Spruce Scoop Dog Waste Removal Terms of Service
At Spruce Scoop Dog Waste Removal, we pride ourselves on providing reliable, professional, and efficient service to keep your yard clean and enjoyable. Below, you’ll find our Terms of Service, outlining how our services work, including payment policies, scheduling, missed services, and more.
All Things Money
Billing Cycle: All recurring services are billed on the 1st of each month, in advance for that month’s services. Service costs are prorated for customers who signup after the first of the month.
Initial Cleanup Charges: For recurring services, the cost of your initial cleanup will be billed prior to completion. At the same time, you’ll be billed a pro-rated amount for the remaining cleanups that month, ensuring you’re set up for regular billing on the 1st of the following month.If there is no separate initial cleanup fee, your initial cleanup will includes up to 20 pounds of waste, with an additional charge of $2.50 per pound beyond that.
Payment Methods: Payments are processed through our secure client portal. You must link a credit or debit card before your first scheduled cleanup. If you need assistance, please contact us at 203-850-7273.
Example Billing Only for Recurring Services: (This is an example only!)
Initial Cleanup: $20
Weekly Cleanup Rate: $23
Monthly Cost: $119.59 ($20 + 23×4.33)
If service begins mid-month (e.g., 3/15):
Initial Cleanup: $20
Pro-rated March Cleanups (minus 2 cleanups at $23 each): $46
Total Billed on 3/15: $73.60
Future Payments:
4/1: $99.59 (for April’s weekly cleanups)
5/1: $99.59 (for May’s weekly cleanups)
Note: The weekly cleanup rate is multiplied by 4.33 to ensure consistent monthly billing, accounting for months that have five weeks.
All website prices are based on an average cleaning area of 1/8 acre. Larger areas may incur an additional fee.
Required Card On File Before Service: If your card is not linked by your first cleanup date, we will attempt to contact you. If we cannot reach you, your service will be rescheduled. Services will not start until payment is processed.
Failed Payments: Payments are due on the 1st of each month. If payment fails and is not made first day of the month, services will be paused.
Service Pause Due to Non-Payment: If payment does not clear by the 1st of the month, we will pause services. During this pause, the full monthly fee remains due. You will not be charged for the following month until services resume, and no late fees will apply for the next month as long as payment is made on time.
Resuming Services: Once payment is received, services will resume. If the account has been paused for more than 30 days, a catch-up cleanup may be required to bring your yard up to our service standard. The cost for this cleanup will be added to your next service charge.
Promotional Terms & Price IncreasesMoney
Promotional Terms Acceptance: By accepting any promotion or discount offered by Spruce Scoop, you agree to the terms and conditions associated with that promotion. These terms must be fulfilled to retain the promotional benefit.
Promotion Conditions: Promotions may include discounts, account credits, or special pricing and typically come with specific conditions, such as a required number of cleanings or a minimum service period (e.g., staying withSpruce Scoop for a set number of cleanings). The full promotional value will be due if the specified conditions are not met.
Failure to Meet Promotion Terms: If you cancel or suspend services before fulfilling the promotional terms (e.g., completing the required number of services), the discount or credit provided as part of the promotion will become due in full, regardless of how many services were completed.
Option to Forgo Promotional Terms: Customers have the option to forgo the promotional terms by choosing to pay for the service in full at the time of receiving the promotion. If paid in full, no further obligations or promotional terms will apply.
Price Increases: Spruce Scoop reserves the right to adjust pricing for services, including after any promotional period ends. If a price increase occurs, customers will be notified at least 30 days before the change takes effect. By accepting these terms, customers acknowledge and accept the new pricing.
No Refund for Pre-Payments: Spruce Scoop does not offer refunds for any pre-payments, including those made for extended pre-payment options such as quarterly or 6-month pre-payments.
All About the Service
How We Handle Missed Services:
We will reschedule your service to your next service day and perform double-duty. If your service schedule needs to change, you will receive a text or email notification. We’ll confirm if your service is rescheduled and let you know when to expect us.
