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Business Profile

Ecological Services

Clean Harbors, Inc.

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Ecological Services.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Clean Harbors, Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Clean Harbors, Inc. has 4 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 12 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 7 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    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.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/01/2025

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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 cancelled services July of 2023 considering I moved my business location and keep getting billed for cleaning services. I've asked accounts receivable to ask management to call me to go over the account and when they leave a voicemail they're never available to call back or number is not valid. When I do answer it's never a call from management to review my account. I've called their sales department in hopes to find someone who I can speak with to help me route my call and they've literatly hung up on me while they were "looking for someone I can speak with"
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/20/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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 ordered and paid for a service from Safety kleen (clean harbors) for and through my employer in 2024. This service was the rental of a machine with a recurring charge for service. In May of 2024, I was informed by my finance department that they would no longer support this service. I cancelled this service on May 23, 2024 at 1216 hours by telephone with a representative named ***** Stati. I was assured that if I cancelled by or before May 26, 2024 I would not be charged for the next service and would not owe any additional fees. The machine was picked up within 2-3 days of cancellation. I was not on duty when the machine was picked up. I continued to get late notices despite the assurance that I did not owe any additional money. I called on 06/11/2024 to confirm my cancelled service and was again reassured that I did not owe any money but should get a confirmation email. I did not receive one. I called again on 07/29/2024 frustrated with my repeated late notices. I was again assured that I did not owe any additional money and was told my claim would be "escalated." I again did not receive any confirmation emails. I called again on 10/22/2024 in reference to the repeat emails regarding a late charge and spoke to a representative named ****. **** informed me that although I did not owe any money for the machine, safety kleen was charging me a waste cleaning fee. This was never explained to me, nor was it agreed upon or approved. **** informed me he would "escalate" this case and I should receive a confirmation email within a few days. I never received this email. I called again on 11/05/2024 to attempt to confirm my case had been settled and spoke with a representative named *****. ***** now informed me that although he understood my case he would have to now "dispute" my claim. I cannot pay for a service that I did not agree to, was not approved and was not explained. This is only a $28.28 fee but I was assured I had a zero balance.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/18/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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.
      Theyre using race against us and its unfair They let the other guys get all the hours and We dont get hours. I havent worked a 40 hour week and almost 3 months sometimes zero hours.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/11/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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.
      Recieved an invoice from Safety-Kleen for service done on October 3, 2024 to our business *************************. The shop was closed that day - due to a wedding. The service was not provided. I have called the number provided by Safety Kleen which is - ************. I called this number 3 times and each time I spoke to 3 different representatives about this matter. Each time I have been assured that I would receive a call and the matter would be settled. This has not happened. I am now reaching out to the BBB in hopes that the invoice will be deleted and to cancel our service with Safety Kleen. They need to come and retrieve their equipment as well. Thank you for your help in this matter.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/18/2024

      Type:Billing 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.
      Clean Harbor AKA Thermo Fluids has harassed me for over a year now with emails about how I am doing and what they can do for me and I have repeatedly asked them to stop writing me after I canceled my service with them over a year ago for dishonest business practice. I was always on a plan for them to pay me in credits for fluids and items picked up for my shop and they would occasional mess that up and charge me when I was never on a plan to pay for pickups as there are many companies out there that pay you or pick up for free. So they actually owed me money but throughout the years I was with them would change my business name and send me checks for my credits that I could not cash and said I would have to resubmit the documents to get the business name changed again. I refused and cancelled service with them and told them to keep my money they owed me. Now today all of a sudden they sent me a bill for $91.52 from ******************************************************************************** money. This is the stuff they would pull on me when I was a customer all the time and when I would catch them they would correct it. This company is disgraceful on how they handle their clients and I want them to zero this out or pay me what they owe me and never contact me again. I feel like they have harassed me and violated rules when people say not to contact them again and they continued to contact me and never about a bill and now they bother me with a bill that has years ago been handled.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 09/29/2024

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      Better Business Bureau:

      I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does satisfy my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint #********. I understand that by choosing to accept the business response that my complaint will be closed as resolved. 

      Regards,

      **** ***********
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/26/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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.

      Please see the attached letter with details and all the supporting documents

      I have been having a business relationship with Safety Kleen/Clean Harbors for the past 5 years. In the past year I have been really struggling to get billed correctly. If you see the attached emails with attachments you will see all the communication that occurred last year 2023 and how much tome I had to invest to get the bills corrected. After, all bills for *********************************************************************************************************** 2024 once again my bills are incorrect and I have reached out to our sales representative ***** ****** and his Manager Lewid ****** with no resolution. I have also contacted customer service multiple times and I am told that a manager will contact me and I never receive a call. When I contact customer service it appears that the reps are all off shore and struggle to understand my issue and concerns.

      My issues with billing fallondeaf ears. They will notallow me to make a payment on any outstanding invoices for an amount other than the amount they billed me which I do not agree with based on the attached chart I was provided by my sales rep ***** ****** that reflects our pricing for services.

