I have really wrestled with both whether or not to and how to review Critter Removal Indianapolis.
Here's the thing. I really liked these folks. They're undeniably popular and their reviews obviously speak for themselves. I suppose that's part of what makes my experience worth noting.
I called Critter Removal Indianapolis due to a squirrel in my home that I'd been unable to address myself or with assistance. I called Critter Removal Indianapolis on a Wednesday and made arrangements the next day for one of their employees to come by the house the next day at noon. While I hate having to miss work, this squirrel had become a major nuisance. The appointment was scheduled for noon - I was sent a link to be able to track my appointment (a cool touch, though also a bit alarming as the time changes and my appointment ended up happening around 1:30pm).
I'd e-mailed them through their website and had gotten a response pretty quickly with a general idea of pricing. That went well.
Once the employee arrived, he explained the process - essentially photographing trouble spots, developing a plan, submitting the paperwork to the office, getting an estimate, and then agreeing in writing to the estimate. I hadn't been aware there was sort of a pre-step, somewhat disappointing, but I remained hopeful.
I made it clear to the employee that the squirrel was actually in my home - not a crawl space, basement, or attic. It was actually in my living space. It was actually in my living space when he came out. As he was taking photographs, the squirrel was walking across my kitchen counter.
Seriously.
The estimate came and I agreed quickly after a review of it. It was actually lower than the original price range. I was told they could be out the next morning and that I would not need to be home.
I had every hope that they'd arrive on Friday and get the critter quickly. However, when I got home it was clear that hadn't happened. There had been no signs of actual arrival (and no contact).
Over the weekend, things got worse and ultimately a friend ended up calling what she thought was the company to basically say "Why are you not out there?" Let's be honest. It was a legit question. She actually had called a different company that came within the hour. Within a half hour or so, the squirrel was caught and removed. And yes, it was in my kitchen when caught.
To Critter Removal's credit (Hannah specifically), they were perfectly polite and gracious when I e-mailed them Sunday and said the squirrel had been caught and explained the situation. I canceled my appointment.
So, here we go. Great initial inquiry. Friendly people and very thorough. However, I can't help but feel like policy came before people here. While all critter issues are important, a critter in a living space is sort of an elevated concern both because of safety and potential biohazard due to waste. As a wheelchair user, I was at even greater risk of potential infection.
There was a lot of good here. I don't want to dismiss that. But, if we're being honest, given the circumstances it's pretty inexcusable that after being told on Wednesday a critter was in the house and after having been in my home the next day, I should have had help well before Sunday afternoon when the issue finally got resolved.
While I might consider calling Critter Removal again for more preventative measures (I did like some of their plans), if I were in a crisis? I would have to look elsewhere. read more