Unpaid pest control bill left by previous owner

[akasephiroth]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia

I Recieved a letter stating that my unpaid Powder Post beetle treatment bill had been summited to collection. I made the arrangements to get the inspection done and paid for the inspection when looking to purchase the house, the inspection showed beginning stages of PPB infection. The lender would not approve the loan after this inspection until this was treated thus the seller agreed to fix the issue using the same company that had done the inspection, from that point the seller handled everything, I was not present for the treatment nor did I receive a bill or sign for services. At Closing the seller did not provide a bill only a letter from terminx stating that the treatement had been preformed. I have not recieved any bills for this treatment until my statement from collection's. I had relitor try to contact seller who has no active contacts from the files available. I spoke with Terminix today and was told that the only name they had on file was mine and admitted that the paperwork for the PPB service was never signed off on bye any party, yet there was nothing they could do but hold me liable for the left over bill. Terminix is dinging my credit in less then a month for a bill that was not mine. What other options do i have at this point? and yes it states in the closing contract that Seller had fulfilled buyers request to have the PPB Infection treated.

 

[justalayman]

What do you have in writing to show it was the sellers liability to pay for the treatment? Somewhere along the line there should be a notice that the treatment is required prior to the loan approval where the seller agreed to pay for the service.

 

[akasephiroth]

I have a contract amendment stating that seller agreed to have treatment done before closing, I also have copy of letter from terminix stating that the service was done but does not list a cost or who was liable for these charges.

 

[justalayman]

well, that doesn't say the seller agreed to pay for the service. Often times a seller contracts the work requested by the buyer since the buyer can't actually contract to have work done on a home they don't own.

Did either of you have real estate agents representing you?

 

[FarmerJ]

Was there any thing in the inspection agreement or any documents from terminix that have a check off type area or signature area for post inspection treatment? if there was nothing from the initial inspection order that said you agreed to treatment then it seems like they are trying to cover up their own sloppy butt work when they failed to get signature or enough information to be able to prove who owes for treatment. ( It seems like this thread may have become more focused on seller in your problem ,) See if it was me Id be carefully re reading the documentation that came with the initial order for inspection to make sure it did not have a authorization anywhere in it to treat the property. Once that was done I would try going to the local office and asking them to produce the records that show who ordered it and if they wont cooperate then Id sent to them a certified letter telling them that I had not ordered treatment of the home and will not pay for what I didn't order. THEN re the collection agency they should be told in a certified mail letter that says you did not order this service and unless they can send to you a copy of a court ordered judgment that says you owe it then they stop any attempts to collect this claim.