The Palm Tree Manicurist

I first had work done at my home by Alex D[redacted], the Palmtree Manicurist, in 2012 with satisfactory results. However, beginning in 2014, a pattern emerged that has continued to date. I paid for trimming of two olive trees in preparation for spring spraying in Jan. 2014. For vague reasons, Alex did not complete the work when needed and I finally gave up on getting my trees trimmed prior to spraying. The work was finally done months later but the benefits of having the tree trimmed prior to spraying were wasted. In July 2014, I contracted with Alex to trim my palm trees but this work was not completed until just before the bulk trash pick-up in October. The excuse was that one of his workers had been hospitalized but if his business is so dependent on a single employee perhaps he should do more hiring. Finally, in Dec. 2014, Alex offered a "holiday special" if I paid $225.00 up front to trim my olive trees and a queen palm. Its now the end of September 2015 and the work has yet to be done. In phone conversations, more excuses followed as he apparently was in a traffic accident in April but this doesn't explain why the January work couldn't be completed. He called me prior to the summer bulk trash pick-up to see if I wanted my palm trees trimmed. He assured me that he would finally do the olive trees but he lost interest in completing this job once he learned that I had someone else trim the palms. This past week (late-Sept. 2015) he was in my neighborhood ([redacted]) drumming up business but didn't bother to contact me about the work he has yet to complete. If you do use his services you would be advised not to pay any agreed amount up front, even if its a partial payment, as you might not get what you paid for. Hey Alex, do the job you were paid to do!

We have attempted to use [redacted] for a few seemingly simple jobs, and will never use him again. He will change his initial quote, claiming the job was more involved than he originally thought, is never on time, and is stalker-ish when he is trying to drum up more business. We paid him upfront in April for a job he was going to do in May. (Poor choice) Finally after dozens of phone calls and excuses, the job was done in JULY, and we still have all the debris bagged up and piled along side our house. Attractive. Did I mention he also called my husband to ask him for money to help pay his staff because he didn't have enough for payroll? Tip to [redacted]: Do the job you say you are going to do, when you say you are going to, and do it for the price you quote... And you'll be just fine. Do not use the service!

I first had work done at my home by Alex D[redacted], the Palmtree Manicurist, in 2012 with satisfactory results. However, beginning in 2014, a pattern emerged that has continued to date. I paid for trimming of two olive trees in preparation for spring spraying in Jan. 2014. For vague reasons, Alex did not complete the work when needed and I finally gave up on getting my trees trimmed prior to spraying. The work was finally done months later but the benefits of having the tree trimmed prior to spraying were wasted. In July 2014, I contracted with Alex to trim my palm trees but this work was not completed until just before the bulk trash pick-up in October. The excuse was that one of his workers had been hospitalized but if his business is so dependent on a single employee perhaps he should do more hiring. Finally, in Dec. 2014, Alex offered a "holiday special" if I paid $225.00 up front to trim my olive trees and a queen palm. Its now the end of September 2015 and the work has yet to be done. In phone conversations, more excuses followed as he apparently was in a traffic accident in April but this doesn't explain why the January work couldn't be completed. He called me prior to the summer bulk trash pick-up to see if I wanted my palm trees trimmed. He assured me that he would finally do the olive trees but he lost interest in completing this job once he learned that I had someone else trim the palms. This past week (late-Sept. 2015) he was in my neighborhood ([redacted]) drumming up business but didn't bother to contact me about the work he has yet to complete. If you do use his services you would be advised not to pay any agreed amount up front, even if its a partial payment, as you might not get what you paid for. Hey Alex, do the job you were paid to do!

Review: My husband had paid Alex 1/2 down to trim our tree in our front yard. The total would be $850 and we paid $420 down. Alex said he would be back in about two weeks to get the job done. He never showed up. We have attempted to get a hold of him with no luck. We have left many messages and no call back. It's been over two months. we even drive to the address associated with the business and it was an empty bank foreclosed house.Desired Settlement: We want a refund. Alex can not treat clients this way.

Review: The Palm Tree Manicurist was hired 3/31/14 to trim, clean, and shape two date palms. A 50% deposit of $200 was given via personal check #[redacted]. The work was agreed to be done 4/3/14 or 4/4/14 as noted on the invoice #[redacted]. The check in the amount of $200 was cashed/cleared on 4/1/14. Homeowner called [redacted] of The Palm Tree Manicurist on 4/3/14, 4/5/14, 4/7/14, 4/9/14 and 4/14/14. [redacted] stated he had guys out sick and would call me. [redacted] has never called me and will not return my calls. I've requested a refund with no response. The work was ordered two weeks ago and has not been done.Desired Settlement: The deposit of $200 is to be returned to the homeowner as the agreed upon work was not completed. The Palm Tree Manicurist has not provided the agreed upon services for which $200 was paid as a deposit.

Review: [redacted] of the Palm Tree Manicurist met with me on January 28, 2015 and agreed to trim and prune 3 trees for an agreed upon price of $1,050.00. We also agreed that I would pay him 50% ($525.00) in advance and the balance on completion of the work. We further agreed that he would complete the work by no later than February 2, 2015, prior to the [redacted] uncontained garbage collection so the waste material from the pruned trees could be hauled away. I paid [redacted] the $525.00 by check on January 28, 2015 and the check cleared on January 29, 2015. [redacted] company did not complete the work and we missed the City's uncontained pickup. [redacted] has not returned my calls.Desired Settlement: I want my advance payment of $525.00 refunded in full and I do not wish to do business with [redacted] ever again. I cannot trust someone who takes your money in advance and doesn't follow up on their side of the agreement and does not call you to keep you informed of why there are delays in getting the work completed and who does not return my calls. As far as I can ascertain, he has stolen and made off with my $525.00.