Elite Tree Care

Review: This tree service contracted to cut down trees, remove stumps and grindings and clear them from our property. I was very clear about not leaving grindings. Aaron, the sales rep. continued to suggest that they leave some grindings and we could use them as mulch. I said they could leave a small pile, only a small pile. When the work was done they dumped a huge pile at the side of the house, much larger than I agreed to. I immediately said to the personnel on sight, that it was too much! The person replied that they couldn't do anything about it. We tried to use as many of the chips as possible but there are far too many. I have called [redacted] twice and each time was told they'd take care of it. Nothing has happened. I have e-mailed the company to tell them they needed to address this and I was told to call [redacted], the owner. [redacted] said it was too late for me to complain after 2 months. I told him I had addressed this several times and was told it would be taken care of. I didn't realize that I needed to complain every day. I thought I was dealing with adults. He said he knew nothing of my complaining about the chips when he was there and it became clear to me that he would dispute anything I said. At the beginning of this week I e-mailed the company to advise that I would be complaining to the Revdex.com if the problem wasn't rectified. He said I was threatening him. My reply was that I was still giving him a chance to be as good as his word. Twice over the past 2 months, in response to my calls, I've been told that the chips would be taken away. After the Owner actually yelled at me on the phone, he suggested that he could take away the chips for an extra charge. I said I already wrote you a check for $2900. I should have withheld some payment until the job was complete but I naively believed that the Company would live up to its contract.Desired Settlement: Rather than going to small claims court we want the removal of all remaining chips at no extra charge. The contract for $2900, as paid, included that service.

Business

Response:

Regarding the dispute ID [redacted]

As stated by client, "The tree service was contracted to cut down trees, remove stumps and grindings and clear them from our property." All of the trees were removed, the stumps were ground and the stump grindings were hauled away as contracted to do.

The wood chips from the trees removed were dumped at the request of the client, in a location requested by the client.

On the morning of the job I, an owner, was asked by our client to leave a pile of wood chips. I explained that the truck held 20 yards and 20 yards is a "mountain of wood chips". The client asked if I could just dump some of the truck load. I explained that the chips all come out at once and I would do my best not to dump a full load. Sensing some indecision, I explained that Elite sells its wood chips and I would just as soon haul them back to our yard. The client said they would like the wood chips nonetheless.

At day's end the chips were dumped as client requested. The following morning, the second day of the job, the client stated that it was too large a pile of wood chips and asked if we could haul some out. I explained that we did not have the time on the job or the equipment on site to remove the chips. I suggested to some areas to spread the chips. At the end of the job, I asked the client if the job was completed to her satisfaction, and if so, could I be paid. We walked the property to review the job and she wrote me a check. No further discussion of removing the wood chips until we received a phone call a couple of weeks later.

On August 10, after several attempts and spending over an hour on the phone to contact the Revdex.com's office and receiving no returned calls, I removed the wood chips under protest and did so as to prevent any more time spent on the matter.