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Don't call ServiceMaster
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

MAPLE GROVE, MINNESOTA -- My experience with Service Master was something less than stellar. First, the background. We came back from vacation to find 3 inches of water in our basement - a flood warning had gone out for the area, the only time in the 22 years we have lived here, and the only time our sump pump really needed to kick in. The pump failed, leaving us with a disaster. Because everybody was so booked, we ended up pumping out the water and doing what we could to siphon off the excess moisture from the carpet ourselves

After first contacting Service Master, I was rerouted to so many different numbers, I can't recall them all. In the end, I got lost in the rerouting, and had to start all over again. Since there were a LOT of flood calls coming in at the same time - Service Master had brought in people from other states - I can't fault them too much for this. When Service Master did finally come out to begin demolition, the young men cut our wall out at 3 feet high instead of the 2 feet we'd originally been told. This sent our insurance claim higher since, in order to repair the damage, the adjuster had to price it out at 4 foot wide drywall sections all the way around.

After the debris had been removed, Service Master left fans and dehumidifiers to dry the basement out. One of the fans was not working at all. The dehumidifier they plugged was not working. And the second humidifier wasn't plugged in at all. Yet, Service Master initially tried to charge me for ALL fans and humidifiers (they backed off once I pointed out the error), and insisted on charging me for the first day of equipment rental even though nothing was done because the dehumidifier wasn't working. I should also point out that, when my claim adjuster reviewed the Service Master bill, he could not in anyway figure out how it came out to such a high price.

Finally, once the bill came in, I tried to remit payment over the phone with a credit card. Service Master told me that if I did pay with a credit card, they would charge me an additional 2.2% to cover the processing fees. Who does that? Isn't that a cost of doing business? In a nutshell, my experience with Service Master was less than satisfactory. I would never EVER recommend them to anyone.

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ServiceMaster's Took Me to the Cleaners
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA -- The city of Eagan, MN's sewer backed up into my basement and of course it was not their fault. So I called ServiceMaster on a Saturday to give me some help. VALUABLE LESSON. This is why you never do anything without an estimate up front. The tech for ServiceMaster (Chris) called me and said they were on their way at about 330 pm. I asked him how much he thought this would cost. He said he would talk to me when he got to my house about the cost. When he and a helper arrived around 4 he said he was unable to give us an estimate because the office was closed on the weekend.

He made us feel better by telling my wife and me that ServiceMaster was willing to work with the homeowner when insurance companies were not involved. Chris and his helper did a great job and did it very quickly. My family and I moved the furniture; they cut the carpet into squares and hauled it out to their truck and then vacuumed the floor dry and sprayed an anti-microbial agent to kill the germs. They were gone after about 3 hours and 45 minutes. I also rented 5 fans and a dehumidifier to help dry out the basement. ** was able to tell me the cost of renting the equipment. 10 days later I received an invoice for $3770.80. I was shocked.

I thought maybe a $1000.00 for labor, because it was on a weekend, plus the rental fee for the equipment, which was another $600. I complained to Todd their representative in St. Louis Park, MN about the high cost and he did make some adjustments down to $3479.99. Everything was charged by the square foot. I still do not understand why they could not have given me an estimate if it was based on square footage since they were standing in my basement. So remember to get an estimate up front.

I feel like they are taking advantage of me and I have learned a valuable lesson not to trust people when they act like they are doing you a favor and trying to help you. I realize people have to make a living, but this really seems extreme. I have emailed them a few times about resolving this, but they do not respond.

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Unprofessional Service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA -- Service Masters, Shreveport LA, located at 851 Hope St., Shreveport, La 71101 was called to do water restoration work on my master bedroom and master bath after a water leak. Service Master came and installed blower fans and dehumidifiers that were NOT HEPA filtered air filtration devices that are required for a water restoration job.

During the initial visit Service Master's technician confirmed that there was no signs of mold. I hired a mold inspector who confirmed that there was no mold. However she raised concerns that there were no HEPA filtered air filtration devices without which there was a higher chance of mold growing.

