Most discovery requests to pest control companies ask for invoices and service tickets. Those are useful, but they rarely tell the whole story. Having led operations and quality assurance at large pest control companies, here are the records that reveal how a program really performed.
Service agreement and scope
The contract defines what the provider promised: frequency, covered pests, inspection scope, and exclusions. Many disputes turn on the gap between what the customer believed was covered and what the agreement actually required.
Detailed service records
Request the full electronic service history, not summary invoices. Modern routing and service software captures time on site, areas serviced, findings, products used, and technician notes. Gaps, short visits, and copied notes are revealing.
Device maps and trend reports
Commercial and multifamily programs often use monitoring devices such as rodent stations, insect monitors, and glue boards. Device maps show where they were placed, and trend reports show what they caught over time. Rising counts without corrective action can establish notice.
Callbacks and complaints
Callback logs show how often the customer reported continued activity and how quickly the provider responded. A pattern of repeat callbacks at the same location is a classic sign that a program was not working.
Recommendations and corrective action reports
Good providers document conditions conducive to infestation, such as sanitation issues, structural gaps, and moisture, and give written recommendations. These records also show whether the customer followed the advice, which matters for allocating responsibility.
Licensing, training, and quality assurance
Ask for technician license records, training files, and any internal quality assurance audits of the account. Audit reports often identify problems before a lawsuit does.
Chemical use records and labels
Product records show what was applied, where, and how much. Compare them against the product labels to evaluate whether applications were appropriate and compliant.
This article is general information for attorneys and is not legal advice.