AS many of you know, Memorial Day weekend (end of May) we had severe tree damage as a result of a tornado.
I contracted the same company that had done a routine thinning of our oak trees in early spring this year, just a few months before the storm. This company has an excellent reputation which isn't hurt by the fact that a prominent garden store gives them referrals.
Welp, in the first place, they don't let you know up front how long it'll even take em to get the job done. Matter of fact, they always underestimate when they'll do something by a week or two or more. I've gotta believe that they know better, but just tell ya that.
Anyway, the trees are sooo badly damaged, that the last thing they needed was any further insult.
What concerns me is that there was an obvious split in a HUGE major limb that they never told me about, much less made any suggestions. This peeves me because one of the main reasons (besides proof of insurance and skill at trimming) that I hired them was for their recommendations for the health of the trees.
I called the area supervisor about their being a split so wide in this big limb that you could see through it, and that there was danger that it could fall on someone, so he told me he'd be here in a couple of days. Figured that was bull, but then the usual delay passed, and he just flat didn't show up.
Soooo, this weekend, after it'd rained, that was enough to pull the big limb with all the still mostly green leaves down to the ground. First thing Monday, I called and asked to speak to this area supervisor's boss. He told me he'd DRIVEN by and it had looked alright. Told him that it was on the back side where it looked the worst, but I don't see how he could've missed seeing it from the street either. Pretty poor supervision if you ask me, but anyway.
Welp, wouldn'tcha know it, he had the same guy I'd complained about call me back. The conversation went ok until I was forced to confront him about not calling me back as he'd promised, and that was weeks ago. He was probably correct in stating that it wasn't included in the estimate and that he'd not seen it as by the time he arrived, the broken limbs were all bent, brown, and hanging down, so it would've been hard to see them.
I hadn't noticed that they'd written on the contract that the quote was for hanging limbs, but since it was stated clearly that it was for hazard prevention, I should think that the crew foreman would've reported it, so that I could've had the option of paying a little more then to get it fixed while they were still up in the tree! Dah! Afterall, they have the expertiese, and were up close to the tare where they would've surely known this limb didn't have a chance of filling in, and would break. My next door neighbor had told me from almost day one that it would go.
Anyway, after I reminded the guy of his broken promise, he told me it'd be another 187.50 to remove this limb. I really think that alot of this charge is because they have to make another trip.
After I looked at the original estimate, I figured that what he'd charged was reallyl about what it would've been compared to what they'd charged for the routine stuff in the spring, and since I saw that it said "hanging limbs" I knew that that, at least, was probably true.
If I were in business, however, I really think that I'd be concerned about my reputation, and just do it for good will, but not these jokers. Actually, by their negligence, there was a longer tare in the bark that is probably gunna go into the main trunk before it's over. If it'd been taken care of in the first place, there would be much less damage to the tree.
When I talked to the guy over the first guy I complained to, he said that one of the guys had told him the tree might have to be taken down -- this is bull, so don't know WHY he'd say THAT, unless he wanted to destroy evidence.
I'm hoping and praying that both of our oak trees make it, as well as our neighbors as this street has beautiful oaks lining both sides of the street. This one is still tall, but the other one is now much sorter than it was.
Don't think they'll be too funny looking once they're filled in, but you never know. Guess eventually they'll be ready for a little shaping up, but I'll have moved by then, after Mom passes, I'm sure.
Oh back to the original supervisor guy who no-showed. When I at first told him I thought they should've taken care of it, and that they should make some allowance for damage they'd caused to the tree, he told me that I could just get someone else then.
Do you know what word of mouth does to a business? Bad press is much worse than good press, if you get my drift -- a well known fact.
I really don't think there's but one way to remove the limb now, and my yard guy does this, but it's soo heavy and could bounce back and hit him in the head, that I'm thinking of just getting an insured company to come out and take care of it. The other company was good about sending proof of insurance, and even had the insurance co. send something from Fla. headquarters.
Do you know that not one of these people even so much as apologized for their negligence in not suggesting this be taken care of immediately, for their lies about when the work would be done, or even for the no-show? I think they've just gotten too big for their britches, but they need to remember that what goes up can come crashing down around them if they continue to have this cavalier attitude toward their customers.
