To be Avoided at ALL costs - ********* and deceptive

Bugs and Sparks are ********* and awful! You get a quote.....READ THE FINE print. IF you do NOT accept their quote, which is so high. (They quoted close to R15,000 I got the job done for R3,000! ). The “Quote” then becomes an “inspection” which you are libel for.

My husband recently passed away and I urgently sold the house. Bugs and Sparks were approached by the estate agent to do the necessary, electrical, gas and bug compliance certificates. They were told the details of the sale and that they would be paid from the proceeds of the sale. They were happy to accept that. They then, wrote to the lawyer doing the transfer of the house, and asked if there would be funds from proceeds to pay them, they were given reassurance of this!

They went to “Quote”, the quotes were exceptionally high. Their mails were full of “we give the best service” but were pushy. I was beginning to feel “threatened”. The electrical and gas failed and their quote was enormous but the bugs test passed. I got other much lower quotes and accepted them.

What a different attitude immediately. I received a bill of R1,500 to pay immediately. They informed me that I now would have to pay myself as now that they were not doing the work, they would no longer wait for the amount to come from proceeds of sales. (which would be there within two weeks!).

I asked for the bug compliance certificate but they refused to issue it until I had paid the now “inspection fee” in full! They would not just allow me to pay for the Bug Compliance certificate but withheld it until I had paid the quote – that now became an inspection fee for the electricity and gas.

I did so, but any company that has a guarantee from the lawyer to get paid from proceeds of sale and then forces payment from a grieving financially strapped widow, when they have legal note that they will get paid, is just plain mean! Are they so desperate for money!

Please read the previous complaints against this company, there are many, on many different sites, and I support them in everything they say about this company. See Complaintsboard.com. They are to be avoided at all costs!

Their policy. The “inspection” is the quote they do for you. Their highlight.

We need to remind you that our attached inspection invoice, becomes payable immediately if our quotes are not accepted as the proceeds of the sale payment option falls away. a) I would refer you to our booking confirmation email wherein it states: Should the quote for rectifying the faults not be accepted the inspection costs become payable immediately and the ‘proceeds of the sale’ option falls away b) to our quote wherein it states: “Please Note: In the event of Bugs and Sparks not doing the repairs we will not re-inspect or issue a Compliance Certificate. This quotation also excludes the Inspection Fee. (Should the Seller decline all the repair quotations, the Inspection fee is still due and payable immediately and not through the proceeds of the sale.)” c) to the email sent with the quote: Should you decide not to make use of our services the inspection fees are still payable and need to be settled in full immediately. Please provide proof of payment ensuring that either the invoice number or the property address is put in as reference. Once we have received the proof of payment of all inspections, I will be able to send out the beetle certificate of compliance.