Inspections Plus

Review: Dear Sir or Madam,

Inspection Plus advertises on its website that for home inspection and termite inspection including Roof inspection, a total cost would be $600.00. Here is how the price is advertised.

3501 to 5000 square feet------- Home Inspection $425 *-------- Termite Inspection $175 **------- Roof Inspection FREE[redacted]------Total, $600. Also, it states additional crawl space, $25 charged.I called their toll free number, XXX-XXX-XXXX, spoke with owner [redacted] who confirmed the price. Our Realtor setup a time to meet at the house today at noon. When their representative [redacted] came, he said that the house is too big (4,200 square feet) and because of crawl space, it would be additional $75.00.I pointed out that their advertisement said and we agreed, $600.00. [redacted] came on line and tried to justify why we should pay more, because it was a big house and had crawl space. I pointed out that we had discussed the square footage that falls within 3501 to 5000 as advertised including additional crawl space charge of $25. [redacted] became angry, belligerent, the person left without inspection and we were left stranded wasting our time and driving for no reason. When I called [redacted] to discuss regarding this, he became very unprofessional, belligerent, obnoxious, unreasonable and called me names, including 'GO SCREW YOURSELF'.I was really surprised to see, how this company is trying to take advantage of people by advertising and quoting one rate and then increasing the price to help themselves.

Product_Or_Service: Home inspection

Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Other (requires explanation)

This company should honor its advertised and agreed price and not charge anything extra.

Business

Response:

Business' Initial Response

Company states that there is a statement on his website when you go to his "Pricing" page that states:

"All Termite Inspections may be subject to an additional minimum $20 surcharge based on the size of the crawl space and/or an additional surcharge for the advanced age of the home."

Consumer did not disclose the size of his home or the size of his crawl space when he called for his quote. The size of his crawl space was equivalent to three homes, which is why he was quoted an additional $75. When consumer went to the website for information he should have reviewed the whole website.

No services were rendered and no money was exchanged. If consumer had disclosed all the information at the time of the call, this whole situation would have avoided. We recommended that he contact another company.

Consumer's Final Response

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)

After checking the price on their Web site, I called and spoke with owner, [redacted]. The first question he asked was the size of house. I told him it was $4,200 square feet. He told me that it would be $500.00 for home inspection not including termite inspection that would be additional $200.00.

When I told [redacted] that according to the price posted on his Web site, from 3,500 to 5,000 square feet, it stated $475.00 and with termite inspection, the bundle price would be $600.00, he reluctantly agreed.

This is what it says on their Web site:

SQ FOOTAGE-----HOME-------TERMITE-------ROOF-----BUNDLE (all 3)

0000 to 2000-------$325 *--------$135 **-------FREE[redacted]------$460

2001 to 3500-------$375 *--------$155 **-------FREE[redacted]------$530

3501 to 5000-------$425 *--------$175 **-------FREE[redacted]------$600

As you can see, [redacted] was even trying to get more money than what he advertises on his web site, a clear sign of false advertisement!

Regarding crawl space, they have stated, additional $25.00 to be charged.

Unfortunately, after making the appointment with my Realtor, when we drove to the house to meet the home inspector, he said, it would cost additional $75.00. When I pointed out that the square feet was within the range as advertised and agreed with [redacted], he was uncooperative. When I spoke with [redacted] over the telephone, he was belligerent, unreasonable and started cursing me, stating, "GO SCREW YOURSELF".

We had to hire another company for home inspection.

Thus as you can see, this seller, [redacted] has an unfair business practice with false advertisement and BAIT AND SWITCH approach.

Therefore, please take necessary action to make sure [redacted] does not take advantage of consumers like me.