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CB Business and Industrial Review of Northland Fire / Ansul R-102 Fire Extinguisher System
Northland Fire / Ansul R-102 Fire Extinguisher System

Northland Fire / Ansul R-102 Fire Extinguisher System review: Go elsewhere 36

Author of the review
12:00 am EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

In January of 2007, I had an Ansul system installed in the kitchen of my bar/restaurant by Northland Fire. My old dry chemical system was outdated and I was told it might not put out a fire. They never told me about the requirement about the electrical portion (exhaust, makeup-air shutdown, etc) when the system installer finished putting in the new system, he told me it was good.

Shortly after they put it in, another technician from Northland comes out to "service the system" and he red tagged it! He said I still needed to have the electrical hooked up. I thought that was included in the install! So I had to spend the extra money to have that done. I already paid $3200! When I talked to the owner of Northland, the guy had the nerve to yell at me on the phone and he even swore at me!

Another company approached me a few months later, I know the guy because he used to work for Northland and he was always fair, friendly, kept me informed and up to date on what I needed, and treated me well. I decided to use this guy for my next service, because I was unhappy with Northland. After the first time I had the new guy service my system, Northland came in and told me the guy wasn't licensed, he wasn't insured (which he showed me was false, he IS insured and the State of MN. doesn't REQUIRE a license!) They also told me I had to have my system re-serviced because this guy was not qualified. WHAT? He used to work for Northland, but now he isn't qualified to work on Ansul? Northland even gave me a number to call, where a guy told me that No, he isn't certified.

This technician from Northland, who I had never seen before also really badmouthed the guy from the new company I used, his new business, and even told me that the guy was a ###! I also found out from a few other restaurant owners that they were hearing the same things!

If this is the way that Northland Fire chooses to do business, then I would highly recommend if you need an Ansul system, or need it serviced, that you go elsewhere. This practice of badmouthing your competition, rather than improving on your own service and treatment of your customers sucks! Northland seems to think they "own" all of their customers, and can say and do whatever they feel. If the owner of the other company really is a "###" as I was told, so what?!?! At least he seems to care more about the customer and their needs!

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

36 comments
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chris86
strawplans, US
Nov 04, 2013 10:30 pm EST
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most of what is being talked about is true i have been in this bis. for 20 years all thay care about
is the money not the service its the money most tecs are pd. a small salary and then part
on sales a motavated tec. will make 33% of what his service truck brings in ...THATS 33% OF
THE GROSS NOT THE NET... think about it. the average invoice for service on a 3 gal ansul
r-102 fire system in knoxville tn. is 189.00$ if the tec is making 16.00 per hr. most will do just
what he has to to keep the service office happy but if is getting a nice cut. look at what can happen to the 189.00 invoice this price includs the req.cks.that are almost never prefomed fuse links and
rubber caps but wate thare are a few problems with your system 3 nozzals are stoped up and
we replaced them at 65.00 each and your detection cable is frad we fixed it cost 175.00
and if the owner dose not have it fixed the tec. will red tag the system and send the inspection
report to the A.H.J AS A SYSTEM DEFICIENCIE and withen a week or two the owner will
get a visit from the codes inforcement most restaurant owners know this so thay just pay
the bill and move on. so a 189.00 bill turns into a 559.00 bill and the tec gets 33% of the
invoice for about 1hour.of work the worst part of this is the rubber caps and nozzels go into
a cleaning vat then instaled at another restaurant withen a week. owners ask for your replaced
parts thay are yours for more info go to www.ul300.com look at the discovor page

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Jan 19, 2013 11:11 pm EST
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Ha ha ha! So are you still into "Spongebob Squarepants"? Still got the Spongebob seat covers in your Northland Van? Yeah Ian, think I don't know that it's you that has been posting the comments singing the praises of Northland Fire? How did i figure out it was you? I traced your i.p, so don't try to deny it. HA, Still Posting about how wonderful life is at Northland?! Hmm, it looks like few, if any of the technicians that were hired at Northland AFTER I left are gone! Hmm, and it seems most everyone that was there when I was there is ALSO gone! Can you say "high rate of turnover"? If you look at J.N Johnson, Nardini, MN Conway, etc. they ALL have had most of the same technicians for YEARS if not more than a decade! Not Northland! It's a pretty damn good indicator of how that company treats it's employees!
And for the record, I was NOT fired from Northland for lying, cheating, and stealing as you continue to say. Had that been the case, I would not be able to hold the security clearance that I hold in my current career (yes, I have a career, not some BS job like that at Northland) Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed the first year+ that I worked at Northland, but Steve and Yesmine, and Brian changed, and it was NOT for the better. Yesmine was (and still is a ###!) and it became all about the money to them.
Also for the record, I did NOT get fired from AllSafe either, as you say, I left on my own free will to take a job in advertising sales, which sucked! But I don't owe you an explanation for anything!
But just so you know, Northland didn't put me out of business in regards to FIRE-X. The ridiculous business climate of Minnesota, with their taxes, and anti-business climate did. I grew SO tired of the hurdles with growth. Northland was founded before that anti-business climate had taken a foothold in that State. I also grew tired of some of the customers who didn't pay their bills. I got to the point I didn't enjoy that work anymore, and when the offer came for my current job came, I couldn't pass it up, so I sold out. Had that not happened, believe me, I would have continued my fight, and kept chugging along. So you may THINK you won, but FIRE-X is still alive and well under new ownership. And doing pretty good based on what I've heard.
But I've also recently heard Northland Fire & Security is gone! Taken over by a company that I won't name here. I hope all you pieces of ### from Northland aren't kept on board under the new ownership! Time to flush the toilet, and purge it of the ###, and actually have some good employees and management who treat their employees with respect and dignity. Something that Northland Fire & Security tossed aside years ago.

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Jun 06, 2011 8:10 pm EDT
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I'll let the website, and phone number speak for themselves as to the "old fashioned" customer service at Fire-X Fire Extinguisher Company.

http://www.fire-xfire.com/
[protected]

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Jun 03, 2011 3:01 am EDT
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I'll let the photo speak for itself as to the wonderful work environment at Northland Fire.

