G. Murphy Tree Service, Inc.

Review: [redacted] cut down a tree and 2 bushes on my property in August 2012 for $100. I asked him if the price would include grinding out the stumps. He said it would. He said he would grind out the stumps after I made sure the gas company checked for any potential gas leaks underground. I had [redacted]. verify that there were no leaks within 30 minutes after [redacted] left. I called [redacted] multiple times and never got a return call. I even showed up at his place of business. When I showed up I asked him why he hadn't made good on his agreement to come back and grind out the stumps. He said they "had been slow and weren't even around all summer". He promised to come to my house and finish the job. That was a year ago. I haven't heard from him since.Desired Settlement: Grind out the stump on the tree he cut down, as he had originally agreed and promised.

Business

Response:

As per our conversation on 12/2/13 regarding the matter or the tree stump. I agreed to remove a tree and 2 bushes for the price of $100.00. The stump was originally not included as I did not have the stump grinder on me that day. (I was in the neighborhood doing another job when the customer approached me. The job was actually valued at 200.00 but since he was a repeat customer, I did it for 100.00. He asked why the tree died and I said possible a gas leak, he should have it checked out. I also told him to have the gas company mark out the gas line and then I will do the stump at no extra charge when I was back in the neighborhood. I returned several times to see the gas line NOT MARKED, as I will not grind until I know where the piping is. To this day if the customer gets the gas line marked, I will be happy to grind the stump. I will not take a chance and cause an explosion because I did not know where the line runs.

(see attached from gas company on piplines.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting the response of G. Murphy Tree Service because:

1. Mr. Murphy never told me that he requires the gas lines to be mapped out on the surface. He simply told me that I needed to call my gas utility company and have them test for gas leaks, which I did.

2. Having tested for leaks 30 minutes after Mr. Murphy removed my tree and bushes, I promptly contacted him. I received no response. As I had stated in my original complaint, I made numerous subsequent requests for Mr. Murphy to finish the job and grind out the stump, per our agreement. He kept telling me he "would get to it" - and never at any time mentioned that I need to have the gas utility map out the gas lines.

3. I never saw Mr. Murphy return to my property to look for the mapped out gas lines. We never received any communication from him that he had returned to inspect the property for the mapping of the gas lines. If he had simply called me I would have promptly contacted my gas utility company to try to honor Mr. Murphy's request.

4. Having just read Mr. Murphy's response, I just now called [redacted] Gas Company. I explained to the company representative that my tree removal contractor is requiring that the gas company map out the gas lines on my property where the stump grinding needs to occur. The representative from the gas company told me that Mr. Murphy NEEDS TO CALL [redacted] GAS. The gas utility cannot and will not rely upon a homeowner's communication. They must deal with the contractor directly. Mr. Murphy should know this.

5. The representative told me that [redacted] Gas Company will map out the gas lines upon the contractor's direct request, at no charge.

6. The above being said, if Mr. Murphy will kindly call [redacted] Gas Company at 8.1.1 and arrange to have his concerns satisfied, I will then accept, as a solution to this complaint, the mapping of the gas lines on my property around the tree stump, and Mr. Murphy's subsequent arrival at my property to finish the job and grind out the tree stump. Since [redacted] Gas has already tested for, and has found no leaks on my property, and in particular around the area where that stump is, I am highly confident that this stump can be removed with no gas leak hazard. I request that Mr. Murphy finish the job at his earliest convenience.

Regards,

Business

Response:

Please be advised that the stump at Mr.[redacted] was completed on Tuesday April 8 at 8am. I have taken photos of the ground stump for proof in case. Mr.[redacted] has any other complaints. I wanted to wait a little longer due to the ground being wet and soft however mr.scheirer wanted this done sooner, stump is hereby completed as of 4/8/14 by Gordon Murphy

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,