FDR & Associates

*** *** called us (Blue Ox) on 5/7/for an estimate to cut down a dead ash tree in his back yardWe responded with an estimate that same dayHe did not call back to contract for the work to be completed until 6/15/At that time, we were scheduled out about 5-weeks, but we put *** ***
job ahead of several others, to be completed the week of July We arrived on site to take the tree down on 7/8/*** (there is no *** who works here) started to climb the tree and realized that it was more structurally unsound than he had been able to determine from the ground at the time of the estimateIn addition, there was a small live maple tree a few feet behind the dead ash tree whose leaves partially surrounded the ash treeSince the ash tree had been dead for several years, the pieces would not have the integrity to remain solid while being rigged down from the higher parts of the treeThey would most likely crumble and then it would be unpredictable where they would fallWith the maple tree canopy around the ash tree, the pieces from the ash tree would be likely to hit the maple tree and bounce off and could easily hit and damage the houseAt that time, *** contacted *** *** and spoke with him about cutting down the maple tree to enable him to better control the direction of the material from the ash tree*** *** said, "Do whatever you need to do to get this tree down." On 7/10/15, we went back and cut down the maple tree in preparation for taking down the ash treeWith the maple tree gone, cavities in the ash tree that could not be seen before that were revealedThis made it evident that the tree could not be climbed - its structural integrity would not support climbing or riggingObviously, we did not bill *** *** for any work, and fully intended to contact him and write a new contract that either relieved us from any responsibility for damage, or we'd have to figure out how to get a piece of equipment to the tree (which was not a simple matter considering the terrain of the back yard)This was on a FridayWe meant to give him a call that day, but did notThen we intended to contact him on Monday 7/13/and figure out how to move forwardWe did drop the ball on communication here. When *** answered *** *** call in the afternoon, *** *** was screaming and using obscenities, and blaming *** for the ash tree falling on his house in a storm*** *** hung up the phoneThen *** called *** *** back and mentioned that the ash tree had been dead for several years and that it wasn't quite fair to blame him for a storm blowing it over*** *** had a few more choice words and blamed *** again for the tree hitting his house, and then hung up againFrom these two conversations, it was our understanding that the tree had been blown over and was no longer standing at that timeIt would seem from *** *** complaint that he is saying the tree is still standing. *** *** complaint about us not being communicative as we needed to be is correctWe certainly failed to provide prompt communicationFor this we are sorry, and we do understand the frustrationHowever, we did put a lot of effort into trying to get the ash tree taken care of for himWe had been out twice and would need to come again.We had *** *** permission to take the maple tree down for access to the ash tree, and would have continued to work with him to resolve the issue with the dead treeWe do not feel responsible to replace the maple tree since we had his permission to take it downThis was not an aesthetically pleasing treeIt was a volunteer maple tree that was growing at an angle to get sun from underneath the canopy of mature treesWhen *** asked *** *** about cutting down the maple tree, he seemed to have no attachment to it whatsoeverSo to ask for it to be replaced because of delayed communication seems unethical. If *** *** wants to work with us, we would still be willing to come cut the ash tree down if indeed it is still standing