Looking to sue Terminix? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people with claims against Terminix and other big companies that ripped them off get millions of dollars in settlement offers… [continued below]
Some people say it’s hard getting a refund from Terminix.
A lot of customers out there have tried all the Terminix customer service options. Maybe you’ve even tried other ways to bring your Terminix complaint.
But if you haven’t gotten your problem solved, you’re not alone.
So what should you know if you want to sue? First you may think there would be tons of class action lawsuits against Terminix to look into. But the truth is more complicated.
Companies like Terminix add what’s called an arbitration clause to their contract. It gives them the right to force legal claims out of most US courts. But your Terminix contract can’t take away your right to sue entirely.
Here’s what you can do…
The first way to sue Terminix is through consumer arbitration. If your contract has an arbitration clause it gives you the right take legal action against Terminix through an officially-designated, independent dispute process that’s not a court and won’t require showing up in person. This can be a better option for a lot of regular people.
The second way to sue Terminix, if you want to avoid the arbitration system, is to use Small Claims Court. While their contract may keep lawsuits out of state and federal courts, they can’t stop you from pursuing the small claims process. If you’re ready to sue Terminix on your own, read on below:
You can’t just head into court and sue Terminix in small claims court. You need to ensure your case qualifies. Small claims courts are different and they have certain limits. You need to pay attention to the following:
The type of compensation
In most situations you can ask for one of two types of compensation:
But with small claims court so you can usually only Sue for monetary compensation so you have to provide a dollar amount. This leads directly to the second limitation.
The amount of compensation
Every state has a maximum limit for how much you can ask for when you sue Terminix in small claims court. Your claim might fall outside of these parameters depending on where you live. You can find your state limits here.
If your claim doesn’t qualify for small claims court for any reason, there are still options. At FairShake we can help you file a claim and guide you through binding arbitration.
Contact FairShake today to start your claim.
Once you are ready to sue Terminix in small claims court you still have another step to follow before you go marching up those Courthouse steps. This is where you send the demand letter.
The demand letter is a chance to give the company an opportunity to voluntarily fix the problem. Most small claims courts require that you complete this step before you file any paperwork to sue Terminix in small claims court.
This doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Think of it as just checking a box. You need to put together a document that explains your name, contact information, account information or membership information if you have it, what the problem is, and how you want the company to fix it.
Then send a hard copy letter to the official mailing address for the company. According to our most recent research, Terminix is legally based in Delaware and receives mail at this address:
The Terminix International Company Limited Partnership
C/O The Corporation Trust Company
Corporation Trust Center 1209 Orange St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.
The next step, assuming they haven’t done anything in response to the demand letter, is to fill out the paperwork to sue Terminix in small claims court.
Every state is different and sometimes counties have additional forms you have to fill out. Find your state court website here.
Be sure to have the right number of copies. Most states will require you to have three or four copies of everything you fill out.
With your paperwork completed, the next step to sue Terminix in small claims court is to file the documents with the court. This is where you finally get to march up those Courthouse steps for the first of multiple times.
Most courts still require that you submit these documents in person. Although some areas let you send them through the mail or online.
You will have to pay the fee in order to file and sue Terminix in small claims court, the amount of which should be posted on your court website. After that the clerk will review the documents, stamp them, return your copies to you while keeping one for the court, and assign you a court date.
Even though you’ve done quite a bit so far, there are still a few more steps you have to take care of. The next one is where you officially serve the company. Serving a company means you legally inform them that they are being sued.
There are very specific rules about how this process is to be completed based on where you live. Look at your state court website again to find out the rules in your state.
Some of the courts have very specific rules that might not make sense to you, some might be outdated but in any case you have to follow each and every rule otherwise the court can dismiss your case with no compensation.
When the court gives you your hearing date, which will happen when you file your forms, make sure you mark that on your calendar and that you show up to the right building at the right time.Bring with you the copy of your filed court forms and any other evidence you have to back up why you decided to sue Terminix in small claims court.
Sometimes the company will not send anyone to oppose you and if that takes place, make sure you focus on your side of the story.
Ready to sue Terminix in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…
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FairShake’s Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
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