Foraker Landscaping, Inc.

Facts:
we performed a project for the ***'s that cost approx$sometime in the beginning of August 2014 and consisted of repairing an existing Bluestone patio and walkway that improperly installed
In October *** angrily discontinued our lawn and
landscaping services
Approx months (beginning of December) after we installed the patio we were contacted by *** regarding her light not workingI explained to her that we were very busy with snow removal operations and to be patient, I will get there to view the problem Asap
I visited her home in the beginning of January to view the issueI did knock on her door but got no answer
While at her home I saw the electrical wiring that she claims we damagedThis wiring runs from her home to a lamp post at the back of her drivewayThis wiring is laying right on top of the ground, not under ground or up in the air as required by local building codesThis wiring is line voltage from the house (not low voltage)This wiring could easily be damaged by anyone because of its exposureThere is no way of knowing where, when or how this wire was or is damagedIt was months from the time we performed the project to when I was contacted by *** regarding the wire
For these reasons I do not feel that we are responsible for this wire issue
I apologize for not responding to ***'s call or ***'s email in a timely matter. My only explanation is We have a very large snow removal business and have been dealing with a record breaking winter and the Holidays (we close operations for weeks)I did explain this to ***
*** Foraker

As I have previously stated, We did not see any type of wiring while repairing the customers patio. I visited the site after learning of the complaint and visually saw the electrical wiring in questionI do not believe we damaged this wire in any wayThe wire is run directly on top of the ground about 60' and can be easily damaged in a number of waysThis wire is not low voltage wire, It is line voltage from the home to a lamp post near the customers garageThere is no way this wire should be run on top of the ground this way and would never pass an electrical inspectionIt is very dangerous to have this just laying on the ground and not buried or run above in the air
I also stated that the customer was upset over billing for additional work we did and I believe that is the motive behind this claimI would be willing to settle the matter in small claims court

Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am responding to your request for additional information regarding my complaint against Foraker Landscaping.  My response has two components.  
The first is my request for additional time to provide the material that you request.  I do so because on March 10 I underwent surgery for a total replacement of my right knee.  I am in the process of rehabilitation from that surgery.  This has delayed my ability to address your request.  Among the things that you seek is a letter from the electrician that I referenced in an earlier message.  I do not have such a letter and am now attempting to obtain one.  I do have a copy of the original contract with Foraker Landscaping, and I shall send you a copy of the contract as you request.
The second component of my response is a clarification of some items that Mr. Foraker's statements misrepresent.  The most important of these is the location of the electrical wiring that is the subject of this complaint.  One wire ran from our house under the patio stone to a junction box on the patio wall.  From that box a second wire runs to the light pole at the rear of our driveway, which is where our detached garage is located.  On that light pole is a motion and light sensor that caused the light to come on when it detected motion during nighttime hours.  The wire that is the subject of my complaint is the wire that ran from the house under the patio to the patio wall.  That is the wire that Mr. Foraker's crew severed and failed to replace when re-doing the patio stone.  The wiring from the junction box to the light pole is intact and in working order.  But because that wire is no longer connected to an electrical source, it obviously cannot provide any light.  
Please note that I did not realize that the light was not working during daylight savings time because I rarely drive at night, and thus had no reason to go to the detached garage in the dark.  I discovered that it was not working in late October.  I first thought that the bulbs might have burned out, so I obtained new bulbs and replaced them.  That did not solve the problem.  I then contacted the electrician, as I thought that the problem might be the sensor.  The electrician tested the sensor and examined the wiring from the junction box to the light pole.  He determined that there was nothing wrong with either of these things.  It was he who discovered that the wiring from the house had been severed such that wiring was no longer running underneath the patio stone.  This could only have occurred when Mr. Foraker's crew replaced and re-layed the patio stone.
In my original complaint I did not address why I chose to no longer use Mr. Foraker's landscaping services.  In his response to my complaint, however, he asserted that I angrily discharged him.  This is not accurate.  I discharged him by means of a note that I wrote on one of his invoices, which note simply indicated that his services were no longer required.  I did this because on two occasions his invoices had included hourly charges that inflated both the number of workers present and the hours that they had worked on my property, and a third invoice charged for weekly grass cuttings through October despite the fact that the lawn was not cut every week during October.  In fact, in early October I had informed Mr. Foraker that the grass no longer required cutting.  Yet he billed me anyway for services not performed.
I also note that I have attempted to resolve this matter amicably before bringing it to your attention.  I had contacted Mr. Foraker about the lighting problem and waited for months for his response, which never came.  My husband then contacted him by email, but he did not respond to that either.  It was only after filing a complaint with the Revdex.com that we heard anything from Mr. Foraker about this.  His response, unfortunately, is to invite litigation rather than to attempt resolution.  Such conduct appears to me to be the antithesis of 'better business."
[redacted]

Review: While relaying and replacing patio bluestone they severed electrical line which was under original stone. THE DATE OF CALLS ON NEXT PAGE ARE CORRECT MONTHS IF NOT DAY, EXCEPT LAST ONE WHICH WAS AN E-MAIL WHICH WAS SENT ON THE DATE GIVEN. INFORMING MR. FORAKER THAT FUTHER ACTIONS WOULD BE TAKEN IF WE DID NOT HEAR FROM HIM IN WRITING WITH IN 10 DAYS. THAT TIME HAS PASSED.

TODAY A COPY OF E-MAIL IS BEING MAILED AND FAXED TO MR.FORAKER.Desired Settlement: I would like this problem rectified . But since they are landscapers and not electrical contractors I would like it repaired by electrical contractor. Mr. [redacted] FORAKER HAS YET TO NOTIFY ME HAS TO WHAT IF ANYTHING HE INTENDS TO DO ABOUT THIS MATTER.

Business

Response:

Facts:

we performed a project for the [redacted]'s that cost approx. $5000 sometime in the beginning of August 2014 and consisted of repairing an existing Bluestone patio and walkway that improperly installed.

In October 2014 [redacted]. [redacted] angrily discontinued our lawn and landscaping services.

Approx 4 months (beginning of December) after we installed the patio we were contacted by [redacted]. [redacted] regarding her light not working. I explained to her that we were very busy with snow removal operations and to be patient, I will get there to view the problem Asap.

I visited her home in the beginning of January to view the issue. I did knock on her door but got no answer.

While at her home I saw the electrical wiring that she claims we damaged. This wiring runs from her home to a lamp post at the back of her driveway. This wiring is laying right on top of the ground, not under ground or up in the air as required by local building codes. This wiring is 110 line voltage from the house (not low voltage). This wiring could easily be damaged by anyone because of its exposure. There is no way of knowing where, when or how this wire was or is damaged. It was 4 months from the time we performed the project to when I was contacted by [redacted]. [redacted] regarding the wire.

For these reasons I do not feel that we are responsible for this wire issue

I apologize for not responding to [redacted]. [redacted]'s call or **. [redacted]'s email in a timely matter. My only explanation is We have a very large snow removal business and have been dealing with a record breaking winter and the Holidays (we close operations for 2 weeks). I did explain this to [redacted]. [redacted].

[redacted] Foraker

Consumer

Response:

Ladies and Gentlemen: