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TruGreen Chemlawn

TruGreen ChemLawn • New Jersey Sues TruGreen Chemlawn --- Consumer Complaints • Too Much Service • Not Enough Service • Pricing • Happy Insider • Unhappy Ex-Insider --- • What You Can Do

A part of the ServiceMaster empire, TruGreen Chemlawn proclaims that it "will give your lawn the nutrients it needs to produce a thicker, greener carpet of grass." Maybe so, but we hear from many consumers who would give anything to stop TruGreen from showing up again. Then there are those who would like a little more service rather than much less.

A brief sample of representative complaints is below; for more, click on any of the cateogories to the right.

James of ALBUQUERQUE, NM November 14, 2009

My cancellation letter of May 15, 2009, received no response from TruGreen. However, no service call was made to my home at any time in May which led me to believe that my service had indeed been cancelled. Without prior notice, a technician performed THREE services in one 15-minute-170-visit on June 10, 2009. TruGreen had NEVER performed three services in one visit at any time in the previous years of my experience with the company. Additionally, two of the services performed on June 10 were NOT part of the limited-service, four-application program that I had agreed to and had been receiving in 2007 and 2008. My service plan was upgraded without my permission to the most comprehensive, most expensive service plan that TruGreen offers. I was NEVER asked, notified, or given a chance to decline this service plan for 2009. I have copies of the service-plan confirmations from TruGreen for both 2007 and 2008. TruGreen NEVER sent similar confirmation for the 2009 season.

Besides the letter of May 15, I also sent a letter of complaint to my credit-card company and a copy of that letter to TruGreen on June 25, 2009. Again, I received no response from TruGreen, yet, over the past few weeks, I have been called with increasing frequency by their outbound sales personnel, attempting to lure me back into a service plan with the company. These calls culminated with SEVEN calls to my cell phone on Wednesday, September 23. Apparently, TruGreen has the time, personnel, and resources for their outbound sales-solicitation effort, just no time, personnel, or resources for any customer-service calls to notify clients in advance of upcoming lawn-application visits. I sent a third letter of complaint to the Region Vice President by certified mail on September 25; the letter was accepted and receipt was confirmed by signature on Monday, September 28, 2009, however, I have NEVER received the courtesy of a reply or a formal response to my three major points of contention from anyone at TruGreen. Their Colorado Springs office manager has never addressed my complaints, even though the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado has been handling my complaint and had escalated the case to the level of mediation--where it remains in limbo.

BillBlack of Naples, FL November 7, 2009

I purchased service in november 2008 from a fellow that rang the door bell. I was given the sales pitch and reviewed my lawn with this rep. He gave me all the things True Green did to grow a strong root system and develope an excellant lawn. He also made a pitch for tree and schrub service which i also purchased. My lawn service included all on the list that he recommended.

I returned to florida on october 11th, after being away since may 10th to find that 3 sections I replaced with new sod in october of 2008 were severely damaged. Also other parts of my lawn contained weeds with the general condition of my lawn un-acceptable to damaged requiring new sod replacement. True Green agreed to replace 1 section, which has been done, but was unwilling to rsod the other 2 that i had done in oct 2008. Instead True Green wanted to use plugs and they have yet to return to put the plugs in.. as of today I called the corp. office and cancelled my service. At this point i am not expecting them to do anything, i just want others to know how dis-satisfied i am after a full year of True Green lawn service.

Dean of Apple Valley, MN November 1, 2009

Trugreen started service in late spring and was only going to charge me for the remaining 4 applications for the season. Instead, they were out once a month spraying my lawn and charging me extra to make up for the late start. When I also agreed to their aeration and overseeding, they charged me triple the price I was quoted for that service. Also, I had as bad of a weed problem at the end of the season as I did at the beginning of the season. Their chemicals aren't worth the money that was paid for them. I would not recommend Trugreen to anyone looking for lawn service and weed control.

Tom of Edgewood, KY November 1, 2009

While we were out of town, Trugreen applied herbicides and spot weed killer on our Biodynamic organic yard that had NEVER before seen chemicals. We did not have a contract with their firm, nor ever would. And... they ignored the posted no trespassing sign to get on my property. Even after admitting their error, they seem to have consistently tried, over the last four months, to delay the process of getting this issue resolved. They first tried to pass us around to different people in their organization. This took a month.

