Do I have to sign a contract? What are my options if I do not like it?
I will tell you the 3 reasons I personally hate pest control contracts. Then I’ll tell you 2 reasons why it still might be a great option for you. Possibly even the best option for you.
Here are the top 3 reasons I hate pest control contracts.
I don’t want to be “locked in.” Why? Because when life happens I want freedom and flexibility.
What if I still have too many bugs!? I don’t want to pay for something that does not work!
I have heard horror stories about servicing headaches and scheduling nightmares. If I have problems then I want out!
Here are the 2 reasons a one-year agreement may still be best for you.
It prevents problems
It gives you rights and, it’s not as scary as it looks
Regular maintenance prevents pest problems. Certain pests are always finding your property. They like to build their home around your home. For example spiders, ants, and wasps.
Doing pest control is like doing dishes and laundry--or like mowing the lawn. If you want it to stay nice then you need to stay on top of it. A regular service keeps things nice and prevents most large scale pest invasions
Most pest control contracts will protect you, and they are not as scary as they look.
A contract commits you to pay X amount of money. And that you need service at regular intervals (usually every 3 months). It also commits the company to provide certain things (the service and a warranty).
So, it is a written agreement to make sure that if you pay for a service then you get the service. If it does not work then the company will return at their expense.
It feels scary to be locked into a contract. You don’t want to be stuck if you are not happy. But if you are not happy then the company needs to make it right–or let you out of the agreement.
Most companies will give you a discount if you have to break the agreement.
Why would you not be happy? The two common reasons you will be unhappy. 1 You still have bugs. 2 The company is hard to work with. (Or maybe even impossible to work with.)
Sometimes you do still have bugs. If so, let the company know. If you don’t tell the company that you have bugs then they won’t know! With even the best technicians at the best companies sometimes you will still have bugs.
What if the company is difficult to impossible to work with? It is difficult to express frustration and disappointment. But if you do, most companies will fix what they can!
That all sounds nice. But what if your company can’t get rid of the bugs, or they won’t make it right? That’s when the cancellation fee comes to your benefit. You heard me right.
Most people think of a cancellation fee as a negative, but it really is a simple way to move on from a bad experience. They are usually affordable and fair.
Most companies give you a discount of about $150 to $200 to commit to a year of service. If you cancel then you pay a fee of about the same dollar amount as the discount you already received. If it helps think that you just paid back the discount.
With that said most of the time you don’t have to cancel or pay a fee. Most issues can be solved by asking for help.
So even though contracts can be scary, they’re usually not as scary as they seem. The contract also means that the company has a commitment to work with you to make you happy.
And worst case scenario, you have a way to get out of it. What is your experience: Have you ever had to pay a cancellation fee to get out of a contract?
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