Pest Control Company - New London, CT
Average rating
4.61
4.6
Average rating
Average rating
Chris M.
I've used Petrin's Pest several times in the past and generally had a very good experience, until this last one. I called in early July for an on-going yellow jacket problem with my front gutters. Petrin took care of this for me a while ago, and the fix lasted for a couple of years, which he said they may come back, so no problem. He was sappose to call me before coming that day but there was a miscommunication between him and his secretary that does his schedule, so when I called back to find out why he didn't show, sapposedly he did and I wasn't there. No problem, re-scheduled for mid July, he came by, as far as I know treated the bees, I wasn't home but he left his pesticide warning in the front yard, so I got the bill in the mail a week later and sent out the check. Early August rolls around and I'm heading off to work and I see several yellow jackets, so I took a picture, and called Petrin's Pest. I spoke with his secretary again and explained I still have a Bee problem, Petrin was out about 3 weeks ago so it would be a revisit, and thought it would be no big deal, just come out re-treat the area or see if there's something that was missed no problem. I get a call back a few days later from his secretary saying there will be a charge for Petrin to come back out, when I explain he just came out for this issue, she told me he was doing me a favor by doing the job at $75, and I would be charged again. So mildly frustrated I asked her to just have Mike call me, thinking maybe he's busy, forgot he was just there, whatever, the guy was always really cool and laid back in the past. He called me back almost instantly and acted appalled that I didn't want to pay for the job again, saying basically the same thing that he did me a favor for $75, and thinks I'm crazy to have him guarantee anything at that price, and went on to tell me about a normal $260 package that he would guarantee for 6 months. I explained it had only been 3 weeks or so and I literally just paid for this job, just want it done correctly, bees are still flying around my gutters and my front Porch. He told me I was just trying to get free work from him, he would come down and fix the problem, but he didn't want me calling to use his services anymore. So honestly at this point I'm a bit confused and thinking well maybe when I mentioned there was a miscommunication with his secretary he took offense, or maybe she didn't mention anything about the front porch, again a miscommunication, and he really thinks he's correct? So I called him up about 15 minutes later, tried to reason with him, left a voicemail along the lines of sorry if there was a miscommunication, If you didn't see the yellow jackets on the porch and feel like it's a second billable then come fix it and bill me, I went on further to say that I'd rather he bill me the sapposed $260 package the is guarantee for 6 months, but take off the $75 I already paid for if we went that route, and to call me back to talk about how to resolve this. He replied with a text and I quote "I will be sending you your check back at the end of the day. Sorry it didn't work out for you." My reply "whatever works, this wasn't about the money for me. I just wanted the job completed that I paid for, and was upset I was getting billed again for a job I just paid for a few weeks prior. if it was 6 months or a year asking for more money would've been understandable. I'm a business owner too, and when somethings not right, even if it costs me money, I make it right for my customers, especially my repeat customers. If you want to burn a bridge with ongoing work and make this sound personal over $75 then you are right, we both need to move on. That being said you also mentioned you did me a favor. Maybe it would have been if the job was done correctly, or you stood behind your work, but charging me again a few weeks later ISN'T a favor, that's taking advantage of the customer at that point. You also said you don't warranty your work at this price, so how do I know it won't be an issue again in 2 or 3 weeks? Do I keep expecting to pay $75 each time? Look at it from my perspective. I also gave you the option to charge again in case there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication, but you chose to lose me as a client and give my money back instead of just warrantying the work..... We went back and forth a bit more after that, but he just wasn't getting that I didn't want to get double charged for the same job. This is a super unfortunate outcome for both of us, because in the past the guy was really good, I referred him, actually got him a couple big jobs, and he always took care of things in the past. I don't know what happened recently but this is beyond horrible customer service, especially for someone who's used your services several times in the past.... Anyways I felt it necessary to share my experience, granted he's giving me the money back but it was never about that. It was more about getting double billed for a job that wasn't done right in the first place, and then Mike acting like I was in the wrong for asking him to come back and fix it, because I didn't call him the next day. Whole things crazy, good luck if you use this guy =)
Address
264 Vauxhall St
New London, CT 06320