ComplaintsforAllab Exterminating Solutions

• Initial Complaint

  09/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  *** ******** came out to my house on August 3, 2022 to spray the inside and outside of my house for pest control. After he sprayed we noticed that the siding of our house had stains from where he sprayed. We assumed it would come off after it rained. On August 13, 2022 we contacted *** ******** with pictures via text to ask him for recommendations for what would clean the spray as we had researched it and neither option we researched helped. He told us water should work and that a power washer is what is used to clean siding. He told us he would search the web for recommendations but it was a non staining water based spray and he had never seen this before. We didn't hear back and tried a few more things. I then contacted him again via txt on August 21, 2022, informing him that we had tried multiple things and nothing was working. I asked him to please come out to the house to look at it so we could figure out what could be done to fix it. We were unable to make our schedules mesh so he came out and looked at my house while I was at work on August 23, 2022. I called him on the way home and he said that he wasn't sure what had happened, that he talked to his insurance agent and because they dilute their chemicals correctly it would not be something that they would cover. He then asked me if I wanted to reach out to the chemical manufacturer and he sent me their information. We asked for his insurance information so we could make a claim for the damage done to our siding. *** ******** said via a txt that he wasn't giving us that information and this wasn't going to fall on him. He blamed the power washer for part of it, which he told us to try, and said that we have 15yr old fading siding. We replied that this was caused by his product and that we would be filing complaints if he did not give us the information. He has not responded.

  Business response

  10/05/2022

  Dear *** *******

  This letter is to confirm receipt of the above-referenced complaint and to advise that this law firm represents Allab Exterminating Solutions LLC d/b/a StL Exterminating (“STLE”). We have reviewed **** ********* complaint, and STLE has conducted an internal investigation of the matter as well as a physical inspection of **** ********* property located at **** ********* **** ********* ** ***** ************* We have also asked ***** ********* the President of STLE, to provide his position and an account of what transpired throughout the interactions with **** ******** which are generally summarized as follows:

  In early August of 2022, we performed our typical extermination treatment on **** ********* residence, which includes the application of a commonly used water-based pesticide called Masterline Bifenthrin 7.9 (“Bifenthrin”).

  Bifenthrin is a pesticide approved for application on residential properties and does not cause staining or the issues complained of by **** ******** In fact, the EPA requires the manufacturer of Bifenthrin to put the following on its label:

  Masterline Bifenthrin 7.9 Termiticide/Insecticide will not stain, or damage any surface that water alone will not stain or damage.

  Based on the inability for the product applied to result in the damage complained of by **** *******, it is not scientifically possible for the damage alleged to have resulted from STLE’s application. Additionally, as a further precautionary measure, STLE also has protocol and safeguards in place to ensure that every application for treatment is diluted properly.

  After **** ******* made complaints, *** ******** personally went back out to her property to inspect the siding, which appeared to be dirty in most places and very old. He could tell that some power washing had occurred because there were streaks on the siding where it was clean, which was prominent due to the massive dirt buildup in the other areas. The siding looked fairly normal, though faded in areas, where it had been cleaned.

  While STLE cannot specifically pinpoint why **** ********* siding had such an unpleasant aesthetic, it was evident that the siding needed a thorough cleaning, and there is a high probability that her siding was fading as a result of years and years of exposure to the elements. It is common knowledge in the construction industry that vinyl siding begins to start fading after 10-15 years on average (depending on the amount of direct sunlight and the effects of the elements). **** ********* siding was every bit of 15 years old and probably was older than that.

  STLE has performed hundreds of applications, using the exact same pesticide, Bifenthrin, and the exact same procedure of diluting and preparing the pesticide, and STLE has not received any complaints of this nature. STLE stands behind its work, and if STLE was, in fact, the cause, it would take full responsibility for rectifying any such issues.

  Based on STLE’s account of the interactions between the parties and the inability for Bifenthrin to cause the complained of issues, however, we can only conclude that **** ******* knew she needed a full siding replacement and was attempting to use STLE as her means to get that completed free of charge. After she was unsuccessful in her attempts to get STLE to pay for her siding replacement, **** ******* filed a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General in an effort to further coerce STLE to pay for something that is wholly **** ********* responsibility.

  While STLE believes **** ********* attempt to coerce payment for new siding was in poor taste, STLE remains open to entertaining and rectifying any issues that may have been caused by STLE’s work, to the extent that any legitimate or scientific evidence exists to prove the same. However, we presume such evidence does not exist based on the current science, the EPA’s labeling requirements, and the facts of this case. After performing a full investigation and physical inspection of the property, we can confidently conclude that the siding is simply old, dirty, and weathered, and if it needs to be replaced as a result of **** ********* aesthetic preferences, that responsibility would fall on her. If you would like to discuss this matter in further detail, or if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Very Yours Truly,

  ****** *** ****** ******
  

   

   

   

  Customer response

  10/20/2022

  I am writing in response to the correspondence from *** ********* attorney, *** ******.  For *** ******** to say that I am trying in any way to coerce him into paying for new siding is not only a fabrication but just down right distasteful.  I never asked *** ******** to replace my siding.  After many exchanges over text message asking for *** ********* help in resolving the issue, we finally asked for his insurance company information so his insurance company adjuster could come and look at the issue.  *** ******** refused to give us this information.
  We then went to our insurance company, so under no circumstances were we trying to get *** ******** to pay for our house to be resided.  All we were asking is for a resolution of the siding that *** ********* product damaged.  We had 2 siding companies come out to see how much those pieces would be to be fixed.  We never even asked them to tell us what the whole house would be.  The whole house was not damaged by *** ********, just the pieces he sprayed.  If I was trying to “go after *** ********” I am pretty sure I would have hired my own lawyer and told my story on his social media, but I don’t believe *** ******** did this on purpose so I chose not to go after his character and business in that way.
  The fact of the matter is my siding was not stained before his application and was after which is why I contacted him after it had rained and the staines were still there.  As far as the power washing goes, *** ******** told us to try that in a text message he sent us.  We had a power washing company come out to see if they would be able to fix the staining.  They stated that because my vinyl siding is in direct sunlight all day that like all vinyl siding it has oxidized.  So when we power washed the side by the bushes it took the oxidation away causing the pieces to look different then the rest.
  We asked for *** ********* services, he provided them.  We were not unsatisfied by his work, he actually did a great job.  But, after he left we have been left with siding that is in fact stained from the product or application he used.  I have no way of telling if the chemical was diluted correctly, all I know is that my siding is stained around the entire house where *** ******** sprayed and in the pattern he sprayed the house in.
  We would invite anyone from the Attorney General's office or an independent company to come out and inspect the siding.  We believe it is very clear that his product caused the damage.
  Thank you,
  ******* *******
  

  
  

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