Kellermeyer Bergensons Services

Kellermeyer Bergensons Services (KBS)

1575 Henthorne Drive Maumee, OH  43537 Website: www.kbs-services.com/ Toll Free: 800-537-1375 Fax: 800-288-5586 Email: help@kbs-services.com ____________________________________________

AI-Generated Detailed Profile March 2025: Kellermeyer Bergensons Services (KBS)

Kellermeyer Bergensons Services (KBS), headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, is a national facilities management company offering janitorial, exterior maintenance, and integrated services to commercial properties. Established in 1947, KBS serves industries such as retail, healthcare, and industrial facilities. Below is an evaluation of KBS based on business practices, payment reliability, reputation, contract fairness, and overall rating.

Business Practices

Pros:

• KBS emphasizes compliance and accountability through its proprietary technology platforms like KBSForce and mobile applications that monitor subcontractor performance and ensure service consistency.

• The company provides subcontractors with access to large-scale projects across the U.S., offering opportunities for consistent work.

• KBS has a dedicated vendor relationship team to support subcontractors by addressing quality issues and handling escalations at the local level.

Cons:

• Subcontractors have reported operational inefficiencies and challenges with communication. For example, some contractors describe disorganization in managing service requests and inconsistent responses from management.

• The company’s stringent compliance requirements may create additional administrative burdens for subcontractors.

Payment Reliability

Payment reliability is a significant concern for subcontractors working with KBS:

• Subcontractors have reported delayed payments or nonpayment for completed work. For example, a contractor providing sweeping services for Lowe’s experienced delays of over six months before receiving payment for outstanding invoices.

• Additional complaints include nonpayment for services rendered at various locations, with subcontractors citing difficulties in getting responses from KBS representatives regarding overdue payments.

Subcontractors should ensure strict adherence to documentation requirements and maintain proactive communication with KBS to mitigate payment risks.

Reputation

BBB Rating: KBS does not appear to have a dedicated Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. Customer Reviews: Feedback from clients and subcontractors is predominantly negative:

• On PissedConsumer.com, KBS has a 1.0-star rating based on customer reviews. Complaints include poor customer service, nonpayment issues, and lack of responsiveness. Legal Cases: In Jackson v. Kellermeyer Bergensons Services (2020), the court found that KBS did not exert control over its subcontractor’s operations beyond ensuring contract compliance. This case highlights potential disputes regarding subcontractor relationships and accountability.

Contract Fairness

Strengths:

• Contracts emphasize compliance with laws and regulations, including OSHA standards and liability insurance coverage requirements.

• Subcontractor agreements include provisions for audits to ensure transparency in payroll, safety logs, and employee eligibility documentation.

Potential Issues:

• Subcontractors have reported challenges enforcing contract terms due to payment delays or disputes over service quality standards.

• Contracts may include stringent requirements for documentation that could lead to disputes if not followed precisely.

Overall Rating

Based on the available information:

Case Studies/Examples

1. Nonpayment Incident: A contractor providing sweeping services for Lowe’s reported delays of over six months in receiving payment despite repeated follow-ups with KBS representatives. The contractor eventually received payment after intervention by the World Sweeping Association.

2. Legal Dispute: In Jackson v. Kellermeyer Bergensons Services (2020), the court ruled that KBS did not exert control over its subcontractor’s operations beyond ensuring compliance with contract terms. This highlights potential risks related to disputes over accountability and service delivery.

Recommendations for Contractors

To minimize risks when working with Kellermeyer Bergensons Services:

• Review Contracts Thoroughly: Pay close attention to clauses related to payment terms, liability insurance requirements, and compliance audits.

• Document Work Clearly: Maintain detailed records of completed tasks and ensure all required documentation is submitted accurately through their proprietary platforms.

• Monitor Payment Processes: Track invoices closely and follow up proactively if payments are delayed beyond agreed-upon terms.

• Evaluate Reputation Locally: Research feedback from other contractors who have worked with KBS in your area.

This analysis highlights both the opportunities—such as access to large-scale projects—and risks—such as payment delays—of partnering with Kellermeyer Bergensons Services as a subcontractor. Subcontractors should carefully evaluate these factors before committing resources to such partnerships.

Earlier Comments:

In 2018 KBS purchased National Maintenance Services (NMS). However, in February of 2020 we received a report from a WSA Member that NMS contracts were still being distributed, though they did say “a Kellermeyer Bergesons Services company” on them. The contracts were cited as having a number of ‘onerous’ clauses, including the following: “…holding first and last month payments, hold sweeping contractors responsible for everything, a two-year noncompete and lacks a scope of work for sweeping but, rather, some non-applicable-to-sweeping words had been copy/pasted from a landscaping contract.” If you work for NMS or KBS be sure to read and understand what you are signing on their contracts. Remember, you can cross out contract clauses and they may still accept you. If you do, though, be sure and have both parties initial the cross-outs and also keep a copy of the crossed out pages! At least one contractor reports going to court and having a third party vendor bring out ‘standard’ contracts with the back page where he’d signed. Fortunately, he had retained a copy of the pages where both parties had initialed… If you have updated information on this vendor, please provide it using the Contact Form shown at the bottom of this page. If the updated information is sensitive and you DO NOT want your company name associated with it, be sure to let us know and we will post it for you anonymously. Otherwise, as a courtesy to other WSA Members, we will provide your company name.

Comments:

September 2020: A WSA Member reported KBS has repeatedly promised to pay them for sweeping done at a Lowe’s location but they’ve only received a check in May for work started in March. And, that May check was sent only when they told KBS they would be quitting sweeping. At the time of this posting they were currently at 90 days and moving toward 120 days of sweeping with no payment. A few days ago the company quit sweeping due to non-payment. BTW, they are also familiar with another contractor in their area who is in a similar situation. If you have updated information on this vendor, please send an email to director@worldsweepingpros.org. If the updated information is sensitive and you DO NOT want your company name associated with it, be sure to let us know and we will post it for you anonymously. Otherwise, as a courtesy to other WSA Members, we will provide your company name.