She also recommended spraying mold retardant immediately. Even after multiple reminders to Service Masters in the coming days, the mold retardant was NOT sprayed. No mold retardant was sprayed even a week LATER. No mold retardant was sprayed even on the day the fans were taken out. Service Master technician casually forgot to bring the equipment to spray the mold retardant.

At this point the sheetrock had started to discolor. I hired a mold inspector who confirmed that the discoloration on the sheetrock was mold. I called Service Masters multiple times but they didn't pick up my phone calls. A day later they came and sprayed the mold retardant but it was already too late.

Service Masters Shreveport, LA is definitely not equipped to do any water restoration job. They DO NOT HAVE the required filtered air filtration devices. They did not spray mold retardant in a timely manner. Mold/fungal control and inhibition steps were not completed by Service Master within the time frame required to prevent the mold from growing.

Because of their negligent behavior mold was allowed to grow. Airborne Mold and Fungi in air is very dangerous especially for toddlers and pregnant woman. I have a 2 year old and I had to pay out of pocket to do mold restoration on top of the water restoration due to negligence and unprofessional service provided by Service Master.

On top of it Service Masters, Shreveport LA DID NOT take responsibility of their negligence and UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE. During the whole fiasco I was told the management was on spring break and would address my issue once they are back. I cannot imagine how a company is just put on a standstill if the management is on spring break!! A month and several emails and phone calls later, my issue still remain unresolved. No steps have been taken by Service Master to rectify their mistakes. TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL!! I am shocked that Service Masters would franchise their name to such management!

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Awful customer service and WAY overpriced!
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA -- I was referred to Service Masters by Merry Maids (who said they don't do deep cleanings). I no longer had cats in ONE room of the house and I wanted to turn the room into a nursery. I had already done basic cleaning and wanted them to do a deeper cleaning with stronger products on the walls, windows and blinds. I didn't do the deeper cleaning myself because I'm pregnant and I did not want to use the stronger chemicals myself. I told them I didn't need a carpet cleaning because we were changing the flooring to wood for the baby's room.

The customer representative on the phone seemed very skeptical. It seemed like they didn't want to do the work. They asked if the room had fleas or ticks or feces which I replied NO, since I had already cleaned it, and the cats never had fleas or ticks. At the end of the conversation she said that her boss/manager quoted the cleaning of that one room for about $700 or $800!!! When online I've seen FULL HOUSES of 3,000+ sq ft deep cleaned for $300-$400!!!

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Fire Mitigation
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- Already traumatized by the fire and displacement of my family, they came in like vultures snatching what they wanted and left other things I felt they should have cleaned like lamps with fabric shades. They only took one pair and left the others. They took some furniture and left other which only added to the trauma and chaos. They did ductal cleaning, and had it not been for the contractor moving a duct for me, we would have not known that they had not cleaned a number of ducts.

When asked to have them come and correct what they didn't do after being paid $1,100.00, they offered to come back and do it for an additional charge of first 25% off, to after much negotiating they offered 40% off to complete a job that they had already been paid to do and failed miserably at. The furniture they did return was poorly cleaned and parts missing such as my king bed that has six feet to support the slats are missing. Our flat screen TV is missing the bracket to remount it on the wall, the China cabinet glass still has smeary grease on the outside from the grease fire.

Then after asking for a inventory list, we get a list for a month - we get one that is gobbely gube and I need a secret agent to de-code it. Everything has not came back and I am seriously worried based on their performance so far that it will be a continued traumatic experience. Please don't use them. Take a breath, which we weren't allowed to do, and find someone else. They tout how many years they have been in service but so has prostitution and I was made to feel even less than that!!!

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Total Lies, Deception, Misinformation
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

NAPLES FL -- R. Caplan visited our home after we placed a call to investigate termites. The entire time he badgered us to sign a 3 year contract for this service. I told him we would think about it overnight and call him the next day. We did not call him and the following day a service person just showed up and asked to go into our attic. My wife allowed this and thought it was more of the inspection. The service tech then proceeded with the treatment and left. Later we got an invoice for $1400.

We obviously did not pay it and we were soon turned over to a collection agency for payment. Many calls and emails later we determined the problem was deception that started with the salesperson and passed on to management B **, C. **, to name a few of the liars and deceptive people at Terminix. I strongly ask you to find an alternative company. Please take my advice, Terminix is the lowest of the low.

