Trapper John Rodent & Animal Specialists

A raccoon intruded in the attic of a house and Trapper John was contacted for emergency service as a family was living in the home. Although the issue was eventually resolved I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND due to my experience with the team from contact to the technicians. What went wrong: 1. Not sure if he still works there, but, my primary phone contact was Scott. He was rude a few times throughout the days it took to resolve this issue. 2. I believe due to the nature of their work commonly being emergency services they are able to overcharge especially by offering a price on the spot during the consultation. 3. Technician and phone contact assured me the issue would be resolved within 24 hours and the issue persisted for over 72 hours with me having to continually follow up for updates on their plan to resolve this issue. 4. The technician did not properly secure a hole he had to open in the ceiling of the house to remove baby raccoons and endangered a family living there when one fell through into the living room. 5. Terrible recommendations knowing a family was living in the home: After having difficulties capturing them, a suggestion was made to "leave baby raccoons in the attic to die and let the house air out", a suggestion was made to cut a hole in the roof at 8:30pm on a Sunday with no plan/ability repair it immediately. 6. Part of the service was replacing soffit vents for prevention and when I stopped by the house after service was complete several vents around the house had not been replaced and I had to contact Trapper John to have the technician return and replace those. Overall the job was done and I was given a year long warranty on the raccoon removal and soffit vent replacement. Fortunately, the issue did not reoccur however I would not recommend this company if you find yourself in a similar situation. FYI: A day after posting my review on another platform, I was contacted by a woman at Trapper John and offered a partial refund only if I agreed to remove my review. I refused as I believe it's UNETHICAL and potential customers deserve honest and authentic reviews for the services they pay for. So I will post my honest experience on all platforms I am able.

Scott responded by phone immediately and told us what to do until they were able to come the next day. Eric showed up on time and called prior to coming. Eric was very pleasant and thorough and put our mind at ease, he searched the attic and roof. Professional company we would definitely recommend. Thank you Eric and Scott

great. they were very friendly, punctual, good price - came out as often as necessary - very professional

Originally was quoted $250 over the phone for spraying of a repellent and follow up to ensure the animal was gone. The representative they sent was on time and did an inspection of the problem area. After his review, he quoted me $1100-1200 to spray repellent, "critter proof" my attic and repair my roof (which had two large holes all the way through). When I questioned the roof repair portion as I did not know this company did roof jobs, he told me he used to do roofs for 15 years prior to coming to work for the critter company. When I asked about his licensing and contractor information, he stated he did not have any. I politely informed him that I could not hire an unlicensed contractor to repair my roof. At which point he then quoted me $595 to spray and critter proof the attic. I asked about the $250 I was quoted on the phone and he informed me that would be just for the spray alone and that the price was actually $395 minimum and that he could only follow up one day to make sure the raccoon did not return. He stated that at $395 they could not really make any money on this job if they had to come back more then once to see if the raccoon returned. I told him I was sorry that I couldn't give him the roof repair job he wanted, but as he was unlicensed it was not something I was comfortable doing, however over quoting me for the repellent spray was not okay either so we agreed to not do business together. I did follow up later that day with a call to the main office and spoke to the same man who quoted me the $250 originally. He stated that he actually quoted me $295 for the spray and follow up. Told me for that price they spray repellent and then follow up for a week or two to see if the animal has returned. If not, they do a temporary patch of the hold to ensure that the raccoon does not go back into the hole until I have the hole properly repaired myself. I explained to him that his rep never mentioned a temporary patch and only stated he wanted the job to fix the roof for $1100. He told me they make more money if they can do the whole job including the roof. However no where in the description of this business does it mention they are a licensed roofing contract company. He understood that I would not let an unlicensed contractor work on the roof of my home. When I asked him why his representative quoted me $395 for the spray and said he could only come back one day, he told me that was a misunderstanding. He asked me if I would be willing to let them come back out and do the spray, follow up and temporary patch for the $295 price. I declined. PS...I have gotten several quotes from professional, licensed roofing companies for the repairs to the damage to my roof. All quotes were comparable at approximately $800. So for the same price as the "critter company" wanted to quote me to fix my roof, I can have a professional, licensed roofing company do the job with a warranty on services.