Thorough Cleanup Upon Return:
When your service is completed on your next scheduled scoop day, all accumulated waste will be cleaned thoroughly at no additional charge. Your yard will be restored to the fresh, tidy condition you expect.
Your First Cleanup:
At Spruce Scoop, we start every new client with an Initial Deep Clean to get your yard in tip-top shape, including the removal of up to 20 pounds of pet waste at no extra cost. If more than 20 pounds is collected, a $2.50 per pound fee applies for the excess. Any additional charges will be clearly outlined on a separate invoice. This does not apply when there is a free initial cleanup promotion given. By using our services, you agree to this policy.
Month-to-Month Services:
Spruce Scoop operates on a flexible, month-to-month service model, meaning there are no long-term contracts. Clients have the freedom to cancel or adjust their service monthly without penalties. However, certain promotions come with conditions:
Free Initial Cleanup Promotion:
If you receive a free initial cleanup as part of a promotion, you are required to maintain service for the full month following the cleanup. If service is canceled before the month is completed, a one-time cleanup fee between $95 and $125 will be applied to your account.
Quarterly and Annual Discount Promotions:
Clients who sign up for a quarterly or annual discount promotion must fulfill the entire duration of the agreed-upon period to retain the discounted rate. If the service is canceled before the period ends, the discount will be revoked, and the standard service rate will be applied retroactively. By using our month-to-month services and accepting any promotional discounts, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.
Holiday Closures:
We typically do not provide services on the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. We’ll do our best to notify you ahead of time about holiday closures.
Missed Services:
If services are skipped due to holidays, all accumulated waste will be cleaned on your next scheduled scoop day at no additional charge. For more details on how missed services are handled, please refer to the How We Handle Missed Services section.
Optional Holiday Scooping: In some cases, we may offer holiday scooping services for an additional fee. Holiday scooping is entirely optional for our employees, and the additional charge is used to cover the holiday pay we provide to those who opt to work during that time.This service is offered on a first-come, first-served basis based on employee availability. If available, we will notify you with details on how to opt in.
We do not offer discounts for services missed during holidays, as the extra waste is cleaned up thoroughly upon our return.
Property Access & Dogs
Access to Property: You do not need to be home for cleanups. Please ensure easy access to your yard or gate.
Dogs in the Yard: Though we love interacting with our four-legged clients, we prefer that you leave them inside if possible to minimize any distraction for our tech. If you would like us to meet your dog, please inform us in advance so introductions can be made if you’re home.
Sanitizing & Deodorizing Services (Warm Months Only): We ask that your dogs be kept inside when we apply deodorizer and/or sanitizer spray to your lawn. If possible, please keep people and pets off the lawn until the spray has dried to ensure effectiveness. Once dry, your lawn will be fresh and ready to enjoy!
Aggressive Dogs: If you have an aggressive dog, they must be kept inside during our visit. In the event of an encounter with an aggressive dog, our staff will try to disengage to avoid escalation. However, our scoopers may be equipped with dog mace/repellent and may deploy it if necessary to protect themselves. By allowing us to service your yard, you are granting permission for our staff to take these defensive measures should the need arise.
Waste Disposal & Equipment Sanitation
Disposal of Waste: The waste will be securely bagged and placed in your outside trash receptacle. If we do not have access to an outside trash can, the waste will be left near your gate or garage.
Equipment Sanitizing Routine: We sanitize our equipment after each job to ensure that germs, bacteria, and potential pathogens like Parvo, Ringworm, E. coli, Salmonella, and other harmful infections are not transferred from one yard to another. This process is essential in preventing the spread of contagious diseases, bacteria, parasites, and infections. Our disinfecting routine is a critical measure to protect both your pets and your family.
Lawn Signs
Placement of Lawn Signs: As part of our service, we may place Spruce Scoop lawn signs at your property to promote our services and provide a safety warning. These signs may be placed during each service visit and will remain in your yard until we leave.
Purpose of Lawn Signs: The signs not only advertise our services but also act as a warning to stay off the lawn until it is dry from the application of our deodorizer and sanitizer spray. Although all of our sprays are people, plant, and pet-friendly, we encourage everyone to stay off the lawn when possible to allow the treatments to dry and take full effect.
