Landis Scapes, Inc

Review: October 10, 2013

TO WHOM IT [redacted] CONCERN:

I am writing to you concerning a Landscaping company that I hired to complete a sample of my grass and took my money and did not provide to me the results of the soil sample.

I have lived at [redacted] VA [redacted] for about 4 years. I have had several proble** with my front lawn for two years, with the problem of Brown Patch.

• I saw an ad in the Washington Post in the classified section "The Plants Man Landscaping and Gardening". The ad states that the company has been in business for 25 years, and he is a certified horticulturist.

• I made an appointment for 4 September 2013, and Mr. [redacted] Landis came to my house to determine what was harming my grass.

• He did not arrive until 7:00PM, and it had already gotten dark at that hour, but he was able to get a plastic bag and a spoon (from my house) and complete the process of getting a sample.

• I paid him via check $35.00 from my hard earning paycheck that week.

After 4 September 2013, that was the last time I saw him. I called two weeks later, about 18 September 2013. I never get a real live person when I called the number which is ###-###-####. There is not a main location, but a post office address. That was a clue to me, that the person does not own a landscaping business.

Mr. Landis called me back several days later after that, to say that the sample takes a long time, about a month.

It was at that time, that I did my own research, to determine that a yard my size, which is very small, and the front of the yard has a lamppost, and the front window has flowers, that it does not take that long for such a yard. Nor does it take $35.00. The website that I found that information told me that it is about $12.00, and it should take 1-2 weeks for the soil sample analysis.

He had discussed coming to my house, sometime at the end of September, but it was not a firm decision on my part. Mr. Landis discussed an amount of $300.00 to plant some annuals by my lamppost, and do some pruning. I told him that pruning is now too late in the season, and I would not want that to happen. $300.00 is too much for a filler of annuals.

On 5 October, 2013, without my approval, he came to my house around 6:30 PM. I was not home, and he left several messages on my home phone telling me that he was coming at 4:00pm, no, 4:30pm, and finally a message that he was coming at 6:30PM. He left a message card telling me that he would come back. It is now the beginning of October and I work 5 days a week, and weekend would be the only time that I would be available.

I called Mr. Landis number, on about 7 October 2013, and once again, did not get a human voice, but left a message that I was reporting him to the Revdex.com. It is now over 5 weeks since I had the sample completed, and no results, nor no return phone call concerning what has happened.

In conclusion, I want my $35.00 dollars back and in writing why was I treated this way. I am working for the Defense Department, and money is tight for me, and no one has three hours to wait for a so called Experienced Landscaper.

I also do not want anyone else to go through what I went through.

If you can help me get my $35.00 back I would appreciate that.

SincerelyDesired Settlement: I want my $35.00 dollars back and in writing why was I treated this way (see Attached document).

Business

Response:

To whom it may concern:

On September 9/4/131 met with customer about her suspected "BrownPatch" disease spot in her front lawn. Along with two soil samples @ $35.00 total she asked me to prune some shrubs including a rose, apply a lawn weed control, spade cut the sod roots along the property line with neighbor on left to stop further advancement of weeds into her property, plant six 6" pots of pansy's and cleanup.

We a day later or so by phone we agreed on meeting Saturday 10/5/ 2013 between 4-6PM to do the work. I called at least once or more leaving a message on my pending arrival that day as it neared 5:30 PM. A t the time, I found no one at home, left my business card in the door with a note to contact me for reschedule as well as a phone message to same. She in turn, days later left me a message denying making the scheduled meeting and her opinion on testing time. We subsequently left messages back in forth on testing timing.

The soil samples test results report has be sent to customer at this time with copy enclosed. In my experience, these test results can take minimum of 3-4 weeks on average at the Mersey of the tester and US mail service, etc. I have also placed information about the Horticulture remedy not provided in the soil report alone. It is more valuable and meaningful providing instruction on just how to carry out the solution, though I was not required too.

Finally, I have yet to be paid for my time and material expenses in the pick up/delivery of pansy's, travel and my professional time that day of $185.00 (apart of job total) far exceeding her soil test fee payment. I consider the matter closed.

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

Dear **. [redacted]:

The information that you received from Mr. [redacted] Landis has some discrepancies.

I would like to discuss at this time.

Mr. Landis came to my house on 9/4/13, (it was still summer). I gave him a check for $35.00 for a soil sample. We also discussed the aspect of pruning the shrubs, etc at that time, putting in pansies and cleaning up the front of the bed where my roses were. It was summer at the time.

I have a small yard, and I have researched from various companies, how long it takes for a soil analysis.

It does not take almost two months. You notice that the letter from the company is dated October 28, 2013. So, from September 4, 2013 to October 28, 2013, that to me is longer than three weeks!

I was the one that called Mr. Landis concerning why it was taking so long, he did not call me.

I never got a written invoice stating the exact time and how much the work was to be. Pansies cost about $300-4.00 a piece, a small bed of that would of cost $35-$40.00, not$185.00 plus labor about at the top of the price range $80.00. It is also at the end of September - October, summer is over, apd pruning is out of the question. The soil sample is a joke - with Capital " J".. I already knew that I had Brown Patch, the sample analysis did not tell me anymore than I already knew.

When you call his number, you get a recording, so how would I have known that he was coming at that date. My recording reflects that he called on that date, not PRIOR TO LET ME KNOW WHEN AND WHAT TIME HE WAS COMING.

End result: No invoice, no call prior to his coming, and it took him over two hours from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM to finally get to my residence. Who has that amount of time to waste - and it was dark at that time!

Conclusion: I want my $35.00 back, not a satisfied customer -1 have been ripped off- and I want it to be publicly posted so that the rest of his intended customers that he is ripping people off, with his soil analysis that takes almost two months, and his inability to relate to his customers.

Regards,

Business

Response:

12/8/13

To Whom It May Concern:

My previous letter addressed this complaint and the facts as I know them. To briefly reiterate again in another way relating to the soil part of our overall verbal agreement both parties received the compensation requested thus a valid verbal agreement was completed.

In fact, in addition to the basic soil report, I added extra information to assist the client and the turf problem solution that I was under no obligation to provide. The overall cost oif this report should be much greater than the $35.00 charged (two lab fees, postage and handling).

With that said, I have nothing further to add. Again case closed!

Sincerely,