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youbetcha
Center City, US
May 28, 2011 3:23 am EDT
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Wow, all I can say is wow. I just finished reading this whole complaint, and it looks like both of you have some issues, but "FireguyMinn" as you call yourself, you need some serious help. There is some seriously scary anger issues going on in your life. I feel terribly bad for anyone in your life, to be subjected to that kind of anger, I would be scared for my life. And "FireCo Minn" as you call yourself, why don't you just let it be? Why do you need to keep poking and prodding at "FireguyMinn"? I mean telling him he was fired for, what was it, lying, cheating and stealing? That's just downright mean. What I don't understand, is "FireguyMinn" if you truly do have the report you acquired as part of the "Freedom of Information Act" then why is it that there are so many spelling errors? It seems to me, that if it is an official court document, that the spelling is something that would be checked quite thoroughly. I don't have too much experience with court documents, but I would think that would be an important detail. It appears that you recieved that information, second hand, maybe from a current or former employee, of either NFS or McDonald's. That McDonald's may have burned down, I don't know, and I really don't care enough to check, but I did check both the NFS and the Fire-X websites. NFS seems to have a somewhat decent website, and Fire-X has none, I tried the web address that is on the Fire-X Better Business Bureau profile, and that didn't work, I also called the phone number attatched to it, and it said "this number is not in service." Have you closed down? Could your business not survive with you over in the middle east, as "FireCo Minn" states? If that is true, that is a pretty crappy way to treat your customers. Running off, leaving your customers, just so you could make some more money to, as you put it, "And I'm making over $100, 000 a year tax free doing what I'm doing! (Thank you, because if you pay your taxes, you are also paying me!) Ha hahahahahahah! I bet that really pisses you off! I'll have my house paid off in less than a year, my car (a 2007 Mercedes) is paid off, my service van is paid for, and all of my equipment is paid for." Yet nothing about how your current customers are, or were being taken care of. It was all about you, and some more of that anger that you have inside you. And "FireCo Minn" you can't go around telling him he isn't certified in something, this Ansul certification, when you are not certified by many of the other companies, as "FireguyMinn" states. Even if he isn't certified by this Ansul company as you state, isn't it the customer who is paying the bills? Isn't it their ultimate decision? If they want to use a non certified company, then that is their choice, not yours to make for them. Both of you need to seek some serious mental help.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Dec 03, 2010 5:47 pm EST
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You said: "or(this one may hurt) I may be someone who just doesn't like you at all."
Oh boo hoo hoo! Think I really give a rats A$$ whether YOU like me? HaHa, thats a laugh! Thanks for the joke! And as difficult as it still seems to be for your pea-sized brain (if you've even got one at all), I am not the poster of all the messages on here as you continue to think. Is it so outside the realm of your nomal thinking that perhaps there just may be some unhappy NFS customers out there? Anywhere?
Okay, so you seem to think you know who I am, while you sit anonymously behind your computer, probably still living in mommies basement no doubt, posting the drivel that you continue to defend what you believe to be such a wonderful company! (The below information was obtained as part of the "Freedom of Information Act)

FACT: In November, 2003 a fire occured in a deep fat fryer at the McDonalds Restaurant located in Big Lake, MN. Upon discovery of the fire, the manager of said McDonalds activated the Ansul Fire Suppression System. All that happened was a slight "Puff", and no agent came out. The fire spread rapidly from the fryer and up the wall. The manager called 911 and evacuated the restaurant. The Big Lake Fire Chief was first to arrive on scene about 1 minute of receiving the call and attempted to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher with no success. The Arriving Units from the Big lake, MN. Fire Department had to mount a Defensive Fire Attack as the Building was unsafe to enter do an offensive attack. The building was a total loss!
The cause was determined to be a malfunction of the temperature control of the fryer unit. The Ansul R-102 Fire Suppression System was under contract for mainternance by Northland Fire & Security, of Edina, MN. The system malfunctioned and did not operate properly to extinguish the fire. The entire fryer assembly and enclosed fire suppression system was extricated from the resturant after the fire and securely relocated to a warehouse located in Eden Prairie, MN. for the forensice evaluation/investigation. Further investigation revealed that the Gasket that is supposed to be installed in the cartridge receiver was missing. It is speculative that the last technician to service the system neglected to re-install this critical part of the system. Therefore, the cartridge seal was not tight, and gas from the cartridge escaped from around the neck of the cartridge, thus not providing enough expellant gas to properly pressurize and operate the system.

Yep, Great Company!

Keep up the good work! I'll be posting photos soon from when NFS was on Strike (or at least the "walkout") from October of 2008 when the techs were going through their dispute with NFS and the NLRB claiming Unfair labor practices!

That is unless you shut your F'n mouth! Hows THAT grab ya? Post your name here FireCoMinn and I'll drop it. Otherwise, I've got more factual information that I can post. It's up to you!

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Nov 30, 2010 7:11 pm EST
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan/fiiire" - It has been 111 days, I have missed you.

You seem to have missed the point yourself. As I stated 111 days ago, and I quote, "You have no idea who I am. I may work for NFS, I may be a former employee who left on good terms, I may be a friend of the company, or(this one may hurt) I may be someone who just doesn't like you at all." So I have no idea whether or not NFS services these Amerex KP systems, or Kidde systems, or whatever else. Having been in the restaurant business, I do know that Ansul is the foremost brand, and is in the majority of restaurants nationwide. Therefore; being certified by Ansul seems to be pretty important. It really wouldn't matter if you were certified by the State of Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, or anywhere else. YOU ARE NOT ANSUL CERTIFIED! Therefore, YOU CANNOT SERVICE ANSUL SYSTEMS! Answer me this, what happens when one of your customers calls the Ansul number and asks if you are certified to work on their systems? I wonder what Ansul would say. If I were a customer of yours, and you told me you were certified, and I then called to verify your certification with the manufacturer, and discovered that you, in fact, are not certified to work on their system, and you have also just nullified the warranty and maybe even my insurance, I would be pretty upset. For one, I was just lied to, and that would infuriate me to no end; for another, I couldn't trust you at all(after just being lied to), so I would not know if I was just cheated out of anything, other than you pretending that you are certified. Again, I really feel bad for your customers, you are clearly still very angry, and bitter about being fired by NFS, and may need some professional help in dealing with these issues.

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fiiire
Luck, US
Nov 30, 2010 3:20 am EST

Notice that NFS completely avoided the facts that FIreGuy Minn pointed out...

"Do you service Amerex KP systems? Yes you do! Are you certified to service Amerex KP systems? NO, You Are Not! But you do it anyway! Are you certified to service range gaurd systems? Last time I recall you weren't. Are you certified to service Kidde systems? Yet again, no I don't recall that you are. I believe the only training any of the techs there have receive is from Ansul. I don't recall anyone training or certifying on PyroChem, Amerex, Badger, Buckeye (I guess they make systems now too) Kidde, Range Gaurd or anything besides Ansul!"

What's your response to that NFS? Seems you've stuck your foot in your mouth haven't you?

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 11, 2010 4:31 pm EDT
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan" - I am not here to accomplish anything, I don't need to, you are doing that for me. I am merely standing up for a company that doesn't deserve these downright blatant accusations, which don't border on slander and defamation of character, THEY ARE SLANDER AND DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER! You see, you came on this website for whiners and complainers who no one will listen to, to tell lies, and defame a good company. Because you are obviously bitter, and angry(and judging by the escalation of your posting, growing angrier and angrier) about being fired for lying, cheating and stealing from NFS. I can only assume that the other 2 fire companies you worked for, more than likely fired you for something along the same lines. That's probably why you had to start your own company. I am on here defending the name of this great company, and to point out your lies, not only to NFS, but to your customers too. You are on here to cut down a good company. I am here to defend them. You are here to throw around curse words, and empty threats, not only to the great company of NFS, but also to me directly. I am here to show everyone who reads this, just how angry and bitter you are, not only at NFS, and probably the other companies too, but at yourself too. You might want to seek some professional help when you get back, it can't be good for you.