By the way, grannyh, they cover the whole city and surrounding areas, so I need to warn you about things like this happening in case you know someone out there needing a tree trimming. I think the thing to do is to write on the contract when you expect the work to be finished, and that if it's not, the contract is no longer binding. Forget how you have to word those things, but that's what I've heard you should do -- put a final date they have to do it in.
Also, I think it's important NOW, that they also be responsible for any limb removal that could later fall as a result of the tornado or whatever for which they've been hired to clean up. If both of these had been on the contract, there's no way they would've been able to charge me again for doing what they should've done in the first place.
Anyway, you live and learn!
Lack of shade over the house is killing our electric bill, and old a/c isn't helping either, plus UV protection was pretty well damaged a number of years ago from a hail storm. Guy who came to measure our sunny windows for dark screens NEVER showed up after measuring with an estimate for the whole job, and of course, never did the job. This is the SECOND person recommended by a local hardware store (former employees) who's done this very thing. I really need to call the owners and let them know so they'll know what's going on. I think what happened to this last guy was that since he works in construction and there was no rain for the whole month of May, except for Mom's day and Memorial weekend, that he kept getting called into his construction job, and thus had no time for the extra side jobs like ours.
I'm really getting cynical about the trustworthiness of people these days. Sorry, but that's the way I feel, and it's not a good feeling when you're responsible for an invalid and all their property, etc. It makes me dependent as well since I'm stuck here.
OK, what do you guys think about this tree business? It's only been dragged out for two months! Ha!
Yours, Luce
What do you think of this, please?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Luce. I'm really sorry you've been getting the runaround. I think it's the old law of supply and demand. After the tornado hit, the tree companies had all the business they could handle and then some.
Go ahead and contact the supervisors if that will make you feel better. But, IMHO, they probably won't really give a darn. Just focus on what YOU want done, get a written estimate of how much it will cost and be sure to ask for copies of both workers' compenation and liability insurance coverage.
At the end of the day, maybe the tree(s) will survive, maybe not. Give it your best shot and hope for the best.
Love,
Carrie
Go ahead and contact the supervisors if that will make you feel better. But, IMHO, they probably won't really give a darn. Just focus on what YOU want done, get a written estimate of how much it will cost and be sure to ask for copies of both workers' compenation and liability insurance coverage.
At the end of the day, maybe the tree(s) will survive, maybe not. Give it your best shot and hope for the best.
Love,
Carrie
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annie oakley
- King Penguin
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You can lodge a complaint with the Better Business Bureau also. Maybe with enough complaints they can investigate. Sorry you are having all that trouble....I feel the same way about the Satilite guys here. Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
Luce, I read your letter very carefully about your problems with the tree people because I thought I was going to have a similar problem with the contractor I hired to redo my bathrooms. It is a really uneasy feeling not to trust the people you are dealing with, isn't it? I finally got my problems resolved by getting hard-nosed about it and I had the contract with the specifics written down and signed by both of us. VERY specific. I waved that under his nose a few times and that was enough. After not being here when they said they would, they FINALLY got moving and now my bathrooms are finished except for a few tiny things. I won't pay them until those things are done, however.
In your case, I think you should hire somebody else and be as SPECIFIC as you can about what you want done. Even if it's a small thing, make up a contract yourself and make them sign it. It will hold up in court, God forbid.
The other thing is, DO tell people how unsatisfactory this company was for you to everybody you can. Especially the garden centers. They surely don't want to recommend someone who does shoddy work. It makes THEM look bad. This is one time to flap your jaws.
Yes, it's hard to trust anybody these days and that stinks. Like my Dad used to say, GET IT IN WRITING!!! And don't pay them a dime until the job is done to your satisfaction. I hate that it puts us in the position of having to be a B****, but that's the way it is, I guess.
Lots of love,
Sally
It's interesting that with a man they usually come off being "hard-nosed." With a woman, she is invariable dismissed as just being a bitch.
In your case, I think you should hire somebody else and be as SPECIFIC as you can about what you want done. Even if it's a small thing, make up a contract yourself and make them sign it. It will hold up in court, God forbid.
The other thing is, DO tell people how unsatisfactory this company was for you to everybody you can. Especially the garden centers. They surely don't want to recommend someone who does shoddy work. It makes THEM look bad. This is one time to flap your jaws.