They came on short notice and did a thorough inspection of the air handler. The animal had found its way out of the unit and no removal required. The gentlemen who showed were very professional and would hire them again.

Mike gave me a window within which he would come, and this morning he called to advised that he was coming at the earlier of the range and on his way. Upon arrival he did the inspection of both the attic, the roof and exterior of the house. It does seem that the critter made its way out, but Mike, who was very professional and personable took the time to explain his findings and put my mind at ease. I would definitely recommend Trapper John and Mike!

Our electrician told us to have them trapped out then he could fix wiring. Trapper john eliminated the problem with outstanding service. We got a fair price, and they let us make payments.

We received excellent service!

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I had a family of possums coming into my patio from a garden I have on the patio. Scott came out and put 4 traps out two inside and 2 outside of the patio enclosure. On the 3rd day we had caught the possums mother and babies. I called and Scott came out that morning to get the traps. he put two more on the patio to make sure we had all of them, we did since I haven't seen any since. The animals were safe and so were my pets. regards and thanks for a great job Gerry,

Scott put down 4 traps two outside and two in the patio.  We had success on the 3rd day catching the mother with her babies, the Animals were not harmed and I was possum free.  Scott came as soon as I called him to say the Mom was in the trap. He came back again  baiting the traps again to make sure we had all of them.  We did and I haven't seen them again.
They were very responsive through the whole process.
regards,Gerry M

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1.  Negotiating the price of services was difficult.  I sensed that the fellow I was speaking to was using a sales script and felt like i was listening to a "snake oil " salesman.  I should have hung up the phone right then but i never had a raccoon in my attic and was not familiar with the process.  The price started at $1800 for the full set of services, but as this was too high for my budget, I was able to negotiate service for $800,  which included getting rid  of the raccoon and  screening the active entry points.                            
2.  Over the course of two weeks, the tech placed tape over the possible entry points,  found the "nest" in the attic and sprayed deterrent.  Once the raccoon left the attic, the tech screened 1 entry point and 1 vent .  When asked about screening the other entry points, I was told that my contract only included the "active" entry points.  Apparently my definition of active entry ways and their active entry ways were different.
                 
3.  A week and a half later I saw a raccoon go into my attic in another possible entry point.   The tech came out assessed the situation and called the "snake oil" salesman.  I was told any additional work would have to fall under another contract at an additional cost.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Needless to say, I did not sign a 2nd contract with Trapper John and had found another reputable trapper.

I signed a contract with this company August 24, 2014 for a year of rat coverage to August 24, 2015
This is a company that works on a total up front cash only basis. They did not tell me prior to the visit that it was cash only. I told Scott that I did not have that kind of cash on me without a heads up. He did let me give two checks. One of them was post-dated.
I called on Friday July 24, 2015 that I heard activity in the attic. Technician set up for Monday July 27 and did not show up. Said he forgot. I missed two hours of work.  Re-set appt. for Wednesday July 29, missing more work.
Technician Jose came to inspect and did not find anything. Spread out sunflower seeds that would show activity.This was on July 29, 2015. Scott  wanted to charge me $35.00. for this visit. It does not state in the contract that service calls would be charged. I did not pay.
The next day there was a strong odor of a dead animal in my home.
I called Scott at Trapper John to report this. He wanted to charge me $195 (which is not stipulated in the contract) for this visit
Scott at Trapper John finally agreed that say day that he would send a technician to my home even though he stated that  it was not part of the $842.00 contract that was to end on August 24, 2015.
He said he would send someone" when there was someone in the area", instead of having his technician call to make an appointment.. On Angie's List it states that they are available for 24 hour emergencies. Yet he was not giving a date as to when someone would call me.
Again the technician Jose spread sunflower seeds in my attic on Wednesday, July 29 to determined signs of activity.. On Thursday July 30, the next day. I returned home and  very clearly smelled a dead rat. The sunflower seeds had lured a rat
 
