How we chose
We built the candidate list from Google Places listings around Telford, Companies House records [6] and each firm's own website, then checked claimed memberships against the BPCA [1], NPTA [2] and BASIS PROMPT [3] registers. Before we score anyone, we check that each business is who it says it is, is trading today and can actually be reached, and that any claimed registration checks out. We then score every eligible business against our scoring system, which looks at the things you care about when hiring: what customers say, the qualifications and registrations that matter for this trade, how the business responded when we contacted it, how long it has traded, insurance and safeguards, how clearly it prices, and how useful its website is. Anything we cannot verify stays neutral rather than counting against a business. The ranking carries its evidence date so you can see how fresh each check is.
How to hire
Start by matching the pest to the right help. Wasps in a loft or shed are a standard single-visit treatment; honeybees need a beekeeper, so describe what you see before anyone quotes. Rats and mice need a course of two or three visits plus proofing of entry points — a one-spray promise will not hold. Bedbugs usually need two or three insecticide visits, or heat treatment across the affected rooms, and grey squirrels in a loft must be handled within wildlife law, so ask the firm to explain its method before you agree [4].
Then check the firm. Look for BPCA [1] or NPTA [2] membership and technicians on the BASIS PROMPT register [3], and read what the membership actually required rather than taking a logo on trust. If the firm is a limited company, confirm it on Companies House [6]. Ask for proof of insurance, a written quote stating the treatment, the number of visits, the price including VAT, and how long any callback guarantee lasts.
When you enquire, describe the pest, where you see it, and whether children or pets use the space — the treatment plan depends on all three. Ask which products will be used and how non-target animals are kept away from them, what you must do before the visit (emptying cupboards, washing bedding at high heat for bedbugs), and what proofing is included or priced separately. If you rent, tell your landlord or agent first: the tenancy usually decides who arranges and pays for treatment [7].
A careful controller surveys before quoting for rodents or bedbugs, explains the safety precautions around rodenticides and insecticides required under biocides rules [4], and books the follow-up visits there and then. Expect clear aftercare — when you can re-enter rooms, when to vacuum, and a date for the check-back — rather than a spray and a handshake.
Pricing
As of autumn 2026, rough Telford figures run like this: a single wasp nest around £75 to £200 in one visit; rat or mouse removal around £120 to £240 for a two-visit course; fleas around £80 to £220; bedbug insecticide treatment around £100 to £280, with whole-property heat treatment reaching £1,000 to £1,500 [5].
What moves the number is the number of visits, access to lofts and wall voids, and whether proofing — sealing entry points with mesh and sealant — is included or quoted separately [5]. Same-day call-outs for a nest by a doorway usually carry a premium.
Get in writing the treatment method, every visit included, the total with VAT, the callback terms if the pest returns, and who pays for proofing materials. A quote that will not say how many visits it covers is not a quote you can compare.
Red flags
Quotes a fixed price for rats or bedbugs without inspecting the property first.
Cannot say which products will be used or how children, pets and non-target wildlife are kept away from them.
Reaches for insecticide against honeybees instead of referring you to a beekeeper for relocation.
Asks for full payment in cash upfront and offers no written quote or receipt.
Gives only a first name and a mobile number, with no address, landline or company record you can check [6].
Corrections and business responses
Tell us what needs checking, or ask to claim a listing and reply to an assessment.