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Stay away from ServiceMaster Cleaning
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

WILLISTON, VERMONT -- In March of 2013 I had a baseboard pipe freeze and burst. It flooded part of the upstairs and most of our downstairs. I contacted our insurance agent who contacted and sent ServiceMaster to respond and give an estimate and they were contracted to clean up the water and start removing the damaged property. The guy who was in charge had a contract that needed signing and on it said I was responsible for the $500.00 deductible. We talked and he told me "we'll work it out", indicating they probably would absorb it into the estimate.

ServiceMaster completed their job and a construction company, Bergeron Construction from Keene, NH, which I would highly recommend, was called in to do the repairs. They were in many instances were disgusted at the way ServiceMaster HD done their job such as leaving parts that had to be removed still attached, just basically not doing the job. The foreman for Bergeron had to call them on several different occasions to return to the house to complete the work.

Anyway, Bergeron completed the job and I'm a satisfied customer with Bergeron Construction. I received several payments from the insurance company and immediately forwarded them to the appropriate companies and thought everybody was square.

On January 4th, 2014 I received a snotty letter along with a bill from the collections dept of ServiceMaster. This is the first correspondence I ever received from them. The letter said how they had responded in a timely manner and properly handled and managed the damages and how I owed them a balance for costs the incurred to the tune of $500.00. Now I was sure that the guy in charge when they first arrived said it was going to be absorbed into the estimate. Now they pulled this on me. I'm wondering if they are double dipping, having the employees work up the estimate and then hit the homeowner for the deductible which would be free money for the company.

I called the company and spoke to a woman named ** whom didn't take long for tempers and voices to rise. To make a long story short, she told me I had to pay the total amount and that it was not their problem that this bill was almost one year old. She claimed it was tied up in the insurance companies hands.

I shouldn't have played the cancer card but my temper got the best of me and I told her I have terminal lung cancer and if she couldn't work with me on this bill, like making payments, the company may not get a dime because I'm going to be dead from cancer in six months (according to my oncologist who told me this 2 months ago so it really may be four months). I told her again about the dates of the construction and the billing and I could not dish out $500.00 just like that.

She told me she was going to call me the next day with a plan and I'd have to accept it. I told her I may not answer because I had a doctors appt and she said "you'd better call back within a day if I leave a message" and hung up on me. This was on January 8th, 2014. No one called until January 13, 2014 and I told her that a plan had to be worked out that it was unreasonable to expect me to pay $500.00 in 13 days. She pretty much said she didn't care and she felt sorry for people who had cancer because there were people like me who claimed to have it and using it as an excuse. I hung up on her after a few choice words.

I then called her supervisor who said she had heard the conversation and she said the $500.00 was due at the end of the month and furthermore she didn't care that the bill was tied up with the insurance company and she was going to charge me 18% interest monthly on the bill for the past year even though the insurance company had the bill. So that is my complaint that these people may be double dipping. They are definitely not customer friendly when it comes to paying a bill. I probably will pay the bill but it will be after I file a complaint with the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division and a payment plan with no interest.

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Service Master Professional, Florida City, FL. Don't call them!!
By -

FLORIDA CITY, FLORIDA -- I am an Active duty Marine officer stationed in Japan. My mother, 66 and ill, lives in Miami in a home that I owe. In Oct 2010 she experienced an overflow in the Master Bath that flooded the Master bed, Master closet and part of a closet in the living room. My mother is not technologically savvy and does not understand completely the relationship between companies, clients, and the insurance company. She called a friend who referred her to Service Master Professional, a franchise in South Florida owned by **. ** arrives at the house and tells my mother that they will start immediately and will finish the job entirely.

The insurance adjuster arrives the next day, when ** and his company are already at work. The adjuster barely talks to my mother because ** engages him. Two days after they began the work, on a Friday one worker comes in and retrieves all the gear and leaves. My mother calls ** several times to come back and finish the job. They had taken 3 feet of wall out without replacing it. They also had to disinfect and clean properly. ** tells my mother that he is waiting to see how much the insurance company is going to approve in order for him to come back. After 8 to 10 days we decide to call another company to come in and finish the job.