      If you review the attached documentation all my issues with billing were resolved by ********* ****** 10/2023. After, all this Feb 28, 2024 my billing issues started again. I reached out to *********, ***** and ***** as they were all on the email with billing issues and corrections for 2023. ********* never responded. I reached out multiple times and included a read receipt. My read receipts document that our sales rep ***** will read my emails and never respond to me. My most recent email to that ***** ****** read was 6/13/2024 but does not bother to call me or respond to my email. In May and July I received collection notices from Safety Kleen - This is wrong at all levels when I have been trying to get the bills corrected.

      I spend way to much trying to get my billing issues resolved because I want to pay my bills but I want to pay them for the amount I was quoted and not more. I guess that is to much to ask for. I want someone from upper management that know how to provide customer service to contact me. I do not think asking for my bills to be corrected is too much.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/23/2024

      Hi,

      The corporate office on the bill reflects the following address:  **********************************   The branch location we deal with that services our businesses is in **********, ***** but I have no address.    The billing is all done by the corporate office.  

      Customer Answer

      Date: 09/06/2024

      I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/26/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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.
      on 7/12/2024 Safety-Kleen (waste removal company) came and picked up waste from my business (RM Cleaners ******************************). I handed the charge card to the driver and went up front to attend the customers. After the driver left my business, I looked at the receipt and discovered that he overcharged me $245.24 for empty drums. Safety-Kleen charges $115 for each drum they leave at site, since I have my own waste removal drums, I don't have to purchase waste containers from Safety-Kleen, therefore I should not be charged for the empty drums.I immediately called the driver(****************) and told he had made a mistake, he claims that is our charge. Rather then argue with the driver, I immediately called their office and spoke with sales **************** he advised me to call on Tuesday as it takes up-to 48 to generate receipt in their system. Called on 7/16 and spoke with sales rep. ******************** she took my information and escalated the ticket and informed me that someone will get in touch with me.After not hearing back, I called again on 7/19 and spoke with sales ******************** She informed me that note in her system states that since I signed & paid with a charge card, the amount is correct. I informed her that if they look at my past invoices, I have my own drums therefore do not purchase drums and a $115 per drum charge is not on my previous invoices. She said, she can re-submit the information. I informed that I also have video footage to show no drums were left at my location. On 7/23, called again, spoke with sales ************ he also said the same thing, my case has been escalated and I should hear from the local branch. As of today, I still have not heard back.I am including previous invoices to show no charge of $115 per drum as I have my own containers. I can also show video footage, that no drums were left at my site.Thank you

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/09/2024

      I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.

      Just want to make sure Safety-Kleen goes by Clean Harbors, Inc.?

      Thank you

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/17/2024

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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 purchased a system one machine from safty kleen several months ago. I've had nothing but problems with the machine. I've had problems getting safty kleen out here to service it. We finally got safty kleen three months ago to come out and service it and they did a wonderful job at that point in time getting the machine up and running and everything working as it should agreed to a service contract every three months past a service technician came out to service the machine and had no clue what he was doing and ended up, messing it up somehow solvent got into the tank and has contaminated it. The machine will not recycle now and it is in operable I called several times to the manager ***** with no answer for over a week then when I finally get a hold of him on Monday 13 2024 and told him what the complaint was he hung up on me. This customer service is absolutely horrible safty kleen and I want refund for the machine and both service intervals the total being close to $7000 , I will just go ahead and fix the machine myself and service it myself and I do not want them on my property anymore. This has been a horrible horrible experience with *********** and they're supposed to be the leader and this type of stuff. This is just ridiculous not happy at all.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/24/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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.
      They applied a credit to a check with out my authorization. We already have paid this in two different systems I am not paying it again.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/29/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      UnansweredMore 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.
      Safety-Kleen had delivered unapproved equipment and have also taken equipment that was not approved to be removed and then billed ** for it.Some of these mis-billing invoices had been paid in error and we have been attempting to get billing corrections resolved since November 2022. They have also billed us for additional services that had not been performed since November 2022 that are also unapproved as we had stopped using them while waiting for billing to be resolved.We are struggling to get anyone from Safety-***** to address the matter after almost a year of phone calls & emails. We also get collections emails from different people periodically, then no response after we provide them with details again.We are looking for them to finally address our billing corrections, which is why we are filing this complaint.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 12/14/2023

      We have continued to reach out repeatedly. We have been passed around and they finally said that someone would meet with us to discuss. They came and did not want to address the pending credits and billing errors, but instead were rude, condescending, and only wanted to discuss future business. The issues are still unresolved. This complaint is our step before proceeding with our attorneys. Regardless, Safety-Kleen has been negligent and unprofessional. They have charged us for services that were not performed and equipment that they took without permission as well as having stolen additional equipment. This is unacceptable.

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