Green Mountain Landscaping, Lawncare & Concrete

Final Consumer Response /* (2000, 14, 2015/08/19) */
Mr. [redacted] did have a worker come and redo the path. He didn't speak English so it was difficult to convey some of the issues and concerns.
He did redo the path; still not as well as the upper path, but it is acceptable, as we want to be done...

with this.
The worker, did not clean up his mess and all the hardened polymer sand that he removed from the path. He left it for us to clean.
He used the blower to blow off the polymer sand, and blew it into our grass, rose garden and vegetable garden. This polymer sand hardens and is difficult to remove.
We cleaned up the debris and got as much of the hardened sand off as best as we could.
I would not do business with this company again and I would not recommend this company to anybody.
Thank you for your help in resolving this. Your help has been much appreciated.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2015/09/10) */
Dear sir/madam:
I have attached the contract for your review.
The homeowner and I agreed on a contract to perform work on his yard on April 29th, 2015, in the amount of $8,000. I received a deposit of $2,000 to schedule and prepare for the...

work. We were scheduled to start work in 2 weeks from the contract date. However, close to 2 weeks later, the homeowner asked to meet with me. We met and he told me that I do not know how to install the sprinkler system. I don't understand how he came up with that idea since he never has seen my work, while in fact I have installed many systems before. At that time, he wanted to cancel the whole contract. One or 2 weeks later, he asked me to meet again. He, then, told me that he will have someone else do the sprinkler system and deduct $4,000 from the contact. I did not agree since the sprinkler system should only cost $2,000 max. He told me that he will think about it and contact me later.
After that, again 1 or 2 weeks later, he asked to meet again. He wanted for me to reduce the contact amount by $2,000 for the sprinkler system so that someone else will install the system instead. I agreed.
A couple weeks later, he had me sign an agreement to reduce the contract by $2,000 so someone else will do the sprinkler.
Recently, he decided to cancel the whole contract after all and threatened to to spread bad words about my business if I would not agree.
I have spent lots of time with him and also performed some work such as removal of some bushes, removal of a tree and mowing the lawn a couple times. I also had to scheduled my workers many times to accommodate his order and delaying other work.
All the trouble going back and forth and the work I have done is well over the $2,000 that he deposited.
Sincerely,
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 8, 2015/09/18) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
09/18/2015
To Whom It May Concern,
Mr. [redacted]'s facts are a little off.
We amended our initial agreement to have a three phased approach to the job with specific work detailed for each phase (which should have been on the original document). Adding this detail was the suggestion a friend of Mr. [redacted]'s, Mr. [redacted] (who owns [redacted] The itemization document is attached.
Mr [redacted]'s crew completed items 2.2 and 2.4 of phase 1 (on a day he specifically told me he wasn't working). They were onsite for 20 minutes and I'm estimating the fair market value of that time / work at $100 - $200. If you include 2 mow jobs (rate also specified in the attachment), the total value of work actually performed by Green Mountain was no more than $250.
I offered Green Mountain a settlement of $500, which I think is generous.
To some of Mr [redacted]'s concerns ...
Rescheduling on account of rain is something that I'm sure is quite routine in the landscape business. Moreover, there's nothing in our agreement(s) that defines how scheduling will occur, when services will be rendered, how to cancel, or parameters for any other notices. If anything it expressly forgives " ... delays beyond our control."
If Mr. [redacted] were to suggest that his time in working through the bid is worth something against my deposit, I'd say that is preposterous. Time spent bidding work and communicating with clients is simply part of generating and doing business. We had to meet several times to try to establish a comfort level. We ultimately didn't quite get there - sometimes that's how it goes.
My concern for Mr. [redacted]'s ability to install sprinklers stemmed from a line of questioning where I asked what heads and emitters he planned to use. When I asked about a couple of specific components and Mr [redacted] didn't know what they were, I was alarmed. A third party bid $3750 for that work. [redacted] and I "compromised" at a $2000 value for the sprinkler work, but really I let him off the hook and I was going to have to pay more than that to someone else to get it done right.
Notes for the Revdex.com ...
When you review the original agreement, you'll see there is very little detail, which was a large part what triggered my concerns. That could be laziness (not wanting to spend time writing very much down), or possibly it's a ruse (go over the work verbally but not commit in writing). I'm not sure what Mr [redacted]'s original intentions were, but at the moment he's asking to keep money he hasn't earned.
Bottom line, it's not good business to hold people hostage like this and I don't appreciate it.
I sent Mr [redacted] a demand letter on 09/01/2014 by certified mail, which he received on 09/04/2015. The demand was to resolve this issue with me by returning $1500 (or more) of my deposit by 09/15/2015. Outside of this Revdex.com dispute, I have heard nothing from Mr. [redacted] since 08/31/2015 and today is 09/18/2015.
It's possible this will become a legal matter.
Thanks,
[redacted]