When I called Scott at Trapper John, on Friday, July 31 he wanted to charge me $195. He became hostile and belligerent claiming that his contract did not cover this kind of visit. .. Even though his technician Jose had spread out sunflower seeds. Trapper John put out sunflower seeds without setting another inspection to see if the sunflower seeds indicated activity. It they were not going to come back to inspect, the result was that the rats would be fed by what was in the attic.  Despite what Scott says, there  was no coincidence that the seeds were spread out on Wednesday and the house smelled of  a dead rat the very nextday.
The conclusion of that discussion was that I chose not to deal with them anymore and hung up the phone. I told Scott that I would report this to County Consumer Affairs and Better Business Bureau to mediate the issue. After that Scott left me an email: 
[email protected] Jul 31 (2 days ago)to me
Even though it is not covered under your warranty we will have Jose
contact you and set an appointment to come look for any dead animals in
your attic.
http://www.trapperjohnanimalcontrol.co
 
Scott said that he would have someone out to me when there was someone ?was in the area.? I was not willing to wait. On Angie's List it says that the company provides 24-emergency service and yet Scott did not think that having a dead rat in my attic was an emergency.  I had Jose?s phone number because he had called me Monday when he forgot about the appointment Monday. So I took the  initiative and called Jose myself on Saturday morning August 1, so that I would not have to suffer the smell in the house. Again, Trapper John's explanation on Angie's List says 24-emergency service. Thursday to Saturday is not 24-hour emergency service.
 Jose showed up on Saturday July 31. He did not knock at my door. He went on the roof. He did not tell me he was outside on the roof. He walked around the property without me knowing, without me there with him to see what he was doing. The technician Jose was actually rude to me - all semblance of considerate customer service was gone by this time.I had to take his word that he conducted a thorough investigation. He did not give me the opportunity to check over what he had determined. Then he came in the house. He tracked mud into my home without wiping his feet. He climbed into the attic. The smell with the attic door open was overwhelming.  It turns out that the technician Nick who had been at my home in September 2014, at the beginning to the contract, FORGOT to remove a trap he had set.  Scott even said that Nick made a mistake, but Scott did did not compensate me for this sloppy, irresponsible, unprofessional  mistake that was certainly in violation of the contract.
For which I paid $842.00 dollars.
 Scott spoke to me after Jose the technician removed the dead rat caught by the trap that Nick had left September 2014 in violation of the contract. Scott will not honor the contract from that point forward because he was ?absolutely? certain that it came from the firewall  from the condo next to mine. When the technician Nick was at my home in September 2014, Nick told me that the firewall looked good.
 And now Scott was saying that Nick his employee was wrong. His own employee was wrong.!
. Also, there is nothing in the contract about paying $195.00 to come out on Saturday, July31 to inspect and remove the rat.  Scott was very aggressive, hostile and bullying with me ? I felt like he was bullying me because I was a woman alone. 
 
About the issue of the firewall. I had a contract with Trapper John for rat insurance under my roof. There was nothing in the contract that excluded the firewall. The excuse that Scott gave me that the firewall was no good was one of his many ways to avoid servicing year-long contract. Considering that the technician Nick left a trap actually is in violation of the terms of the contract. I should be seeking compensation from the company for the mistake their employee made.
 Also about the issue of the firewall. I used to live in a stand alone single family home. All outside entry points were sealed by an ext, and yet the rats appeared. So to use the firewall as an excuse to not service the contract seems specious and an avoidance tactic to not service the contract..
 
Part of the $842 contract was $400 in repairs of gaps on the outside of the home. The company claims that they sealed everything, but I have no proof of that ? they did not take pictures of the roof to show me what had been done. And because they claim that they fixed everything on the exterior of the house, they claimed that it could only come from the firewall and that they did not have to cover it. The contract says no such thing. I have no photographic proof that the firewall is not sound. Trapper John just assumes that the firewall is the issue with no positive proof of such.
The technician Jose left my house without collecting the sunflower seeds and without cleaning the mud he tracked into my home. I do not want rats to be attracted to anything in my attic. Once again, this is in violation of the kind of service they are supposed to provide And without saying a word Jose the technician left. Very rude behavior ? displaying the company's hostile attitude to someone who was asking them to honor a contract.
The company has offered me a partial credit via check. I have asked for cash because I had to write a check to cash when I originally paid for their service. They are only willing to offer this refund whenever I delete this review. I have agreed to deleting this review after the check is cleared or once I get cash.  
  I contracted Scott by email about removing the sunflower seeds. He rudely responded with the following message that his company would not remove the sunflower seeds that they had put in my attic.
[email protected]
2:47
PM (22 hours ago)
Scotts rude refusal to remove the seeds his company left