I am so proud of you for having your car paid off, and your service van, and your equipmet, and for having your house paid off within the year. You don't know how many nights I have lost sleep wondering if you were able to pay off all your precious belongings. I couldn't care less about what kind of car you have, how much you make in a year, and so-on. Here's a little lesson, money doesn't buy happiness. You don't need a 2007 Mercedes to be happy, you just need to be happy with yourself, which you are clearly not, judging by all the anger, resentment and bitterness that has come out in all your postings.

It doesn't really, matter my identity. I am not hiding behind a computer like you are, with all your different identities. You see, I have used the same login EVERY posting. Unlike you "Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan." And I have figured out who you are. You have no idea who I am. I may work for NFS, I may be a former employee who left on good terms, I may be a friend of the company, or(this one may hurt) I may be someone who just doesn't like you at all. I have no problem meeting up with you "face-to-face." I will say everything I have said here to your face, I am not worried at all, and I'm pretty sure I don't need "balls"( as you so delicatly put it) to face you.

There you go again with the words "nuclear option" from over there in the Middle East. You know the freedom of information act allows the government to read all these websites. If I were you, I'd be very, very cautious about how you use those words these days. And, if and when you get back, feel free to do whatever your cold heart desires with your "great plan up your sleeve." I again will not lose any sleep over nothing.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 10, 2010 11:12 pm EDT
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I bet you wouldn't have the balls to meet me face-to-face and say the things you post on here while hiding anonymously behind your computer. You must know who I am, so lets see if you have the guts to post your real name here! You also obviously work for NFS!
I will be home at some point later this year, and would love to have a face-to-face meeting and see just how brave you are then!
Also, you must have called my business number, because you know that I'm in the middle east. And I'm making over $100, 000 a year tax free doing what I'm doing! (Thank you, because if you pay your taxes, you are also paying me!) Ha hahahahahahah!
I bet that really pisses you off!
I'll have my house paid off in less than a year, my car (a 2007 Mercedes) is paid off, my service van is paid for, and all of my equipment is paid for. So when I get home for good, there is absolutely NOTHING standing in my way. I stopped taking any new customers before this gig was in the works and it looked like I was going to be heading back over. It really is a very lucrative deal. Looking out for myself or my business, myself takes priority. And with the economy tanking like it is, the timing couldn't be better. But when I get home, all bets are off.
And the "Nuclear Option" for obvious reasons I won't be able to do until I return home! But mark my words, I do have a great plan up my sleeve. Even though you don't think there is anything. I almost played the card last summer, but had serious reservations.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 10, 2010 10:17 pm EDT
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Again-What exactly is it that you are trying to accomplish here?

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 10, 2010 1:33 pm EDT
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan" - So, you are going to complain, again, to someone else. About a company that fired you, for lying, cheating and stealing. Hmmm, there seems to be a pattern developing here. You don't get what you want, and you complain. You get confronted, you complain. You don't get what you want, and you complain. You get proven wrong, you curse, and insult. You don't get what you want, and you complain.

I know nothing of the Lunds Bakery in Eden Prairie. I do know that Lunds is a very big, very good, and very lucrative company. Whomever they would use for their contracts, would have to be certified, licensed and insured to perform service they require, and prove it. They wouldn't sign a contract with a company who isn't even certified. They are smarter than that. They don't need a someone like NFS to tell them not to use an uncertified company.

I think you need to open up a dictionary and read the definition of slander and defamation. Slander: "A malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report." Defamation: "The act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel." Did you notice in both of the definitions it says "false, " nothing I have said here is false, everything is completely true. Again, I know the truth hurts, but you were fired for lying, cheating, and stealing. The sooner you can come to grips with this, the sooner all this can end. I am sorry for you, that your misfortunes have come to light. You also may want to look in the mirror, when you throw around accusations like these.

And keep in mind, YOU are the one who has been slandering, YOU are the one who is defacing the character of NFS. YOU are the one directly insulting ME when I have been pointing out facts. YOU ARE NOT AN ANSUL DISTRIBUTOR, YOU WERE FIRED FOR LYING, CHEATING AND STEALING. So when you go to the BBB, and show them this thread, you do know that they will see what you have been writing too, right? The things you have been writing have been the definition of slander, and defamation of character. YOU are threatening NFS. YOU are cursing. And anyone who reads this thread can see you are very bitter person for being caught; and subsequently fired, for lying, cheating, and stealing. I don't know what the BBB is going to do to me, I am not even a member. But you are, thanks for the idea, maybe I will tell NFS to give them a call.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 09, 2010 10:35 pm EDT
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Do you service Amerex KP systems? Yes you do! Are you certified to service Amerex KP systems? NO, You Are Not! But you do it anyway! Are you certified to service range gaurd systems? Last time I recall you weren't. Are you certified to service Kidde systems? Yet again, no I don't recall that you are. I believe the only training any of the techs there have receive is from Ansul. I don't recall anyone training or certifying on PyroChem, Amerex, Badger, Buckeye (I guess they make systems now too) Kidde, Range Gaurd or anything besides Ansul! And nobody over there has received any training on portable fire extinguishers except how to change a tag and maybe indentify whether it's due for 6 year or hydrstatic testing.
If you look at the back side of a fire extinguisher it says: "Service must be performed by an authorized Amerex/Badger/Ansul etc. distributor". You don't follow that either, and nobody else does!
I don't care what your opinion is on where I've worked! Frankly it is none of your damn business! You ARE digging yourself and Northland Fire into a deeper and deeper hole, although you are just way too stupid to realize it.
What is it exactly you are hoping to accomplish by continuously posting your crap out here? Like it or not, you WILL be silenced fairly soon. I have already begun the process now of filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau now! If you read their bylaws and code of conduct, YOU ARE CLEARLY VIOLATING IT!
You cannot say that you haven't been warned! I have posted several warnings for you to basically STFU, yet you continue anyway. Just like when I was very close to getting the Lunds Bakery account in Eden Prairie, yet "someone" from Northland told them not to do business with me as I "was facing legal action!" What? Another lie from Northland? Boy, if I'm facing legal action, I really, really wish you'd bring it.
I will end up having my day in court against Northland Fire. Because what you are doing here is out and downright slander and defamation of my character. With each posting you put here I am provided with more and more to bolster my case, so keep on talking! They already lost one legal fight against me when they tried to fight me on the non-compete clause (Yeah), and they'll lose the next one too.

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 09, 2010 1:53 pm EDT
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan" - You, yet again, seem to be missing the point. I am only stating the obvious, YOU ARE NOT AN ANSUL DISTRIBUTOR, YOU CANNOT SERVICE ANSUL SYSTEMS! Even with your "International" certifications, YOU CANNOT SERVICE ANSUL SYSTEMS. So, therefore, by telling your customers you can, YOU ARE LYING TO THEM. Just like when you were caught lying, cheating, and stealing from NFS.