Yes, it's hard to trust anybody these days and that stinks. Like my Dad used to say, GET IT IN WRITING!!! And don't pay them a dime until the job is done to your satisfaction. I hate that it puts us in the position of having to be a B****, but that's the way it is, I guess.
Lots of love,
Sally
It's interesting that with a man they usually come off being "hard-nosed." With a woman, she is invariable dismissed as just being a bitch.
Mitakuye oyasin
(Lakota for "We are all related")
(Lakota for "We are all related")
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kate_ce1995
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It's interesting that with a man they usually come off being "hard-nosed." With a woman, she is invariable dismissed as just being a bitch.[/quote]
HA HA Sally...you don't know the half of it! Try being the engineer on a job with a contractor who thinks you are being a B**** rather than hardnosed! To quote one of the biggest (and he had to weigh 400 pounds so I'm not kidding when I say biggest) jerks I've dealt with "I've been doing this for 20 years and those little roots under this foundation are not going to matter my dear".....oooo that "my dear" part really made me want to smack him!
Katy
HA HA Sally...you don't know the half of it! Try being the engineer on a job with a contractor who thinks you are being a B**** rather than hardnosed! To quote one of the biggest (and he had to weigh 400 pounds so I'm not kidding when I say biggest) jerks I've dealt with "I've been doing this for 20 years and those little roots under this foundation are not going to matter my dear".....oooo that "my dear" part really made me want to smack him!
Katy
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Tessa
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Hi, Lucy, I am so sorry you are having these problems. I think Sally is right when telling you to get things in writing and get them sign it and if you can avoid paying the whole bill until the work is completely finished, better too...
I hope things get solved in a proper way,
Love,
Tessa.
I hope things get solved in a proper way,
Love,
Tessa.
DX Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency= Panhypopituitarism,POTS & MC. Anaphylactic reaction to foods & some drugs.
Gluten & Dairy free diet+hydrocortisone, Florinef, Sea Salt, Vit B Complex, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium...
Gluten & Dairy free diet+hydrocortisone, Florinef, Sea Salt, Vit B Complex, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium...
Guess what? Yard guy's been begging me to do it the whole time, so told him I was afraid if he tried to do it by himself, that it might flip over and hit him in the head or something. He explained that it couldn't because he'd be above it. Dah! How obvious!
Welp, can ya guess how much he's going to charge me? Wouldya believe ten bucks?!! For one thing, he always wants the oak wood for his dad's wood burning stove out at his country home.
Also, my sis reminded me that he knows that I always give him a little extra $$$, so he knew he'd get more to begin with. On Memorial Day, he picked up the sawed pieces of the other oak that someone else's yard guy had been kind enough to remove from blocking our driveway so that we could back out. He just happened to show up after I'd already gotten the neighbor's yard guy and his dad to remove the big pine and timber that came flying over and on top of the back fence.
Boy, am I glad that my dad had had a big pecan tree removed years ago. A lady a couple of streets over who was hit by this same tornado told me that her pecan tree had made such a mess that you couldn't see a single blade of grass -- it was entirely covered with pecan tree.
I sure wish our neighbor behind us would have a huge Chinese tallow in his back yard at least topped off. Even some of the straight winds that we have here occasionally could bring that big ole thing down. They're not very sturdy trees anyway, they just plant em cause they grow fast. One of it's big limbs did come over our fence this time. I would imagine that LOTS of em fell on his side of the fence however.
I wonder if he'd be willing to have it topped off for safety's sake. The one that I had to clean up after so much had already been topped off, but I'm not sure why unless the utility people did it, but if so, they cut it back lots further than needed. Guess they didn't want to have to repeat it every year.
Anyway, the topped off one's the one that came over the fence in chunks that were each several feet in length that were piled between the fence and back of the garage. Part was on top of the garage as well, and this kid stood on top of a big limb on top of the fence, balanced himself with his saw in order to get all the mess freed up enough to remove it. Now THAT was scary to watch!
By the way, the neighbor two doors down who's back yard my bil and I helped to clean up, well, her husband passed away and I think the funeral must've been this weekend...very sad.
We have a storm that's supposed to come through here tomorrow -- not sure what part of the day. It's done a good job cooling off the rest of the state, a "cool front," but by the time it gets here, it'll be a "less hot front," I suppose! Ha! Anyway, we'll take what we can get in terms of cool mornings, at least.
