BBB issues warning on Monett sealant business

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to potential customers of Monett’s Seal Smart LLC.

The BBB received more than 50 complaints and negative customer reviews for Seal Smart in the last three years, most of which were in the last six months. The company has the lowest rating of “F” with the BBB and is labeled as “not BBB accredited.”

The complaints allege the business owned by William Vermillion failed to respond to complaints, canceled appointments and did not issue timely refunds. At the heart of the issue is Seal Smart’s 25-year warranty, with customers claiming they did not receive what was promised related to problems with the sealant applied to their wood decks, outdoor concrete or masonry, according to a news release.

“Businesses can quickly lose consumer trust by not promptly addressing warranty or other consumer concerns, especially when they’ve invested a lot of money in a product or service,” said Michelle Corey, president and CEO of BBB St. Louis, in the release.

The BBB first contacted Seal Smart in September 2016 concerning complaints of cracking and warping of wood after the company applied treatments. Seal Smart officials responded that the product doesn’t protect against cracking or warping, despite an advertisement on the company’s website suggesting it does.

In November 2017, Roy Vermillion — the owner’s brother and the company’s general manager — told the BBB that employees of Seal Smart were at fault for making promises to consumers the business couldn’t keep. New complaints continue to roll in despite Vermillion telling the BBB he was putting systems in place to better track customer communication, according to the release.

William and Roy Vermillion could not be reached for comment by deadline.