Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/02/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On June 2, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a representative from Avata Pest Control (***********************************) approached my residence in *******, ** for the purpose of door-to-door sales. I have a clearly posted No Soliciting sign, and my neighborhoodgoverned by the ************************************* (****)formally prohibits solicitation. Despite this, the individual proceeded toward my entryway after I opened the door. I explicitly told them not to come closer. They gave an unsolicited sales pitch, to which I replied, Im not interested. The individual persisted with follow-up questions. I reiterated two more times that I was not interested. Only after stating that I would report the incident did they leave.This was an unwelcome and inappropriate interaction that ignored both clearly posted signage and WLCA policy. According to official **** documentation approved on May 19, 2025, Unauthorized signs, banners, posters, or promotional displays are not permitted on **** property and business-related or company-sponsored events are not allowed (**** Rules of Use, Sections 3 and 4). The *** also regulates community conduct, and door-to-door solicitation is neither approved nor allowed under ***** amenity or common area use policies.Furthermore, my No Soliciting sign complies with Florida statutes and *** policies regarding private property rights and uninvited commercial presence. This complaint is not about a purchase or paymentI did not engage the company at all. The issue is the deliberate disregard for private boundaries, community regulations, and posted notices.I request that Avata Pest Control provide a formal written apology and confirm in writing that they will cease any and all future solicitation within my neighborhood. I also request that they educate their sales staff on respecting posted No Soliciting signs and *** regulations. Thank you.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/17/2025

  Avata Pest does indeed have door to door sales representatives that work the summer months to expand our customer base. We have a substantial customer base in the *************** community and enjoy serving our customers in that neighborhood. 
  

  Per the filed complaint, Avata representatives were neither engaged in placing unauthorized signs, banners, posters, or promotional displays, nor were we engaged in business-related or company-sponsored events, as noted excerpts from the *** guidelines. Any signs we do place are required by law after a pest control service is completed. 
  

  Our representatives are properly licensed and permitted to solicit within *************. We go to great lengths to ensure the interactions our representatives have with customers at their door are professional and respectful. Per the filed complaint, It does not seem that our representative was unprofessional or disrespectful in his/her interactions with the home owner. If that were the case, we take that matter extremely seriously and would move to take permanent action against that representative. 
  

  Avata will take the measures necessary to remove the complainants home address from future communications. 

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/18/2025

   
  Complaint: 23407547
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Consumer

  Most Recent Message

  Date Sent: 6/18/2025 8:17:59 AM
  While I appreciate Avata Pest Controls acknowledgment that they will remove my address from future communications, their response does not fully address the core issues raised in my original complaint.
  
  First, Avata is deflecting the substance of my concern by narrowly interpreting WLCA guidelines. My reference to ***** prohibition of unauthorized signs, banners, posters, or promotional displays and business-related or company-sponsored events was not a claim that signage was posted or an event held. Rather, it was to emphasize that the ************************************* (****) expressly prohibits commercial solicitation of any kind on its common property and within its neighborhoods. Regardless of Orange County licensing, Avata ***resentatives are not authorized to solicit in HOA-governed communities that explicitly ban it. My HOAs position on this matter is clear and documented.
  
  Second, the company mischaracterizes the interaction. The ***resentative disregarded both my posted No Soliciting sign and my ***eated verbal requests to end the conversation. I had to tell the *** three separate times that I was not interested and explicitly ask them not to step closer. Only after I stated I would ***ort them did the individual finally disengage. This pattern is unprofessional and invasive, regardless of whether it escalated into overt disrespect.
  
  I am not requesting damages or disciplinary action against a specific employee.

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** ********

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/26/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On July 21, 2023 we renewed our Pest Control contract with Avata Pest Control who was formerly known as Pest Detector. We were told when we renewed that nothing would change with the new company and our price was the same. Now we are getting a call from Avata stating that they are changing the pricing and the way the service is done in January. They are not honoring our 1 year contract and with the new rates, after pro-rating, we will only be paid through April. In addition, we had paid for a year of Snake Away treatment. However, they no longer want to do that either and want to charge us $10 every 2 months for that treatment regardless that we had already paid for it as part of our 12 month contract. I completely understand rates going up - but we have an agreement for 12 months and that should be honored regardless! Then when our agreement is up we have the option to accept their new process and fees or go elsewhere. If I paid for a 12 month contract that should be honored and I should not be charged more for a service I already paid for! We have spoken with the company and they refuse to honor the 12 month contract, and refuse to honor the snake away. They will only put down if we give them extra money - even though we already paid for it. This all is wrong on so many levels. We had no choice but to remain with them because we can't find another company before our next treatment is scheduled but will not give them extra money for the snake away as we already paid for it!

  Business Response

  Date: 10/26/2023

  I am surprised at this complaint, as I personally spokle with Mr. ****** the same day this was filed and we came to an understanding of what was happening and how we can move forward. 

  I was made aware of Mr. ****** and his concerns on Friday, Oct 20th. He called into our offices and verbally assaulted our office staff, cursing and verbally degrading them. I personally called Mr. ****** and explained that the service he is on was going to be phased out starting in January 2024. As he is one of our long standing customers for the last 13 years, we want to make sure he feels comfortable continuing with our services into the future. 

  The ******s paid for a full year of pest control service with a total of $360 on the year (i believe). Their current service only has them being treated once every 4-months, which is an outdated and ineffective form of servicing. We spoke for about an hour and came to a sound and agreeable solution. With the remaining $240 the ******s have in credit with Avata, we would transfer that towards the new program, that we have offered to them at a 33% discount from our LOWEST minimum price for new customers. And it includes Snake Away treatment at the same additional price as they were paying for the last 13 years, no upcharge on that. 

  Mr. ****** agreed, we sent a new agreement over and he executed that agreement on Oct 23rd at 4pm ET. We have removed any cancelation fee on that new agreement, and if Avata is unable to earn their trust in service over the next 4 months, we can part ways and they can find a new pest management solution. 

  I suspect that since this complaint came from Mrs. ******, she was uninformed as to the agreement Mr. ****** and I had made.

  Happy to further communicate anything that is needed here. But, in our records and logistics, this matter is a non-issue and is taken care of. 

  Business Response

  Date: 11/06/2023

  The customer (**** ******) has cancelled their agreement and we will no longer be using our services, and their remaining credit of $240 with Avata Pest will be hand delivered in cash.

  If anyone at the BBB requires documentation, we have multiple recorded phone calls of this entire conversation process (all of our calls are recorded for quality control purposes) that we can share to support our conversation with the customer that the new service was offered at a 20% discount from our minimum pricing to new customers, and at **** ******s request, Snake Away would have been included with their upgraded service. 

  Either way, **** ****** decided to go with another pest company, so after 13yrs as a customer, we thanked him for trusting us to service his home, and wish him nothing but the best! 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/06/2023

  Issue has been resolved.  Company brought our refund in cash today and we have gone our separate ways.