ComplaintsforDrake Lawn & Pest Control, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  10/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I just entered my 2nd contract on 9/12/2024. My 1st year was rough as I had to call frequently to get them to do the work with the pests (aphids, whiteflies, spider mites etc.) that were destroying my shrubs. This was not popular with their department manager, who rudely told me on my own property that I call too often. If they did their job, I would not have to call. I escalated it to the regional manager, *****?, because they killed 3 Podocarpus shrubs but blamed someone else. They would not make good on replacing. I re-signed because I did not think it could get worse but I was wrong.Since September, my shrubs have gradually declined with aphids, sooty mold, and overall *****************. My landscaping was installed 6/2023, so should not look the way it does today. Even their bug guy, who stated experience with shrubs, said I have serious problems on 10/3/24. I was not going to call until on 10/8/24 as I was getting ready for the hurricane, I noticed that almost half the shrubs on one entire side of my home were black with sooty mold. Additionally, my hibiscus shrubs are yellowing and losing leaves, and now my gardenia bushes are dying. On 10/7/24, I called at 4pm and left a message for the regional, *****?, to call me. I understood it would be after the storm. On 10/11/24, I saw the Drake trucks in my neighborhood but did not receive a call back. As of today, 10/15/24, I still have not been called or serviced.I expect them to rehabilitate my yard, replace what they have damaged, and refund my money for the prior month until they clean up my yard.

  

  Business response

  10/30/2024

  Our General Manager has met with Mrs ***** and we certainly apologize for the way our supervisor spoke to you.

  We have given a credit for some shrubs and also discussed a plan moving forward to ensure the plants and overall property thrive. **** understands about the cultural issues on property which can affect the success of her plants.

  Customer response

  11/06/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *****

• Initial Complaint

  09/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Contracted Drake Lawn and Pest Control to maintain residential lawn. Unfortunately, the initial assessment they made was not accurate and as a result the wrong monthly treatments were performed. The lawn looks worse than when they were hired to treat the lawn. At this point, I have cancelled the monthly service and would like to be reimbursed the amount I paid so that I can hire someone to fix the problem.

  

  Business response

  09/23/2024

  Our assessment was correct and we performed the correct applications. The problem with your lawn is your irrigation. Once you correct those concerns, your lawn will look better.

  No refund will be given.

• Initial Complaint

  09/17/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Never had a problem before till the start of this summer. At the start of this summer I started noticing ***** spots on my yard I called and they sent someone to spray. And that employee stated that there was actually a bug on my lawn creating the ***** spots. He then sprayed my hole yard. Some spots got better others didnt. So I called again and they sent a supervisor to do an inspection . He said he did not see any bugs and that my sprinklers are not working right. Ok so I explained this to the supervisor, is September and it has been raining almost everyday throughout the summer. So its not the sprinklers.he then sent a manager over to my house and he said the same. Ok well that makes me think they dont want to back their warranty.they are looking for excuses.

  

  Business response

  09/18/2024

  Damage to lawn is from old drought damage, which has been discussed with Mr ************************************ cannot be held responsible for improper irrigation practices, and will not be providing any turf replacement.

• Initial Complaint

  09/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We installed new sod in January, 2024. By July the sod was dead due to chinch bug damage.We just want our sod replaced.

  

  Business response

  09/03/2024

  We will look into your concern and have a General Manager contact you.

  Thank you 

  Customer response

  09/13/2024

  I did respond!!!

  I told you I did not accept their response!!

  This is a total joke!

  Customer response

  09/13/2024

  You said I had 10 days from their response.  Today is the 10th day.

  I DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSE!!!!

  Customer response

  09/16/2024

  The business responded "we will have a general manager reach out".

  This is an unacceptable response because:

  1. I have asked numerous times for a supervisor to contact me, and they won't come look at the damage they caused.

  2. ********* calls end up with them blaming me for the bugs getting into the lawn.  I was not the one who did not put appropriate pest control down.

  I want the company to do the right thing.  As a disabled veteran, I think I deserve better than this.

  Customer response

  09/16/2024

  
  
  

  The business responded "we will have a general manager reach out".

  This is an unacceptable response because:

  1. I have asked numerous times for a supervisor to contact me, and they won't come look at the damage they caused.

  2. ********* calls end up with them blaming me for the bugs getting into the lawn.  I was not the one who did not put appropriate pest control down.

  I want the company to do the right thing.  As a disabled veteran, I think I deserve better than this.