Wow, hear the skeeter spray truck spraying outdoors now. We've just had our first human case of West Nile, so things have stepped up in fighting the skeeters.
I was reminded today that since we'd had the drought the month of May, that put the birds and the mosquitos in closer contact as they had to go for the same water -- not much choice as little was to be had during that time.
Interesting how ya have to think about all these little factors. I tend to only think about the standing water and rains making it more dangerous, but actually, the drought followed by heavy and frequent rains is a worst case scenario.
Wow,I've already had meningitis, so don't want to go there, that's for sure!!! Wow, what a couple of decades this family has had!!!
Thanks for the responses, everyone.
I really could care less whether anyone who works here thinks I'm b_y or not, but I think that I don't come off as tough as I need to. It's like I give off weak vibs or something. Ha! Maybe I need to tell em I'm an attorney, and special in suing for shoddy workmanship! Ha! Nope, I could never lie like that, but it's fun to pretend on here, isn't it!
Yours, Luce
Welp, can ya guess how much he's going to charge me? Wouldya believe ten bucks?!! For one thing, he always wants the oak wood for his dad's wood burning stove out at his country home.
Also, my sis reminded me that he knows that I always give him a little extra $$$, so he knew he'd get more to begin with. On Memorial Day, he picked up the sawed pieces of the other oak that someone else's yard guy had been kind enough to remove from blocking our driveway so that we could back out. He just happened to show up after I'd already gotten the neighbor's yard guy and his dad to remove the big pine and timber that came flying over and on top of the back fence.
Boy, am I glad that my dad had had a big pecan tree removed years ago. A lady a couple of streets over who was hit by this same tornado told me that her pecan tree had made such a mess that you couldn't see a single blade of grass -- it was entirely covered with pecan tree.
I sure wish our neighbor behind us would have a huge Chinese tallow in his back yard at least topped off. Even some of the straight winds that we have here occasionally could bring that big ole thing down. They're not very sturdy trees anyway, they just plant em cause they grow fast. One of it's big limbs did come over our fence this time. I would imagine that LOTS of em fell on his side of the fence however.
I wonder if he'd be willing to have it topped off for safety's sake. The one that I had to clean up after so much had already been topped off, but I'm not sure why unless the utility people did it, but if so, they cut it back lots further than needed. Guess they didn't want to have to repeat it every year.
Anyway, the topped off one's the one that came over the fence in chunks that were each several feet in length that were piled between the fence and back of the garage. Part was on top of the garage as well, and this kid stood on top of a big limb on top of the fence, balanced himself with his saw in order to get all the mess freed up enough to remove it. Now THAT was scary to watch!
By the way, the neighbor two doors down who's back yard my bil and I helped to clean up, well, her husband passed away and I think the funeral must've been this weekend...very sad.
We have a storm that's supposed to come through here tomorrow -- not sure what part of the day. It's done a good job cooling off the rest of the state, a "cool front," but by the time it gets here, it'll be a "less hot front," I suppose! Ha! Anyway, we'll take what we can get in terms of cool mornings, at least.
Wow, hear the skeeter spray truck spraying outdoors now. We've just had our first human case of West Nile, so things have stepped up in fighting the skeeters.
I was reminded today that since we'd had the drought the month of May, that put the birds and the mosquitos in closer contact as they had to go for the same water -- not much choice as little was to be had during that time.
Interesting how ya have to think about all these little factors. I tend to only think about the standing water and rains making it more dangerous, but actually, the drought followed by heavy and frequent rains is a worst case scenario.
Wow,I've already had meningitis, so don't want to go there, that's for sure!!! Wow, what a couple of decades this family has had!!!
Thanks for the responses, everyone.
I really could care less whether anyone who works here thinks I'm b_y or not, but I think that I don't come off as tough as I need to. It's like I give off weak vibs or something. Ha! Maybe I need to tell em I'm an attorney, and special in suing for shoddy workmanship! Ha! Nope, I could never lie like that, but it's fun to pretend on here, isn't it!
Yours, Luce
Hi Luce,
I'm Guessing that your "yard guy" will do that job for 10 bucks because:
#1 He appreciates your business
#2 He's not a bureaucracy
#3 He doesn't have to pay Workman's Comp, Unemployment Tax, nor any other unnecesary state taxes
#4 10 bucks is all a job like that is worth, (oak wood is worth a lot of money, but the big companies just throw it away, or pocket the extra profit without allowing anything for it in the estimate).