Honestly, I could care less what you and your "lawyer" think of what I am writing. I am merely standing up for a great company; who treats their employees, and customers the right way, obviously they are doing something right, the company has been around since the mid-80's, and have some employees who have been around 10 plus years. People don't stick around that long if the company isn't doing things right. Just because you couldn't make it, just because you were fired for lying, cheating and stealing, doesn't make it a bad company. I know it's hard to comprehend. But from what I have heard, NFS isn't the first fire protection company you worked for, is it? How did the other two companies you worked for turn out? You obviously aren't working for them, so does that make them bad companies too? Did you ever stop to think that it might just be YOU, and not the numerous companies you have worked for?

By the way, I wonder how you are able to provide that "old-fashioned service with today's technology" from the Middle East? Nevermind, I hear you've forwarded your service on to another company; who is also not licensed, or certified to service Ansul systems, for your customers. Boy you really do care about the quality service that goes on that tag, "After all, it is my name & reputation that goes on every service inspection tag!"

Also, you might want to watch how you use the words, "nuclear options" from where you are(the Middle East). I hear the government isn't too keen on that kind of stuff.

All I have been reading over the past week have been empty threats. I don't think, no, I know you don't have anything, if you did, you would have brought it out long, long ago. And everything you have been writing, thus far, has been far from "humanitarian, and compassionate." I weep for your customers if you ever show them your"humanitarian, and compassionate" side.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 08, 2010 7:23 am EDT
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MinnFireCo: That's okay, keep running your spin with your misleading information and lies. All that you are doing now is bolstering my case against Northland Fire and Security, Inc. for defamation and slander and adding fuel to the fire.
My attorney was curious, is anyone in management or the owners of Northland even aware that you are out here posting this stuff speaking "on behalf" of the company? He has serious doubts, and would be quite surprised if they are.
Another warning: You are pushing me closer and closer to playing the awesone trump card I have had in my possession for awhile now but have been very, very hesitant to use. It is a trump card I like to call the "Nuclear Option". If I play it, it will almost seem as though a bomb had gone off at ALL of Northlands offices throughout the State. They wouldn't know what hit them until it was too late.
*Insert legal disclaimer here:* Before you go running off claiming I'm making terroristic threats against Northland, the "nuclear option" I am referring to is 100% legal under the laws of capitalism.
With the Nuclear Option that I have available at my disposal, Northland would most likely be forced to lay off some employees, while my company would most likely grow exponentially. One major reason I am hesitant to use it is that I do not like to see people lose their jobs and become unemployed, especially in this economy. However, if I feel that if is the only option left, I WILL play it.
How are you going to explain to your fellow employees that you caused the loss of their jobs (maybe even your own job may go) if and when I play the card I'm holding?
I know you think I'm joking, but I could not be more dead serious than I am. Although Northland would still remain in business (maybe) however, some things would be seriously scaled back. Which could even result in the owners losing their home to foreclosure or the need to downsize. But to show my nice, humanitarian and compassionate side, I'd pay for the moving trucks!

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 08, 2010 1:21 am EDT
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan" - You are missing the point. You may very well be certified Internationally, I couldn't care less, you could be certified on Jupiter and Mars for all I care. YOU ARE NOT AN ANSUL DISTRIBUTOR. YOU CANNOT SERVICE ANSUL SYSTEMS. PERIOD(good luck proving that in a court of law). So as far as Ansul is concerned, YOU ARE NOT CERTIFIED. As it states in the Ansul manual and the owner's guide, and I quote again "Do not allow anyone except an authorized Ansul distributor to perform maintenance on your Ansul system." Ansul may or may not be an accredited agency, but, you don't need any international certification to service Ansul systems, you need to be an Ansul distributor. Any type of service you perform on any Ansul system, even weighing a cartridge with your "digital scale, " or aiming one nozzle with your "laser-aiming device" renders anything with the Ansul system null and void. So by telling your customers you can service their Ansul systems, you are lying to them. That does not sound like "old-fashioned" service to me. Your customers may be saving money, but they are sacrificing so much more when they hire FIRE-X to service their Ansul system.

I recently found out about the company you are using in the northern Minnesota area. They know nothing about fire suppression systems. They only change links because they say that's all they were trained to do. I only wonder, if that's how you train someone else to service systems, how can you possibly perform service on systems yourself correctly, International certifications and all. I also wonder what your customers would think if they found out how you truly feel about your business and your desire to even be in the field at all, after all you did say, and I quote "I would honestly like to leave the business all together as I'm getting bored with it! Sell off everything I have related to the business and move on to other interests." That sounds like a truly devoted business owner who really cares about their customers. Good "old-fashioned" service, yet again.

I wonder what your customers would think if they read everything you've written on here. I'd be scared if I were them. All the cursing, and the anger. I only wonder what happens when one of your customers tries to question your certifications. I would be very scared. Good "old-fashioned" service, yet again.

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Robert
, US
Aug 07, 2010 6:46 am EDT

All I can say is wow! I'm glad I don't work for either of your companies! You both sound like a couple of nut whackjob losers who need to get a life! But the company I work for, we service Ansul systems as well and we're not Ansul trained! We go by the manual and have never had a problem. We don't service that many Ansul though, most of our sytems are Badger. I hate doing systems anyway because they are filthy! I'm happy just doing fire extinguishers.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 06, 2010 11:49 pm EDT
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First of all FireCoMinn, My Certifications aren't State of Minnesota certifications as you seem to think. They are International Certifications! ICC (International Code Council) They are INTERNATIONAL! In case you are too stupid to look at the www.iccsafe.org website, There are currently 11 people in the State of Minnesota CERTIFIED in Pre-Engineered Kitchen Suppression Systems (most of them from the larger companies). About 26 are CERTIFIED in Portable Fire Extinguishers (also from the larger companies). Those companies are being what is called ProActive (look it up, it's in the dictionary) They know that eventually Minnesota will require it! And they don't want to wait until the last minute scrambling to get everyone on board. But look at the OTHER States who HAVE adopted more current editions of NFPA 10, NFPA 96 and NFPA 17A: In those states, several people are certified with ICC! because they're REQUIRED to be certified through an accredited agency in their respective States, which ICC is an accredited agency! Their Ansul Trainining means SQUAT at that point! Other than they were trained by the factory! Which is not, I repeat NOT an accredited agency! When the State of Minnesota adopts the next editions of NFPA, you will be REQUIRED to hold an accredited certification if you want to remain in your field. Bottom line! If you are too stupid to realize this, then there is no hope for you.