  

  Business response

  09/17/2024

  I am sorry for your frustration and as a veteran I thank you for your service.

  The reason for the decline of your grass is due to improper irrigation which has been explained to you. Drake cannot and will not be held responsible for replacing grass due to improper irrigation.

  Customer response

  09/18/2024

  I do not accept this explanation for the following reasons:

  1. there is no other damage to the lawn other than this area;

  2. Drake's irrigation maintenance team came to the house and said the irrigation system looked fine;

  3. Drake installed an Irrigation box (charged me for an outdoor box, when the panel is inside);

  4. Drake put the irrigation panel on "predictive watering", this means if rain is forecast, the sprinklers will not run.  I did NOT approve this setting;

  5. Drake's own technician (who was filling in for the normal technician) was the one who pointed out the problem, which they were trying to hide from me.

  We have hired ******, and they cannot believe Drake is being like this.  Drake is a multi-million dollar company. I do not want anything other than a 2-3 hundred dollar pallet of sod.  I will lay it myself.

  Drake has 30 days to deliver a pallet of sod.

  Social media and word of mouth are powerful tools against predatory companies....

  Customer response

  09/18/2024

   
  Complaint: 22228222
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I do not accept this explanation for the following reasons:
  1. there is no other damage to the lawn other than this area;
  2. Drake's irrigation maintenance team came to the house and said the irrigation system looked fine;
  3. Drake installed an Irrigation box (charged me for an outdoor box, when the panel is inside);
  4. Drake put the irrigation panel on "predictive watering", this means if rain is forecast, the sprinklers will not run.  I did NOT approve this setting;
  5. Drake's own technician (who was filling in for the normal technician) was the one who pointed out the problem, which they were trying to hide from me.
  We have hired ******, and they cannot believe Drake is being like this.  Drake is a multi-million dollar company. I do not want anything other than a 2-3 hundred dollar pallet of sod.  I will lay it myself.
  Drake has 30 days to deliver a pallet of sod.
  Social media and word of mouth are powerful tools against predatory companies....
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  

  Business response

  09/18/2024

  First of all ....how dare you call Drake a predatory company! We are a very honest and ethical company. If we thought we were responsible for any type of compensation we are happy to make it right. But what we will not do, is bend to anyone who is incorrectly blaming us for something that is not our fault, or that barks really loud because "the customer thinks they are always right".

  You cancelled your irrigation service in April. From April to July there has been major drought throughout central *******. The reason for your turf decline is due to drought, which we have explained to you. Instead of focusing your energy on blaming us, fix your watering practices and you will have a better looking lawn.

  Drake will not be held responsible for improper irrigation practices.

  Customer response

  09/18/2024

  Neighbors and consumers will be notified.

  This is a predatory company.  Just look at the other lawns in our neighborhood being "treated" by them.

• Initial Complaint

  07/22/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We hired Drake 7 months ago to take care of some deteriorating areas in our lawn. Things were starting to improve and we were optimistic until they changed ************ ****** been downhill ever since. The new tech spent a lot of time treating the ********* were impressed, but within 2 days there were dead streaks across the entire yard (where he had ******** **** progressed until almost everything was dead except the weeds. The supervisor said the streaks were from the lawnmower used by our yard guy, but the pattern of the dead streaks didn't match the pattern in which our yard was cut that week. Furthermore, we've had the same company cutting our yard for five years, and that's never happened before. It wasn't cause by the lawnmower!Our sprinkler system runs 2 days a week but after the above treatment we attached sprinklers to the hoses & covered every area with water on the days the sprinkler system was not set to run. The yard continued to die.We had chinch bugs which they were treating (unsuccessfully), but those were only in specific spots, not the entire area that died within 2 days of the last treatment.No one returned our calls until we reached the prior ***** **** was able to get a supervisor out the same day. The supervisor said resodding couldn't be done until October because its too hot, so he offered to give us some "free treatments." Obviously, the last treatment, for which we paid $160, killed almost our entire yard, so no thank you. We live in an HOA community so waiting until October isn't an option. Well be getting fined & ordered to resod any day. Neighbors have successfully resodded in the heat.The supervisor spread topsoil on a handful of very small areas of dead grass & said it should help. That was last ************ heard nothing more from him.I hate to think a small claims lawsuit is necessary, but Drake hasnt taken this seriously & apparently isn't willing to remedy the situation. They totally destroyed our lawn in 7 months!

