Short version:
1) Lack of Price Transparency: I was not…read moreinformed about the cost of the inspection before the service was performed. During the service call, when I asked about the cost, I was told there was no fee for the visit, but that I would have to pay when requesting an official report.
2) Incomplete Services: Servpro failed to deliver the promised services, specifically the "detailed estimate, scope of work, and photo report" that was clearly defined and advertised by ServPro representative, Joanna *****, to be included in the $350 service charge.
3) Unresponsive Behavior/Nonperformance: Servpro's lack of communication and responsiveness, especially during critical times, led to confusion and frustration. This includes the failure to generate or send the report to my insurance company.
4) Billing to Incorrect Insurance: Servpro incorrectly billed Insurance Claim A for Inspection B without my authorization, leading to complications with my insurance and financial strain on my part.
5) Unethical Billing Practices: The discovery that Servpro attempted to bill my insurance directly and without my knowledge or consent raises ethical concerns about their business practices.
Long version:
My experience with Servpro has been quite frustrating. It started in the last week of December 2022, when I noticed slight water damage in my hall closet and called them for an inspection. I opened a Claim A with Insurance A for the relatively minor damages. During the inspection, I noticed that none of the contracts and documents I signed stated a fee for the inspection so I asked the inspector, David, directly and he told me there was no fee for the visit, but I would have to pay for an official report.
I emailed my ServPro case manager, Joanna, and she told me via email: "To answer your question, there is a $350 Service Call charge. With this you would be provided with a detailed estimate, scope of work, and photo report. Should coverage be afforded, this is something the insurance might cover as well. "
Things took a drastic turn on January 1st, 2023 when my house was severely damaged in the windstorm disaster, resulting in the roof being ripped off and causing severe water damage in three rooms. I called a local company for emergency assistance, and they pressured me to work with them on both Claim A and B. However after 3 weeks of stringing me along that company disappeared! (That company went out of business) Water damage turned to mold and my house began rotting from the inside out.
Turning back to Servpro, I called about Claim B in tears and spoke with someone new (not my original rep Joanna) for over 20 minutes. I genuinely apologized for how poorly I'd handled Claim A. I explained that the other company that responded to the disaster emergency pressured me to work with them and then they disappeared after stringing me along for four weeks. I told ServPro that I had a $20,000 check in hand and was ready to sign it over immediately and I'd give ServPro both projects. The woman was very kind and understanding and sent Ryan out to my house the next. I was told that work could start on 2/10/2023. I sent all my necessary insurance work and connected ServPro directly with my insurance so I wasn't a middleman. I thought I had done everything right to make amends.
The inspector from ServPro was, in fact, prompt in coming to my house to assess the damage as scheduled. After the site visit, no Xactimate (or similar) work estimate was provided. No one from ServPro responded to my repeated requests for copies of the estimates, nor had anyone reached out to schedule the start of work.
Over the next week, I called and emailed every single day trying to schedule the start of work, and asking for a report. On my 5th call (Feb 15th) for updates I was told that "estimates had been submitted to my insurance on 2/13/2023 and were "pending approval" from my insurance", and I again requested copies be sent to me. So I spoke with my insurance and discovered that no one from ServPro had been in contact with my insurance, nor had my adjuster received any copies of estimates from ServPro to approve! So I terminated our contract for nonperformance, and NO ONE RESPONDED.
ServPro just completely ghosted me.
Eight months later I received a bill from them for $365 for the inspection. In my attempts to clarify the situation, I discovered Servpro had silently billed Insurance A for Inspection B, for incomplete services without my authorization. The passive-aggressive approach taken by Servpro has left me frustrated. After months of trying to resolve this privately, they have told me that if I do not pay by the end of the month they will hand the erroneous bill over to collections.
In conclusion, my journey with Servpro has been marked by communication issues, unauthorized billing, and financial strain. I hope this review sheds light on the difficulties I've faced and serves as a cautionary tale for others considering their services.