How To Avoid Cowboys And Pest Control Scams

Like many industries, the pest control business is riddled with scam artists and cowboys. This is particularly dangerous for consumers. The reason why is simply because pest control involves the use of extremely dangerous chemicals. If the person doesn’t know what they’re doing, it can have serious consequences. Another issue is that the people you hire may actually be posing as pest controllers. This is often something which criminals do. This way they can get into your home, have a look around, and then come back later. So how do you avoid cowboys and pest control scams?

Do not become a victim of pest control scams

One of the easiest ways to avoid pest control scams is by hiring someone who belongs to a professional pest control association. There are stringent requirements which must be followed in order to become a member of these prestigious organisations. This helps to ensure that con artists and cowboys do not get to join. It also ensures a pest controller is actually qualified and is also licensed and has insurance. When hiring anyone, make sure to first check that they are a member of a reputable organisation. Ask to see proof of their credentials.

Something else you should do is look at the company’s website to see if they will help with bad pests. Does the website look professional, and as if it belongs to an actual company?Also check to see if they have reviews and testimonials. It’s also extremely important that you check to see if they have a street address. Next, verify that this is actually a real address. Cowboys and people running pest control scams will never share their address, otherwise they will use a fake address.

How to verify a genuine pest controller

You should also check a website called TrustPilot. This is basically a website where people leave reviews for companies and tradesmen. Look at the company’s overall rating and read some of their reviews about their pest control products. Does it seem as if the reviews are real? Does anything stand out or seem suspicious to you? Finally, when your pest controller shows up, ask to see their qualifications and insurance paperwork.

Also, never trust people who show up unannounced at your door, or who put leaflets through the door. There’s no way of knowing who these people are, or if they are even qualified. They may be running pest control scams. For example, one thing these people often do is show up and offer a free pest control inspection. Funnily enough, these people always manage to find pests that take refuge indoors. Something else these people do is quote you a certain price, and then bill for another price – often higher. They may also tell you they cannot give you a quote until the job is complete. A reputable company will never do this.