Tex
I'm Guessing that your "yard guy" will do that job for 10 bucks because:
#1 He appreciates your business
#2 He's not a bureaucracy
#3 He doesn't have to pay Workman's Comp, Unemployment Tax, nor any other unnecesary state taxes
#4 10 bucks is all a job like that is worth, (oak wood is worth a lot of money, but the big companies just throw it away, or pocket the extra profit without allowing anything for it in the estimate).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
What irritates me is that part of the reason for hiring them was to have people with expertiese LOOKING at the tree damage. So much for that!
Sure enough, the yard guy came back today with his repaired saw, and I didn't even know he was outside til I heard the sound of a saw in the not-to-distant distance (what?).
Just as I had feared, something was already eating at the area that looked like shreaded wheat -- the big split they'd left in that big limb sooo close to the trunk by now. It was ants having a fiest!
AND...sure enough, the limb the big one had fallen on had to be cut as well as it was broken when yard guy got high enough to have a look. Fortunately, the big limb didn't fall against the trunk no the way down, but it did damage a big root above ground, so we're hoping that it will heal.
Yard guy's supposed to come back, maybe tomorrow, and do some other stuff, so hopefully, he'll remember to bring something to treat the part where the ants are chewing, and that root injury.
Allll this could've been avoided!
Would you believe they called this evening while I was at the store, and told my sis that they would come tomorrow? I left a message that it was too late as it was already down, and city had picked up the mess that was at the curb as it was heavy trash day (I'd cut and dragged it there yesterday), and yard guy filled up a pickup with more trash and the big limbs he'd sawed into usable pieces.
Yep, I know all about the expenses involved in running a business, but for this area, these guys are high. The garden place that recommends them is probably the highest in this area. They refer each other.
Anyway, if you claim to have an arborist (I realize that more depends on the crudentialing than the title) I expect someone to take a little responsibility for reporting things to me that need taking care of.
From now on, I'll not only get proof of insurance as I did this time, but also, try to find a company that has the supervisor on site and maybe even up in the tree to have a look himself. I know of such a company, but back in 2000 when he came with a crew, he said that he was getting a bit too old to be jumping out of trees. Beats me why they do that when they could just let themselves down gently on those pulley things! Men!
OK, nuffa this tree bidness. I'm just hoping I've heard the last of them!
Yours, Luce
Sure enough, the yard guy came back today with his repaired saw, and I didn't even know he was outside til I heard the sound of a saw in the not-to-distant distance (what?).
Just as I had feared, something was already eating at the area that looked like shreaded wheat -- the big split they'd left in that big limb sooo close to the trunk by now. It was ants having a fiest!
AND...sure enough, the limb the big one had fallen on had to be cut as well as it was broken when yard guy got high enough to have a look. Fortunately, the big limb didn't fall against the trunk no the way down, but it did damage a big root above ground, so we're hoping that it will heal.
Yard guy's supposed to come back, maybe tomorrow, and do some other stuff, so hopefully, he'll remember to bring something to treat the part where the ants are chewing, and that root injury.
Allll this could've been avoided!
Would you believe they called this evening while I was at the store, and told my sis that they would come tomorrow? I left a message that it was too late as it was already down, and city had picked up the mess that was at the curb as it was heavy trash day (I'd cut and dragged it there yesterday), and yard guy filled up a pickup with more trash and the big limbs he'd sawed into usable pieces.
Yep, I know all about the expenses involved in running a business, but for this area, these guys are high. The garden place that recommends them is probably the highest in this area. They refer each other.
Anyway, if you claim to have an arborist (I realize that more depends on the crudentialing than the title) I expect someone to take a little responsibility for reporting things to me that need taking care of.
From now on, I'll not only get proof of insurance as I did this time, but also, try to find a company that has the supervisor on site and maybe even up in the tree to have a look himself. I know of such a company, but back in 2000 when he came with a crew, he said that he was getting a bit too old to be jumping out of trees. Beats me why they do that when they could just let themselves down gently on those pulley things! Men!
OK, nuffa this tree bidness. I'm just hoping I've heard the last of them!
Yours, Luce