When ** first came in, he won over my mother's trust by saying things like, "we will take care of you, don't worry, we will finish everything and leave it as new". And he had my desperate mother sign a contract without providing an estimate. ** Company then sends the insurance company a bill directly. Then, ** begins harassing my mother with aggressive, obnoxious, and rude phone calls asking for the check. My mother had to call the insurance with him on the line so that he would stop harassing her. After, an ordeal the insurance company sends a check to my home for me to sign and to pay **. At this point I have not seen the bill, so decide to call **.

He tells me that he did finish the job, that putting the walls down and drying was one job and then replacing the walls was another. Completely different from what he told my mother and completely ridiculous statement. I asked him to send me the bill so that I could review it. The bill was blown out of proportion. He added things in the bill that didn't happen. He charged for equipment that was not used. Like a 1-3 ton dumpster, extra humidifiers and air movers billed for 4 days instead of 2 and a charge for water extraction that didn't take place because when he arrived at the house the water had dropped and my mother had dried up the residue.

His bill totaled $5475.58 when it should had been approximately $2500.00 less. I typed an itemized rebuttal to his claim and send it back to him and made a formal complaint to corporate. Corporate assigned a mediator who reviewed my rebuttal and asked ** to make corrections and re send to me and the insurance company. Instead, he ignored our emails and had his assistant send an email asking when was it a good time to pick up the check, and later another email threatening that he would submit the account to collections.

I again, called him. He said that he didn't agree with the rebuttal and that my mother didn't know the difference between a dehumidifier and an air mover. He then said he would place a lien on my property. I sent out another email to all parties explaining ** absurd position and with photos of the home after the damage but before ** arrived, which proved that the floors were dry and that no water extraction took place. I didn't have pics of the equipment in the house.

However, ** claimed to have pics and when I asked him to share them with me, he answered in his usual arrogant tone: “I'm not playing games.” I don't understand what games he was referring to; I could only suspect that he did not have any pictures. The next day [a Friday, Japan time] I receive yet another threatening email from ** assistant informing me that they had submitted the account into the claims department and that on the following Monday a lien would be placed on my home. I knew that a lien takes at least one week to go through and that we would go to small claims court for the judgment.

I also knew that once the judge saw that ** ignored all emails and turned down all negotiations, that he made no honest attempt to solve the issue… that he would not have a case. I knew ** was only trying to strong arm me and pressure me to release payment to his ridiculous charge. However, because the insurance company had no say in the situation, in fact, the representative [who also dealt with **] told me that they had already releases the check and they were staying out of it, I found no reason to fight for an insurance company that was not interested in not getting ripped off. I decided to release the check to **.

Dealing with ** specifically was exhausting. He is aggressive, vulgar, unethical, unmoral, unreasonable; he is far from the epitome of a gentleman or business owner. It is my impression that he has vast experience in bulling, threatening and pressuring people to pay him at will. He is also experienced in dealing with insurance companies and in this case over charging them for an unfinished and poorly executed job. I recommend you avoid him and his business.

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Horrible
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI -- My sump pump stopped working during heavy rains in June of 2015. Servicemaster employees told me they had to put holes in drywall, but would be below the wood trim so it wouldn't be seen. Most of the holes are above the wood trim. They beat the doors up and the door jams. The walls had to be repainted due to them putting marks all over them. Do not use this company if you care about your home.

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Agreed to a Service and a Price, but Another Service and Price Were Charged
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

PLANO, TEXAS -- I contracted with TruGreen to perform weed control service. We agreed what would be provided and what would be charged on the first trip. Having a sulfur application was mentioned, but I specifically did not authorize it. When the bill arrived, the sulfur application was charged. Instead of a bill for $29 (as they continue to advertise on their website) I was charged $32, and $57. The $57 was for a sulfur application that I specifically did not authorize. I would not be so angry had I not specifically turned down the extra application. TruGreen cannot be trusted.

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ServiceMaster Rating:
Star Empty star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.1 out of 5, based on 17 ratings and
24 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
ServiceMaster
860 Ridge Lake Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38120
901-597-3000 (ph)
www.servicemaster.com
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