  

  Business response

  07/23/2024

  I will look into your concern and respond as soon as possible. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

  Customer response

  07/23/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and I am pleased that someone from Drake is willing to look into my concerns. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Customer response

  08/15/2024

  This issue has NOT been resolved.  I responded that I was happy Drake was willing to look into this -- NOT that I was satisfied with the results.  Drake has refused to take responsibility for destroying our lawn.  After telling us that the tech who ruined our yard (and numerous others in our neighborhood) was fired, they are now saying they are only willing to replace a portion of the sod they ruined, and that we are responsible for the rest.  And they will not do it for another two months, citing hot weather as the reason.  Homes are continually being built in our area during the summer, and new sod is laid successfully.  I think they are just putting us off.

  I don't want anyone to think that Drake cooperated with us and took responsibility for the damage they caused.  For the past month and a half, promises have been made which were never carried out.  They promised to be her the "next day," and 16 days later, when we'd hear nothing from them, we had to track them down.  That is not the only time they had to be tracked down.  This has been a pattern.

   

  Customer response

  08/20/2024

  This issue has NOT been resolved.  I responded that I was happy Drake was willing to look into this -- NOT that I was satisfied with the results.  Drake has refused to take responsibility for destroying our lawn.  After telling us that the tech who ruined our yard (and numerous others in our neighborhood) was fired, they are now saying they are only willing to replace a portion of the sod they ruined, and that we are responsible for the rest.  And they will not do it for another two months, citing hot weather as the reason.  Homes are continually being built in our area during the summer, and new sod is laid successfully.  I think they are just putting us off.

  I don't want anyone to think that Drake cooperated with us and took responsibility for the damage they caused.  For the past month and a half, promises have been made which were never carried out.  They promised to be her the "next day," and 16 days later, when we'd hear nothing from them, we had to track them down.  That is not the only time they had to be tracked down.  This has been a pattern.

  

  Business response

  08/20/2024

  Drake management has been in contact with you about your concern and a resolution.

  Customer response

  08/27/2024

   
  Complaint: 22026962
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Drake is refusing to take full responsibility for the damage caused to my lawn. They are proposing that I share the cost of resodding,citing drought conditions, lawnmower damage, and an ineffective sprinkler system as contributing factors. However, they initially admitted that their technician applied the wrong chemical, which led to the damage, before backtracking. We firmly believe that Drake is entirely responsible for the damage and must cover the full cost of resodding the affected area to resolve this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *****

  

  Business response

  09/17/2024

  Drake has decided we will replace all dead areas of turf. A manager will be in touch to schedule getting this done.

  Customer response

  09/17/2024

  Im happy to hear that Drake is willing to replace all of the damaged sod. Once that has been done, I will be happy to close out the complaint. 

  Customer response

  09/28/2024

  The complaint should not have been closed. I did reply that I was happy to hear Drake decided to replace all of the dead sod. However, I said I would update once that had been done. They made that promise, but no one has been here yet to make arrangements to replace the sod. In fact, we have not heard from Drake at all.  Please keep this case open until Drake has resolved this issue. Thank you. 

  Customer response

  10/01/2024

  Date Sent: 9/28/2024 7:47:56 AM
  The complaint should not have been closed. I did reply that I was happy to hear Drake decided to replace all of the dead sod. However, I said I would update once that had been done. They made that promise, but no one has been here yet to make arrangements to replace the sod. In fact, we have not heard from Drake at all.  Please keep this case open until Drake has resolved this issue. Thank you. 

  

  Business response

  10/01/2024

  The landscaper we are using said they tried to reach out to you last week regarding sod replacement. I will have our General Manager, *****, reach out to you as well.

  It would be very helpful if you personally, *****, would communicate with our management.

• Initial Complaint

  05/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Since October 3, 2022 Ive paid Drake $990 to fix the problems in my lawn that have never gotten better, and have actually gotten worse.*** had 3 separate manager visits, each resulting in promises to get the lawn looking right within months. Each time the lawn has only looked worse. The most recent manager visit was a few months ago, and another manager visit was supposed to happen a few weeks ago, but they never showed up! I called this week and was told I would get a callback within 24 hours, and that didnt happen. I continue getting charged. My next step is to dispute these charges and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Do not use this company!

  

  Business response

  06/10/2024

  We have come to an agreement with the customer and have mailed her a check.