Gate Security Bands: We will leave Gate Security Bands around your gate handle or lock to if we are not able to secure it with your locking mechanism. This ensures that gates are securely closed after each service. These bands also act as a reminder that your service has been completed, and you can remove them from the gate as soon as you wish after confirming the gate is secure.
Gate Photos: Additionally, we will take a photo of your gate once the service is completed and send it to you via email or text for your records, ensuring that the gate has been properly secured.
Weather & Environmental Conditions: We strive to provide service rain or shine, but in rare cases, extreme weather conditions—such as heavy rain, more than two inches of overnight snow, temperatures below 15 degrees, or flooding, may create unsafe conditions for our scoopers. If this happens, we may need to skip your service. Any missed waste will be collected on your next scheduled visit. For more information on our missed service policy, please refer to the How We Handle Missed Services section.
Exclusions Areas
Obstructions: While we strive to clean your entire yard thoroughly, there may be certain areas that are difficult to access or impossible to service due to obstructions. These areas may include, but are not limited to: Under trampolines, piles of leaves, ice or snow, dense brush or thick foliage, areas with heavy furniture, playground equipment, or structures that impede access. Other obstacles that prevent our scoopers from safely or effectively accessing the waste.
Hard Surfaces: The spraying of deodorizers are not included for hard surfaces such as around pools, decks, patios, and other non-organic surfaces. Our deodorizer is applied only to organic areas like lawns, grass, and flower beds. We do not apply deodorizer to non-organic surfaces like driveways, walkways, or patios.
Waste in Excluded Areas: If waste is located in areas that are excluded due to obstructions, it will not be cleaned. The full-service fee remains due for the scheduled service.
Service Day & Schedule Changes
Consistent Service Day: Your service day will typically remain consistent each week. You will be notified if we decide to change it.
Route Optimization: To keep pricing affordable and service efficient, we optimize our routes for specific areas of town on specific days. Because of this, rescheduling services outside of these routes or changing your service day may not be possible at times.
No Set Appointment Times: Much like garbage collection, we optimize our routes the night before and are unable to provide a set appointment time. We do not schedule specific arrival windows. Our routes run from early morning until dark, so your service will be completed at some point during that day.
Permanent Service Day Changes: To maintain operational efficiency and keep our pricing as affordable as possible, your service day may change permanently due to route optimization or other operational needs. If this occurs, we will notify you in advance of the new service day and its effective date.
All Service Agreement & Cancelation
Month-to-Month Service Agreement: Spruce Scoop provides services on a month-to-month basis without the need for a long-term contract. Our services will continue to renew automatically each month unless canceled or paused by you.
Service Continuation: By continuing to use our services, you agree to the current pricing and terms. You are not bound by a long-term contract and may cancel or modify services as needed.
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel services at any time. However, you are responsible for paying the full-service fee for the current billing cycle. No refunds will be issued for services already paid for. We are more than willing to finish out services for the remainder of the month upon cancellation.
Cancellation Process: To cancel your service, we require a 7-day written notice via email. Upon receiving your cancellation request, we may require an additional form to be filled out before finalizing the cancellation. This process ensures we have enough time to adjust our schedule and remove you from our billing system. The cancellation will not be processed until all required steps have been completed.
Cancellation After Receiving Promotions: If you cancel services after receiving any promotional credit or discount, the promotional amount may be due in full.
Spruce Scoop Right to Cancel Services: Spruce Scoop reserves the right to cancel services at any time for any reason. We will provide a 7-day written notice via email before the cancellation. If the reason for cancellation stems from threats to our team, an unsafe work environment, or any form of abuse (either physical or verbal), we reserve the right to terminate services immediately, without prior notice. We take the safety and well-being of our team very seriously, and any behavior that endangers our staff or creates an unsafe work environment will not be tolerated.
