on his upper left thigh!!! I also received a call from my friend that helped me do clean up and he said that he found tiny black dots on his bed! I purchased all new sheets and bedding and finally laid down at 4:30 Sunday morning and within fifteen minutes, a large bed bug landed on my cheek!! An hour later I came into the room to get a pair of socks and another bed bug landed on the inside of my elbow/arm. I stripped the bedding and found a number of bugs on the sheets . Yesterday I purchased two cans of foggers specifically for bed bugs and used one can in the bedroom and one can in the living room. I made sure that I propped up the mattress and box springs. I returned after a few hours and proceeded to clean again. Found a number of dead bed bugs in the box springs and mattress and a few adults that were still alive but barely moving. That tells me that ***** never touched my mattress and box springs! I then cleaned the entire house again and put on sheet protectors for the mattress and both box springs. Last night, I finally went to sleep in my own bed for the first time in over three weeks and was not bit! In addition to this, my PG&E bill will be outrageous next month. So you tell me what the h*** I paid $600.00 for? Im not paying your agency anymore money and I am giving serious consideration of filing a complaint through small claims court for the $600.00 because I paid for a service that I never received!!!! Im just livid right now. How can an exterminator or in ****** case, a technician, do any type of treatment for bed bugs and not touch the f****** bed?!!!! I have no words right now. I feel lied to, deceived and taken advantage of and Im not paying for a service that I dont feel I received. 
  Notes
  ******************* 7/26/2022 3:38 PM PDT
  left ******* a message to call back regarding setting up a chemical treatment at no charge.
  Notes Visible To Tech Visible to Customer
  ******************* 7/25/2022 6:16 PM PDT
  Service notification successfully sent for Bed Bug Heat Treatment serviced on 7/25/22 with invoice ***** attached
  Status: delivered, Opens: 1, Clicks: 0
  Sent to: **************************
  Service Notification
  ******************* 7/25/2022 3:21 PM PDT
  Coupon #PAYPAL:
  Billing Notes
  ************************* 7/15/2022 1:40 PM PDT
  Receipt for payment to Armed Force Pest Control, Inc
  Status: delivered, Opens: 14, Clicks: 0
  Sent to: **************************
  Receipt Email
  ************************* 7/15/2022 9:05 AM PDT
  I sent $330.00 from PayPal and will give you $270.00 tomorrow. Id like the five month payment plan. Thank you
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/09/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************