By JONATHAN BAGLEY
Despite scrutiny from the California attorney general and the Structural Pest Control Board, Provo marketing companies are anticipating increased sales in California this summer.
The obstacle the marketing companies had to hurdle this spring was a delayed licensing test. The California pest control board felt the 10-year-old test had been compromised.
'If you take an exam and your friend asks you what to study for, you say I found this part the toughest. You are not going to tell them to go fly a kite,' said Terminix Pest Control Vice President Lee Zusman. 'Does that make him a criminal? I don't think so. If he stole the test then he'd be a criminal.'
The test, normally scheduled for March, was postponed until May 5 to make time to write a fresh exam. Brent Bingham of Eclipse Marketing said the new test will not pose problems for the recruits because there aren't many questions that can be asked about insects.
The new recruits will be without licenses for two to three weeks in May, but they will still be able to sell. Ron Gibb of Salesnet Marketing said there are four things unlicensed sales representatives cannot do: inspecting houses, identifying pests, negotiating prices and signing residential pest control service agreements.
Gibb said these limitations are minor, and Salesnet has devised tactics for their unlicensed sales representatives to sell within the regulations.
Zusman said the exam postponement caused him to believe Terminix would not be able to use as many representatives this summer, which would curb revenue.
Gibb said Salesnet defined what sales representatives can do in the field. They presented a proposal to Zusman that would require unlicensed representatives to sign an agreement stating that they will not perform services that require a license. Apex is getting the same deal.
Todd Santiago of Apex said summer sales in California will continue to grow. He said most of the salesmen return from previous summers and have licenses.
Gibb said the concern with the pest control industry will not interfere with Salesnet's operations this summer because pest control guidelines do not prohibit soliciting sales.
Donna Kingwell, registrar of the Structural Pest Control Board, said she will have her investigative force alerted to unlicensed representatives. But Kingwell is unaware of the agreement worked out between Terminix, Salesnet and Apex.
Steve Kahn, deputy attorney general for the state of California, said there is an investigation into the pest control industry. He would not elaborate on the investigation, but said the licensing exam had been compromised and that he is aware of unlicensed representatives.