I had to do the research as to what might be done to bring this land back to organic status and then establish the damages through quotes from vendors. My attorney confirmed that these damage amounts were fair. They then wasted our time meeting with two different reps and taking their calls which were just a waste of my time. For example, these calls/meetings seemed merely probes for ways that they might get out of paying anything. The ultimate insult was their offer to provide additional services from their firm instead of resolving this per my researched numbers. These meetings have taken two months. We are now dealing with their insurance company who claims to need another month to understand the situation. So we are looking at additional time before we might move forward with our devastating loss.

Linda of Clarksville, TN October 30, 2009

Alan G. showed up at my door shortly after I purchased my home, on June 6, 2009. Because my new yard was so big and I didn't want the weed problem to get away from me, I signed up for 5 sprays remaining for the year 2009. I paid, in advance, a sum of 175. After 2 sprays my weeds were flourishing. I called to complain and they gave me a free spray which pretty much killed everything including the grass. The application was sloppy and half-assed, missing large sections of lawn.

I received 1 more spray in August then nothing. I called several times and they said I had no more sprays remaining. I sent in a complaint to the regional office in Memphis via their website with no response. I asked for my money to be refunded for the 2 additional sprays which I never got.

My yard went from being the best looking one on the block to one of the worst under TruGreen's care. The lawn looks like a weed patch and they ripped me off for 2 sprays. Bad news and clearly a rip off. I intend to contact the better business bureau and the State's Attorney's office.

Ralph of Mt Dora, FL October 27, 2009

We've used Tru-Green for 3 plus years and until this summer were content with the service. However, this summer, they have utterly destroyed our lawn with their pathetic service which is only exceeded by their even worse customer service. They must be near bankruptcy because this is not how a company that plans on staying in business behaves.

Our lawn is infested with chinchbugs and weeds and this company's utter incompetence needs to be exposed. Our otherwise beautiful home has been devalued significantly by the lack of competence exhibited by Tru-Green and the only remedy at this point seems to be resod approx 2 acres of St. Augustine.

J of Charlotte, NC October 14, 2009

Got a flyer advertising aeration and overseeding for 49.00 - when I call and he finds out I am only interested in this service and not their on going services - the price suddenly jumps to 180 and he will not honor the ad - the ad did not contain any restrictions. true Bait and Switch tactic for sure. After reading everyone elses experiences - they are not a company that cares about their customers...

Yvette of derby, VT October 11, 2009

I guess you could say I am very disappointed in this company since they have changed numerous hands and leadership. They use to be a company that a customer could be happy to have servicing their property but all there customer service being out sourced to a call center in Dallas which I know for a fact are clues to my needs and since I have no direct contact with the local office any more I have decided to cancel all my services with this company. The funny thing is all those individuals will lose their jobs for what so corporate america can make an other dollar. Great job Servicemaster you truly do not care about your customers but just the bottom dollar. To the individuals I speak to every other day my thoughts are with you. You were always there for me. Thank you

Lisa of Rittman, OH October 7, 2009

In early August of 2009 I recieved a bill for a yard application for a July 15 2009 application. Funny I never approved this treatment. Earlier in the year I cancelled the service when my late husband retired from his job. This was something I was thinking of for the last two years because I was not happy with how my yard was looking and all the phone calls attempting to sell other product to me. They also claimed they were in the area which was a big lie. After I ended the service which was in my name only some how they got a hold of my husband and he was able to agree to only two application at half price. He told me we only needed two of them and he would do the rest if they were needed. At first I was mad because I wanted nothing to do with Tru green any more but I agreed. Funny how you do not sign any paper with them and they just come as they please and if you do not see them you do not know if they are there!!! That is my entire point for July 15. I did not recieved an invoice on my door!! there was no yard post with a sign and I have a 8 lb dog so the sign is very important to us. There was no smell and I did not see any wettnes on the driveway or solids. What I saying I have no physical proof that they were at my house!!! Would you pay the bill?? Then I did authorize the service!!!! I felted it was cancelled!!! I called many times and I felt my voice was finally heard. They said they were standing my there man and I was wrong. In addition I told them my yard looked terrible and I would not to tell people that Tru Green was doing it because it looked so bad. I beleive they made a mistake and when I called in August one of the girls on the phone did not know why you had to have the yard post warnings. She felt it was no big deal if it was missing. On 0ct 7 2009 when I asked for a manager I was hung up by two differnet people. This is no way to treat a customer.

Gerald of West Point, UT October 5, 2009

Contacted by there salesmen "Steve" for an extra service. I told him NO that I was unhappy with what they had done so far. He stated they would come out and redue what they had already done without charge. The next day I got a bill for the extra spaying I had told him NO to. Still trying to get it off my bill. These people are con men plan and simple.

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