And at FIRE-X Extinguisher Company, I inspect EVERYTHING thoroughly! I check the chemical quality and level EVERY TIME! I replace the fusible links EVERY TIME (Semi-annually)! I do NOT change the o-rings yearly as Northland does (because it's NOT REQUIRED!) So I'm not RIPPING OFF MY CUSTOMERS and charging them $10 an o-ring and $6.95 for a cartidge gasket that doesn't NEED to be replaced like Northland does) That TOO is straight out of the Ansul manual (but I doubt you've ever read it, all you post are talking points) I trip the gas lines to make sure it shuts down, I remove and check EVERY NOZZLE, I aim every appliance nozzle with a laser-aiming tool for pin-point accuracy (Todays Technology) I weigh each and every cartridge with a digital scale which gives me the exact weight (Today's Technology). Periodically, I insert and cut a test link to make sure there's no lag-time in the detection line, I adjust the trip hammer assembly if necessary to make sure the tension is proper, I check each nozzle cap for cracking and splitting at each service interval and replace if needed. I replace each nozzle cap annually as required per Ansul, I check to make sure the system is still configured for the kitchen as designed. When I finish at a customer location, I walk out knowing that if they have a fire, the system is going to work. That is the quality service that FIRE-X customers get from me.
Think what you want to think, but I am licensed, I am insured, I am certified, I am Ansul trained, so DO NOT continue to insinuate that I am NOT! The more you guys keep saying that [censor] and telling customers that I am not does nothing more than to fire me up even further and makes we want to keep going after MORE Northland customers! And if it continues, I will initiate legal action for slander! I can PROVE in a court of law that I am licensed, I can PROVE in a court of law that I am insured, I can PROVE in a court of law that I am certified! I can PROVE in a court of law that I am being slandered and can get legal depositions from customers who have said technicians from Northland Fire and Security have slandered me (some have even agreed to do it!) You, on the other hand would be very hard pressed to prove that I have posted all the comments on here as you continue to insinuate, as it is simply not true. So how far do you want to take this? Maybe, just maybe, if the technicians and ownership and management of NFS actually thought about stopping this childish [censor], I may stop going after Northland stuff. You have a choice: Stop the [censor], or I'll just keep on fighting and keep taking more and more from you. It gives me great pleasure to know that when I walk out from another Northland customer that I just took, I just took more money from Northlands pockets and/or bank account. That, is the ultimate satisfaction. I am not biiter or pissed off about having left Northland. Everything happens for a reason. I left there in 2006 to take a job in Iraq working as a firefighter because I was dissatisfied with my treatment over there as everyone else was. I just chose to leave. Best thing I ever did. Northland must really view me as a threat to their business when they have to resort to the tactics that they resort to. Lastly however, I would honestly like to leave the business all together as I'm getting bored with it! Sell off everything I have related to the business and move on to other interests. I have an interest in an area that could fill a niche that is seriously lacking in the Twin Cities, but I'm not going to try to operate both. I do NOT want to continue fighting this [censor], but I will if it continues. You can take the ethical and moral high ground and put this [censor] to rest, or remain in the gutter and keep it going. Which doesn't make either one of us look good, is not consistent with the values or rules of NAFED and is not consistent with the values of the Better Business Bureau and it's rules. Both Northland & FIRE-X could have our memberships suspended from the BBB and Northland could be suspended from NAFED for this kind of crap. Just a little something else to remember!

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 06, 2010 9:28 am EDT
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan" - Just because you hold some State certification deeming you "certified" to service fire suppression systems, does in fact NOT make you CERTIFIED to service Ansul systems. You may very well have passed an Ansul course, but seeing as you are not an Ansul distributor, any and all service work you do on any Ansul system is null and void. As you well know (or should know if you truly did pass an Ansul course) it states in the back of the Ansul owner's manual and I quote "Do not allow anyone except an authorized Ansul distributor to perform maintenance on your Ansul system." Ansul will not back you up, and neither will the insurance companies for all your unfortunate customers. You can stand behind all the certifications you want to, but the Ansul one is the one that matters, you and I both know that. And seeing as how you are not an Ansul distributor, you are therefore not LICENSED to service those systems either. And since you are not an Ansul distributor, you are not insured to service Ansul systems, as Ansul requires a multi-million dollar insurance policy.
So as far as being able to compete with you on price, we can't, you don't have to carry all the necessary licenses, certifications, and insurance required to correctly service your customers Ansul systems. And as you said before again I quote "A lot of things were now being overlooked. Nozzles weren’t being checked (but we were replacing some anyway, whatever we felt we could get away with), cartridges weren’t getting weighed, and chemical in the tanks wasn’t getting checked as often, o-rings weren’t being replaced, yet we were still charging the customer for them. Red tanks were replaced sometimes with the new stainless steel tanks even when there were no problems." If that is how you serviced systems when you worked for a licensed, certified, and properly insured company, I only wonder, and am a little concerned for your customers, how you service Ansul systems now; without the proper certifications, licenses, and insurance. Again, that sounds like good "old-fashioned serivice" WITHOUT todays technology. That is not hard service to contend with. I'm not worried there.
And the more you post, the more I post, and the more your other identities post, just shows how disgruntled you are about being fired from NFS for lying, cheating, and stealing. It doesn't look good for Fire-X customers. I wouldn't want someone with this kind of anger and attitude "servicing" my fire/life safety equipment.

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 05, 2010 11:52 pm EDT
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For your information "FireCo Minn", I am not the same person as "Bill" or any of the others as you seem to think I am. I have no idea who any of the other posters are on this website/forum. As hard as that may be for your pea-sized brain to comprehend, there may just be others out there who are disatisfied with NFS's service and/or treatment of their customers or employees. I found out about the existance of this website several months ago when I ran into the owner of another small company (who also did some install work years ago for NFS) that I also run into sometimes at a company in St. Paul that I get some of my supplies from. He told me to Google for it. He told me there's a "whole web-page" of stuff about NFS. So don't go putting words in my mouth alleging that I am the sole poster to this forum! I tried to contact the original poster and the second poster several months ago to find out who they are, but received no reply. FYI: I don't badmouth NFS to any of my customers, unless they ask me something about NFS. Otherwise, I don't talk about them. I have better things to do with my time than to post incessant crap about this company or that company. I wish I could say the same thing about NFS! I get reports from customers all the time that NFS technicians tell customers or potential customers: (1. That I am not licensed. (2. That I am not insured (3. That I am not certified (4. That I am not qualified (5. That I use non-certified parts in systems etc. etc. All of those things are untrue!
I AM licensed, and have been since early 2007. I AM insured, since the same time of my licensing. I AM Certified (more so than you probably) I am ICC (International Code Council) Certified (you can go to the iccsafe.org website to verify and do a search for ICC certified code professionals) I challenge you to take the same tests, but I doubt you'd pass though) I've been doing this type of work for over 15 years. I recognize some of the names that are listed on the ICC website, and there are certified guys from at least 2 of the larger companies in the Twin Cities area. The Certification requirement will eventually be adopted by the State of Minnesota, and just having Ansul Certification does not qualify you, sorry to say! Everyone will need to be certified through an accreditied agency (as I am!) And I attended the Ansul school for the 2nd time in March of 2008, I am also IFSAC Fire Inspector I & II Certified. You're welcome to visit my website for the full list of my certifications! (I'm sure you already have though). And ALL the parts I use are brand-new manufactured by Ansul or whoever the manufacturer of the system is that I am working on.
So all NFS can really say to customers about me and to be truthful about it is that I am NOT an Ansul distributor. Thats it! Unfortunately, they don't stop there. I have several customers that have told me that some tech from NFS "was badmouthing you bigtime!" One even said to me that the technician "slandered the [censor] out of you!" To be quite frank, this [censor] needs to stop! Compete against me on price, quality of service, or package deals, or whatever service options you have to offer, but stop going in telling lies! It doesn't serve me and it doesn't make you guys look any better either.
This is only the second time I posted to this thread (that I wish didn't even exist) But keep in mind: I just discovered that the more you post, the more I post, and the more anyone else posts, it raises the poularity of this board and moves it higher to the top of the list and gains more exposure! So if people just shut up and stop posting here, eventually it will move back down and be harder to find.