On-Demand Hold
Pausing Services for Flexibility: Instead of canceling services, you can place your account on an On-Demand Hold. This allows you to retain your service slot while temporarily pausing services at a reduced rate. This option prevents future catch-up clean fees when you resume service.
Service Resumption: When you’re ready to resume services, we will return to your regularly scheduled day, and no additional catch-up cleanup fee will be charged as long as the On-Demand Hold was used appropriately.
Cancellation After On-Demand Hold: If you decide to cancel your services after being on an On-Demand Hold, the hold fee paid will not be refunded. The full monthly service fee will remain due for the remainder of the billing cycle.
Privacy & Data
Privacy Policy Highlights: When you accept the estimate and/or sign our Terms of Service, you also accept our full Privacy Policy, which is detailed separately. Below are the high-level points of our privacy practices:
Information We Collect: We may collect various types of personal information, such as details about your lawn, home, and other personal data relevant to the services we provide. This information will be used exclusively for service-related purposes and to enhance your customer experience.
Use of Photos and Videos: Photos and videos may be taken during service for marketing or educational purposes. Any identifiable or sensitive information (like license plates, house numbers, etc.) will be blackened or blurred to protect your privacy.
Security and Compliance: We follow PCI compliance protocols to ensure your personal and payment information is secure and protected.
Data Usage: We will not sell, rent, or lease your personal information. It will be used only to fulfill our services, process payments, and occasionally enhance your experience or communicate special offers.
Data Retention and Deletion: We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, in compliance with applicable laws. If you request, we will remove or update your information as needed.
Third-Party Services: If applicable, we use trusted third-party services to process payments or manage customer information. These services are required to comply with data protection standards and security protocols to protect your information.
Liability & Damages
Responsibility for Property Damage: Spruce Scoop takes every precaution to avoid damage to your property while performing services. However, we are not responsible for any damage to your lawn, gates, or other property unless caused by our negligence.
Pets and Allergies: While the products we use are people, plant, and pet-friendly, we cannot be held liable for any allergic reactions or sensitivities that pets may experience. We do recommend pets be inside during service, to ensure they are safe and comfortably away from the area being treated. All product details are available upon request.
Dog Treats Disclaimer: Occasionally, we may offer dog treats to your pets during our visits. While we make every effort to ensure the treats are safe and of good quality, Spruce Scoop is not responsible for any allergic reactions or adverse effects caused by the treats. By allowing our team to provide treats, you acknowledge that you are aware of any potential risks and take responsibility for your pet’s health and safety. If you prefer that we not offer treats to your dog, please inform us in advance.
Dispute Resolution & Governing Law
Dispute Resolution through Arbitration: Any disputes or claims arising out of or related to these Terms of Service will be resolved through binding arbitration. These Terms will be governed by the laws of Connecticut.
Indemnification:
Indemnification Clause: You agree to indemnify and hold Spruce Scoop harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from your use of our services or any conditions on your property.
Force Majeure
Liability for Failure to Perform Services: Spruce Scoop will not be held liable for failure to perform services due to events outside our control, including severe weather, accident, natural disasters, pandemics, or governmental regulations.
Amendments to Terms
Modifications of Terms: Spruce Scoop reserves the right to amend or update these Terms of Service at any time. Customers will be notified of any material changes to these terms. Continued use of our services after any updates constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms of Service.
Theft of Service & Debt Collection
Fraudulent Use of Services: Any intentional act of theft of services (including but not limited to fraudulent use of services or non-payment for services rendered) may result in legal action. Customers found attempting to avoid payment for services will be subject to legal penalties, and all unpaid amounts will remain due.
Debt Recovery: If a customer fails to pay for services rendered, Spruce Scoop reserves the right to take appropriate action to collect any outstanding debts. This may include utilizing third-party debt collection agencies or pursuing legal action to recover unpaid balances.
Customer Acknowledgement: By accepting our estimate, scheduling services, or continuing to use our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the Terms of Service outlined in this document by Spruce Scoop Dog Waste Removal LLC. If you have any questions about the Terms or require further clarification, please contact us at info@SpruceScoop.com or 203-850-7273 before continuing with the service.
