Hong Kong’s hot and humid summer is ideally suited for prolific breeding of insects, much to the annoyance of many if they take up residence in a home. Should the problem get out of hand, professional pest control is in urgent need. The Consumer Council has compared the services and charges of 15 pest control companies, and found they use very different treatment for pest control, and also varied greatly in the charges for onsite inspection and the services they offer. Consumers should therefore study in detail the terms and conditions of various items – the pest control techniques used, the treatment methods and procedures, the frequency and details of follow-up treatments and any refund in the event of early termination of service, etc. Price should not be the only selection criterion.
In early June, the Council collected information from 53 pest control companies as well as on a hypothetical scenario of a residential flat with saleable area of 500 sq ft being infested with termites or bedbugs and their proposal for solution, including treatment method, treatment procedures, treatment principle, number of treatment, type of service and charges, etc. Only 15 companies responded to the questionnaire survey. For those declined to respond, some of them provided relevant treatment method, while other information including service charges are mostly unavailable on their official websites, such level of disclosure reflects a need for the industry to enhance information transparency.
Termites and bedbugs are one of the most commonly found insects in Hong Kong’s households, the former feed on cellulose materials with wood being the main source. As their nests are hidden in subterranean spots, and numerous colonies might exist which make them hard to be exterminated. As for bedbugs, although they are not generally considered to be disease vectors, they bite and feed on blood of humans, causing skin itchiness or inflammation. Doctor consultation may also be required for serious cases.
According to the information collected from 15 pest control companies, 6 of the companies offered to provide onsite inspection free of charge prior to price quotation; another 6 required a fee of $300 to $1,500 and among them 2 indicated they would refund part of the inspection fee if customer confirmed the order. The remainders 3 would decide on individual case basis whether or not to send staff for inspection.
The 15 companies in the survey generally offer pest control service on either a single treatment or a fixed term contract. Consumers are usually required to make full payment on or before the day of the service. For customers opting for contract services, they may also be required to settle the total sum of the service in full on the day when work begins. Or, alternatively, pay only for the work done upon completion each time.
In response to the Council’s two hypothetical infestation scenarios, different companies proposed different pest control methods. Take termites for instance, the treatment could consist of applying pesticide through spraying, drilling treatments, or applying termite bait system. But even when the same treatment method is employed, the survey found huge variations among the companies in their charges that seem to bear no direct relation to the number of treatment provided, or whether the follow-up service is free and the frequency of such service.
Spraying or drilling treatment with pesticide, for instance, companies’ charges (7 companies for both cases) for a single treatment spanned over a range of $1,000 to $8,000, a staggering variance of sevenfold! Some also indicated that they offer no free follow-up service. The service charges for a stipulated contract period (1 month to 1 year) varied from $2,000 to $15,000. Some limited the number of treatment during the contract period from 2 to 4 times, and a maximum of 2 free follow-up services while some may or may not charge for this depending on the circumstances after the fixed number of treatment.
Consumers opting for contract service should take heed that if they become dissatisfied with the service and hope to terminate the contract before its expiration. 6 of the companies indicated that they would not provide refund for early termination; 4 responded positively that they would refund the unused portion of the contract; 2 stated customers need only to notify them in advance while 3 others would decide on case by case basis.
There is at present no legislation regulating the pest control services, but registered pesticides for sale and local use are regulated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). Suppliers, importers and retailers of all registered pesticides are required to apply for licenses as well. Consumers can consult the AFCD should they want to validate the registration status of pesticides used by pest control companies.
As insect infestation may take more than one single treatment, the length of the treatment depends on the seriousness of the infestation, and factors such as the spread of the area affected and the living environment, etc. Consumers should therefore have a clear evaluation of the overall service items included in the proposed service, and pay attention also to the following for reference.
- Choose a specialist pest control company of good reputation. Ask the company to provide information relating to the technical training of its staff such as certificates for reference;
- Shop around and compare different pest control companies for their treatment methods and procedures, and if there is provision of free follow-up service, etc;
- Ask the company for a detailed and written price quotation, including information on service charges, area covered, number of treatment, content of follow-up service, etc;
- The company should be able to offer concrete information that includes insect infestation prevention plan/proposal, pesticide products to be used (product name, dosage, the Hong Kong registration number, risk of pesticide residues to health, etc.) and safety measures and inform customers all necessary matters;
- Before using the pest control service, cover the food and kitchen utensils properly to avoid contact with pesticides; arrange family members and pets, especially the elderly, children, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women etc. to leave scene;
- If pesticides have been used in the pest control service, open the windows for at least 2 to 3 hours to improve ventilation before going back; if bait is applied in the household, keep it away from children to avoid them taking it by mistake.
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