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 05, 2010 8:45 am EDT
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"Bill T/FireGuy Minn/Robert/Fireguide/Terry/Gregg/Anonymous Person/Jordan" -Stop hiding behind all these different names, we both know who you are. And Fireguy Minn was fired for lying, stealing and cheating the company, and there is substantial proof. I know, the truth hurts, that's probably why you are on here, complaining, on a website designed for people like you, who no one will listen to. I am sorry that your misleadings were discovered, and susequently acted upon, by NFS. If it were me, and I was caught red-handed, cheating, stealing and lying to a company, that you claim "gave you a great review, " and I can only assume from that "great review" treated you very well, then I would leave well enough alone. But clearly, as I said before, you have nothing better to do, and you are very clearly jealous of what NFS has done, and built over the many decades of fantastic service they have provided to the community. Every company has bad seeds, and they get dealt with accordingly, as you well know. And I hope you don't service your "customers" like you stated you did when you worked for NFS, you said, and I quote "A lot of things were now being overlooked. Nozzles weren’t being checked (but we were replacing some anyway, whatever we felt we could get away with), cartridges weren’t getting weighed, and chemical in the tanks wasn’t getting checked as often, o-rings weren’t being replaced, yet we were still charging the customer for them. Red tanks were replaced sometimes with the new stainless steel tanks even when there were no problems." That sounds like top-notch "old-fashioned" service to me. And you wonder why Fireguy Minn was fired. As I said before, I hope your "customers" meet the real you. That will just mean more business for all the companies who don't provide half-assed service like that of which you provided when you were a "great" employee at NFS.
I don't need to work for another company in the industry, a great company can strive in any industry. I only need to know what a great company is when I see it; owners that care about their employees, and their customers, and care about providing the best service; and having all the correct licenses, certification, and insurance, to ALL their customers, no matter what the industry is.

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Bill T.
Apple Valley, US
Aug 05, 2010 1:04 am EDT
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If, as you claim that FireguyMinn was "Fired" for lying, cheating and stealing, I sure hope you got something to back up that claim. To come on here and accuse someone of theft or other perceived criminal activities borders on defamation and slander. Everything I've read in the above posts about Northland Fire & Security is absolutely true! Perhaps the company has changed, but I highly doubt it. A tiger doesn't change it's stripes. I know many people if the fire equipment field and I've heard many horror stories about the treatment of current and former Northland employees and have heard about and seen more than my fair share of shoddy work. If you work for Northland Fire & Security as it appears to be the case, check back to this exact same page in maybe a year or 2 and see if you still feel the same way!
There's a reason why just about every other company in the Twin Cities somehow manages to keep the same technicians on for several years (some for 20+ years and longer) and Northland Fire & Security can't seem to keep anyone for more than a few years. Coincidence? It's because Northland treats their employees like [censor] and until they start treating them right, Northland Fire will remain a "second-rate" company. Let me ask you this: Have you ever worked for another fire equipment company? No? Then you don't have the experience of having worked for a "Good" company! Once you've had the chance of having worked for someone else, you'll see the grass is MUCH greener on the other side. You just don't realize it.

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FireCo Minn
St. Louis Park, US
Aug 04, 2010 10:32 am EDT
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Fireguy Minn - It is clear that you have nothing better to do than to complain about a former company that you worked for, and were subsequently fired from, for lying, cheating, and stealing. Is this how you treat every other job you were at? It didn't work out for you, so you complain about them, on a website for complainers? If you truly have started your own company, and it is doing well(as you claim), then shouldn't you be worrying about your customers, rather than complaining about the past, and what didn't work out? I really hope your current "customers" do meet the real you eventually, that will just mean more business for NFS, and other upstanding companies like them.

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happy fireman
Minneapolis, US
Aug 03, 2010 8:03 am EDT

Well if you've read all of these complaints above it's not hard to figure out that these are ex-employees who have hatred for NFS. Every company out there has employees like these. You can never make anyone happy no matter how the company has policy set in place. The great thing about America is you don't have to stay at a job you don't like...QUIT and move on. Why complain about your bad fortune that YOU could have probably fixed yourself by doing your job and stop complaining! The guy above stated he use to work here OK so what now you don't so move on. This is the problem you get these types of employees who think everyone/owners owes them everything. Well you don't know what goes on behind the closed doors, The late and long hours that get put in when you own your own company. 80-100 hours a week staying late at night to make sure everything gets done so everyone gets a pay check. Which is ultimately the main goal for everyone working is get paid. Quit complaining, bad mouthing and move on in life. Life is to short to act like this!