• Initial Complaint

  05/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Around a year ago it was found that my home had Formosan Termites and we contacted Drake and they were spot on treating my home and providing a termite bond. We were told that the treatment will make termites disappear and it would prevent them from coming back. It was so bad they were eating through the drywall creating significant damage. Now fast forwarding, around 03/26/24 we noticed a few small size pinholes on the ceiling above the shower. We contacted Drake on 3/27/24 and they sent someone out to inspect it within a reasonable couple days. They confirm that the termites came back to a different part of the home and that he would talk to his manager about his idea of a treatment plan. We scheduled treatment on a 4/20/24 Saturday for 8-9am because of their next availability. That Saturday morning they called me at 08:05am to inform me that treatment will not be done because of an employee called out. I believe later that day I called to reschedule an appointment and they informed me that the cant reschedule an appointment because a manager wants to come out and that he will contact me soon. Since then I have repeatedly called them and I get an answer, but they keep saying the manager is going to call me within 24 hours. He has not. I have made a total of 11 phone calls since this issue. It has been over a month. Im begging for treatment because the termites are all over the ceiling now and moved across the walls. They are falling on my childrens heads while they take a shower. No one is taking a shower in there because of this. I just paid the amount to renew my bond. Which was around $462. The damage has progressed so much compared when I initially notified them, and still no treatment. I dont what to do. Drake literally cancelled my treatment appointment, the manager name ***** (I was told) has not contacted me. Am I responsible for the new damage? Their initial treatment did not prevent the termites from coming back. I feel like Im talking to a wall.

  

  Business response

  05/06/2024

  We have been in contact with customer and we will get this resolved as quickly as possible.

• Initial Complaint

  04/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In February our home had an attic restoration done where Drake put 6 inches of insulation. I then received my air conditioning bill in March and it was much higher. I have lived in our home for 4 years and it has never been this high. When I contacted Drake they said I had an option to do 9 inches insulation, but it was thousands of dollars to do this.Drake advised me prior to the insulation that my air conditioning bill would be about the same if not better because they used a higher grade insulation. This was not the case and I do not recommend attic restoration through this company.We are only in April now and Florida heat has not even started. If my air conditioning bill is higher in March, obviously it's going to be much higher during the actual summer months in *******. Drake could not resolve this issue and now we are going to be stuck for however many years we will be living here, because they're insulation is not adequate.Side note- We kept our air conditioning at 78 during the summer months for 4 years and right now we have to keep it at 75 to 76 just to feel okay (It's *******

  

  Business response

  04/23/2024

  We have contacted the homeowner with a resolution.

• Initial Complaint

  01/16/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  My wife (*********************) and I hired them to treat our lawn, we also got the irrigation and the pest control services. At the time of enrollment we were offered shrub care which was part of the lawn care service, we were never told it would be a separate charge in the amount of $135.00 for it. After checking all the charges being made by them I called and inquired about all of the charges and I was told that I signed up for the shrub care package for $135 and that was not the case, I explained the lady on the phone that my wife and I were told it was included at no extra charge and knowing it would be extra we would never have signed up for it. I ended up canceling the service and I asked for a refund since I have never agreed on it, they said they couldnt give me a refund but they had canceled it. I then filed a dispute with my bank for the $135.00 which they won saying the charge was valid. My wife and I are very upset with this company for lying to us, we have 3 more services which we did signed up for and dont mind paying but the fact that they tricked us is just unacceptable. I have been requesting a supervisor phone call since last week and every time I call Im told someone will call me before 5:00pm and that hasnt happened so I feel they are also lying to just giving me the run around. Thats not the way to treat a customer.

  

  Business response

  01/29/2024

  We will have a manager contact you today. And we will refund the $135. Thank you

  Customer response

  01/29/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  09/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On September 11th we received an email stating that my yard and shrubs were sprayed by Drake Lawn & Pest Control that day. I was outside in the yard all day, and no one showed to spray. I called their office and the lady answering the phones told me they would have to have someone call me and make sure. I had her cancel all my service with Drakes until this was resolved. On September 13th, the local service consultant Joshua, showed up at my door to apologize and told me that they sprayed a house on the next road over. He told me that his area manager would be in contact with me to fix this situation. That was over a week ago. Not a call from anyone. I know they have tablets where they take pictures of the house they are spraying. This is a simple solution on their part. They cheated me out of $203.00 with the two charges combined. I am also contacting the Florida Attorney Generals office in this matter.

  

  Business response

  09/25/2023

  Our District Manager, Brandon W******** said he has discussed this matter to the homeowners satisfaction, and that he would be removing this complaint.  Thank you

  Customer response

  09/27/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  ******* ******

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