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FireguyMinn
You don't need to know, US
Aug 02, 2010 2:31 am EDT
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As someone who worked “in the trenches” with NFS, I feel it’s time for me to weigh in: The first year-plus that I worked for NFS, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it. I was thoroughly satisfied with the job. There were a number of ideas that I brought to the company to not only make our jobs easier, but to increase income/profits for the company and put more $ in our pockets as well. I personally introduced a method for changing links that was faster and easier than the method they were currently using at the time. I also brought up the idea of replacing the “extended wand” type k-class fire extinguishers with new units based on NFPA-10 referring to the hazards of using the wand improperly could cause a “thermodynamic explosion” and as everyone in the fire equipment industry knows, if there is a way for someone to use a fire extinguisher improperly, they will! This enabled us to sell many more K-class fire extinguishers (thus increasing NFS’s profits!) Prior to my arrival at NFS, Ansul R-102 system nozzles were being checked for clogging by inserting a pin or wire into the orifice, at least that’s how I was initially trained. I was discovering duct nozzles (especially broiler systems at Burger Kings) that had clearly not been checked in a long time. By checking the nozzles more closely, we were able to replace more nozzles (also increasing NFS’s profits!) I also suggested we start replacing the red tanks with new, stainless steel tanks when systems were hydrotested, which would also minimize liability and also increase NFS’s profits among other things. As I said, the first year plus I worked for them was great! We had quarterly sales goals to meet and we all met/exceeded those goals and received bonuses for doing so. I was constantly researching codes and other things to try to make things better and more profitable. My goal was to help make NFS the “premier” fire protection company! With the goal in the back of my mind to someday hopefully become the service manager. The one and only review I ever received from NFS was rave! I could not have received a better one. I was given a good raise, and things were good!
Then, things changed.
Maybe 2 weeks later, the owners claimed the company was having some financial “difficulties” and there was going to have to be some belt tightening. All of us technicians at the time felt that if we needed to help out, we had no problem with it. So commissions were cut, the bonuses stopped (but we still had the sales goals to meet), we were told to try to take shorter lunch breaks by grabbing lunch on the way to the next service. Our hours were now limited to no more than 45 hours a week. For many of us, the cuts in our pay had negative effects. But we were trying to weather the storm. Then, a couple months later, we all noticed the wife half of the ownership team shows up with a brand-new BMW X5 SUV. We all found it to be a bit odd, but let it go. Then, not too much later, the husband half of the ownership team shows up with a new GMC Yukon Denali. Now we were really starting to wonder! We technicians had to cut way back. I got rid of a truck that I really liked for monthly payments $150 less than I was paying. Another tech had to get rid of one of the cars he and his wife had to try to make ends meet. Yet for some of us, it still wasn’t enough. Then the owners bought a very expensive, much larger home that summer. That was enough to know we had been lied to. So all the technicians met off-site one afternoon to discuss our grievances and concerns and foment a plan for discussing it to the owners. We were met with comments by the owner: “I’m so sick of hearing you guys [censor] about money, I’m ready to fire every f’n one of you and start over!” as well as: “If you don’t like it, you can f’ing leave!” So in order to try to make ends meet, we all started to cut corners on servicing systems so we could finish faster and get out the door to the next customer allowing us to make more money. A lot of things were now being overlooked. Nozzles weren’t being checked (but we were replacing some anyway, whatever we felt we could get away with), cartridges weren’t getting weighed, and chemical in the tanks wasn’t getting checked as often, o-rings weren’t being replaced, yet we were still charging the customer for them. Red tanks were replaced sometimes with the new stainless steel tanks even when there were no problems. After all, it wasn’t us technicians who would ultimately be liable if something went wrong! The owners were never going to listen to us technicians, so we did what we could to try to make up the difference. We just didn’t care anymore. It was more about making whatever we could rather than providing the service that the customers had a right to. Was it wrong? Yes it was! But we had our own bills to pay, and we determined that ownership/management was not going to listen to us pee-ons. I myself am anti-Union, but mentioned a number of times that this was one case where a Union could help. As it turned out, the guys who stayed behind after I left did in fact attempt to bring a Union in at NFS, but the owners fought that tooth and nail. They “fired” guys who voted for it, or found other ways to get rid of them, and the Union was then de-certified a year or so after it was initially voted in.
Myself, I finally grew so frustrated at NFS that I took an opportunity for another job, so I left NFS. It was amazing how things went from having a job I really enjoyed and supervisors/owners I respected to a job and supervisor/owners I really grew to despise. We became nothing more than money generating machines to them! “Mind-numbed robots” I used to say. It seemed they genuinely cared for their employees, but when I left, I felt as though they didn’t give a damn about any one of us.
Now, whenever someone calls NFS to get an employment reference on me, according to them, I am probably one of the worst employees they’ve ever had! Never mind the fact that I was told personally by the husband owner that I was very thorough at my job, I had a ton of knowledge and experience, and was an asset to the company! And never mind the fact the one and only review I received was great! NFS is just pissed that I started my own company and have taken some of their customers. But the best way for NFS to get me out of their hair (and to stop me from taking their customers with my company) is to give me the good reference that I am entitled to! So maybe then I can walk away from this industry altogether and get a job in a field I have been seeking so that I can leave Minnesota for good! Which is really what I would like to do! But if not, I’ll close my shop and my company when and if I choose to and am just tired of it, and not when NFS decides for me. So. . .how about it Steve? Care to reply?

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NFP/JDS
Brainerd, US
Jul 27, 2010 5:06 pm EDT

As a former & current employee of Northland I am just glad to have a job, I am sure some of the other comments listed are from other companies employees and x employees that have a beef with Northland. At Northland we just don't meet the the standards we set the standards. And we tell it like it is, this includes following state fire codes and standards, with trained and certified empoyees. SO IF YOU CAN'T COOK WITH THE BIG BOYS GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

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Coroline
Eden Valley, US
Mar 24, 2010 12:18 pm EDT

I love this report of Complaints. It makes a Small Business Owner so happy when these large companies, yell at there customers! If you want a "Fire guy" that actually cares about his customers call Korsmo Fire out of Eden Valley, MN

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fire extinguisher service
, IN
Mar 10, 2010 11:56 pm EST

To provide complete satisfaction and meet customers’ every demand, we are continuously rising to better and top class service in the area. We are distributor of Amerex Fire Extinguishers and Protex II restaurant systems. We are certified installers for Ansul and Phirana systems from Ansul Corporation. Any fire system we install we can also, at the customer’s request, have it legalized and also have the system written off.
With the help of our expert, certified and experienced technicians and staff, we are committed to deliver best possible service to every job-be it a high rise building in big city or stand alone construction. We continue to expand and are now offering Sprinkler maintenance, Fire Alarm testing. Rex Fire develops working relationships with their customers. One call does it all for the service and testing of all your protection needs. To know more, just visit our website http://www.rexfireinc.com

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Robert
, US
Jun 12, 2009 10:14 am EDT

I work in the Fire Extinguisher Industry and have dealings and interactions with numerous customers, both existing and potential new customers. What I can say is Northland is completely unaware of the level of customer dissatisfaction they have out there. But they don't seem to care about it either. They do seem to have the highest turnover of any other company in the Twin Cities, with technicians either quitting or getting fired all the time. When you look at the other companies, they seem to keep the same technicians on for several years! Which is good for the customer because it gives the technicians and customers the possibility to establish continuity. I can't say that I know what goes on at Northland, but comments from customers in the field tell a big story about the problems over there.

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Bill T.
Apple Valley, US
Feb 20, 2009 10:40 pm EST
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Northland Fire & Security Inc. is probably the WORST company that you could possibly use to service your fire equipment. Call Nardini, Minnesota Conway, J.N. Johnson or even some of the smaller outfits. The management at Northland treats their employees like crap, and always have. They have the highest turnover rate of ANY fire equipment company in the Twin Cities metro area. In fact, it is so bad, that the employees at the time got so fed up with thier treatment, they contacted a union earlier last year to start the process to become a union shop. The union was voted in during June of 2008 and a contract was presented to the owners; husband and wife team Steve and Yesmine Benz, who refused any negotiations, contracts, etc. They even fired or tried to fire employees who supported the union. A complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by the union, claiming unfair labor practices. Around the end of October, 2008 the employees of Northland Fire went out on strike against the company. Their service technicians are disgruntled, pissed off, take a lot of shortcuts servicing Ansul systems, that I wouldn't trust any system to function properly if Northland F&S serviced it. The owners, Steve and Yesmine fight regularly in the office, in the presence of the employees (and the occasional customer who walks in). Steve cusses out customers on the phone, and so does (or did) the "little-man syndrome", Brian when he WAS service manager.
Their only comeback when they lose an account is to badmouth the competitor, claim they have no insurance, no license, that they aren't trained, qualified or certified. They can't, or won't compete solely on prices or quality of service (because there IS NONE!) The other branches of Northland are just as bad: Northland Fire Protection, Northland Fire and Safety. They are all run by the same family yokels, relatives of Steve Benz. Like the previous posters all said, you'd be best to avoid this company.

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etmidden
Staples, US
Feb 18, 2009 1:24 pm EST

I work for a company in the Brainerd Lakes area and our extinguishers were due for their anual service this February. The tech from Northland showed up unannonced on the 5th to service our extinguishers and I told him that no work would be done without me seeing a quote first. Someone from the Brainerd office faxed me a quote in a timely manner, which ended up being just about twice as expensive as their local competition (Nardini). Needless to say, they lost our business. Now normally, this would be the end of it, but no, the individual that manages the Brainerd office was waiting for me the following morning to discuss why we had switched. He proceeded to browbeat me and pulled out a Nardini invoice from the Minneapolis area, all the while bad mouthing Nardini and their pricing. Mind you, I was only shown the first page of the invoice which is the list price. I was not shown the second page where the discounts where factored in. In any case, I told him that we had done significantly better on pricing, which was true. I was then told that if we were that hard up for cash, he would be willing to lose money for two or three years in order to keep our business. At this point, I was thinking, "Buddy, you just don't get it" and I was realizing that this conversation was not going to go anywhere, as I do not want any of our vendors to lose money. I want them to year in and year out charge us a fair price for services rendered. I also want the to understand that I will solicit competitive quotes from time to time. He was caught at not being competitive, but rather than asking for another chance at our business next year, as any sane sales rep would, he would rather try to strong arm and intimidate me and belittle his competition. To be honest, this was all a bit amusing, as I have been involved in this sort of vendor management for the last couple of years and have never seen a vendor react in such a backwards way to losing business. In any case, it was amusing until today. Today, February 18th, I found out that after I told them that they had lost the business, which was on the 5th, they still sent out one of their techs to one of our other facilities, unannounced of course, and the plant manager not knowing any better let them in to service the extinguishers there. This is simply playing dirty pool and will not be tolerated. So my advice to you is this: avoid this company. Avoid them like the plauge that they are.

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Fireguide
, US
Feb 06, 2009 8:25 am EST

They treat their employees terribly, the turnover speaks for itself.

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paul jones
,
Oct 12, 2008 6:11 am EDT

Hi.
I WORK WITHIN THE FIRE INDUSTRY, AND AS MY COMPANY IS LACKING ON JOBS FORMYSELF. ONE NIGHT I DECIDED TO LEND A HAND FOR, SOME KNOWLEDGE AND DOUBLE TIME PAY ON ANSUL SYSTEMS, WITH ANOTHER TRAINED EMPLOYEE.WHAT A NIGHTMARE DIRTY JOB TO DO., MY MANAGERESS EXPECTS ME TO START DOING EXTRA WORK( UNQUALIFIED) AND TO START SERVICING ON MORNING/ NIGHT SHIFTS.I TOLD HER THAT IM NOT INTERESTED IN ANSUL AND THAT WAS THAT.I THINK SOME COMPANIES ALSO JUST IN FOR THE MONEY, REGARDLESS OF LOOKING AFTER EMPLOYEES LEAVING THEM TO FEEL NIGLECTED. I WOULD AND WILL BE USING MY BRAIN NEXT TIME IM ASKED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! PJ

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Robert
, US
Oct 10, 2008 9:20 am EDT

What about the fire that burned down the McDonalds in Big Lake, MN. a few years back? I used to work there and I heard that Northland screwed up and that was why the Ansul system didn't operate when we had a fire in the deep fat fryer. Something about a gasket or o-ring or something that didn't get put in? Good thing nobody was hurt or killed when that happened. After knowing about that, and reading the above comments, NO WAY would I trust Northland Fire to service anything!

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Gregg
,
Aug 12, 2008 9:55 pm EDT

As a former employee of Northland, I agree 110% that the owners and managers treat the employees like crap! If I owned a restaurant, I wouldn't want the servicing my fire equipment!

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Anonymous Person
,
Feb 06, 2008 9:19 pm EST

I completely agree. Go elsewhere. Call Nardini. JN Johnson. Fairmont. Simplex. The "license" that the guy was talking about is referring to an Ansul license (from the Ansul Co.). It is just a certification from Ansul, the mfg. of the fire system, so that if any person or business owner has another "un-licensed person" service the Ansul system that Ansul will not be held responsible for any defects or problems with the system should a fire occur and significant damage is incurred because the Ansul system did not function properly. In actuality, Northland will not make sure that any system that they service is free from defects because so many crucial system components are skipped at every 6 month service. No alarms are tripped. Gas valves are not chekced to make sure gas shuts off. Nozzles are not always checked. Caps not always replaced. Etc., etc., etc. Why? Because Northland is not in the business of making, servicing, and insuring a working fire system. No. Northland is in the business of making money. The important pieces of the system are skipped because they are time consuming. Time is money. And the more and more systems that Northland can have their technicians crank out in one day means more money for the company. They don't care about you or the system. They care about money. No matter what happens or who services your system, Northland has the blame game worked down to a science so that if the system does not extinguish a fire, THEY WILL NEVER PAY, REPAY, OR BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE! The sad truth that goes with this is that Ansul will back them to insure that they will not be held accountable. Northland is a money making machine. They charge top dollar for parts that they don't pay for. They charge anywhere from 100-500% mark-ups. You never get what you pay for. You will be treated like crap. Customer service is terrible. Employee treatment is terrible. None of the employees like their job (only because of the mgmt and owners). Northland makes their employees work on McDonald's type wages and deducts wages illegally on a whim. They have no set schedules (do you want some guy to do some highly technical job after working a 14 hour day the day before and having to get up a 3 am after being told where to go just the night before at 7pm?). They fire people like the wind changes. Morale is non-existent. Training is lackluster and lazy at best. Employees are trained to do just enough work to make Northland a ton of money in a day, and then treated like the ### of the earth before they are inevitably dismissed. Do you really want some underpaid, pissed off, undertrained, angry, disgruntled technician servicing your expensive fire system? I don't. The management at Northland is run by a group of husband-wife, friend of the family yokels who do what they want, when they want. They are used to getting their way and that is that. If you think that just being yelled and sweared at on the phone is bad (being a customer), then you should multiply that by your own social security number and you can then imagine what it is like for the employees. They are all racist (only one non-white male works for the company, yet I've heard that many minorities have applied and been denied whether qualified or not). Sexist (no women are allowed to work in the field-women have applied and tried, but Northland takes the "men only" stance). And the word "###" gets used liberally by the owners and managers because they feel they were "infiltrated" by the former technician you speak of (he happened to be gay and they despised it).
Take my advice-GO ELSEWHERE! Avoid Northland Fire and Security.

A very good friend of mine was mistreated and abused by this company, and ultimately fired. How else would I know so much!

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