Landscapes Are Us, Inc.

Review: We hired Landscapes Are Us in February 2014, after a lengthy search process involving a number of contractors. We liked that the company had been in business since 1945. However, the day we were to select the wall, we were abruptly informed that the owners were retiring, a new person was taking over effectively immediately, and they were on their way to Hawaii. Unfortunately, what we wanted and discussed with the original owners was evidently never communicated effectively. What we wanted and what we got different in some respects, and we had to give in on more than we would have preferred to get the job done by our travel deadline. That wasn't even met. Their lack of response to our several requests to replace dying plants under warranty will likely have us replace them at our expense. Our additional several requests to provide cost data to submit to the City of Sacramento's "cash for grass" program were not received by the City's deadline, causing us to lose our rebate. That was a low blow, considering we had been the City's first applicant; and to lose the rebate due to a poor contractor response is difficult to believe but sadly true.Desired Settlement: We would like a $500 refund for the rebate that we never received due to the lack of responsiveness from the contractor.

Business

Response:

Dear Revdex.com, Our response to this complaint is as follows; First of all we want to state that the owners of Landscapes aRe Us are not retired and have never been retired. While at the first consultation visit with the clients we discussed time frames for completing the project. The clients told us about their planned vacation, their vacation to Italy and her trip to burning man, etc. and then we told them our two week vacation to Maui for our wedding anniversary. The owner was at three of the four visits to the clients home to discuss the project and was fully aware of the project details. One of the problems was that the clients continued to add and change items almost daily, we have numerous emails from the clients showing their changes. If any deadlines before their trip were not met it was because changes were made that added time.

We were told at the first meeting that they had another contractor that was going to do the wall in the back and could we communicate with him as the wall needed to be done first. We left numerous message with the contractor they had chosen to do the wall, after finally making contact we found out he indicated it would be quite some time before he was able to think about the work, we then updated the client about this. She then talked to the contractor and found out that he wasn't going to be doing the job; she was very frustrated and upset in having to wait on this contractor as were we as since we had to wait as well to start on our part of the project, the first contract we sign was on 2/25/14 for only a water feature. The client then asked us to do that wall so an addendum was signed 4/11/14. Over the next several weeks as work progressed many more addendums were added, our company spent many hours researching plants for the "River Friendly Landscape Program" for the client, which was done at no cost to the client and was not on the contract or any addendums, we did this out of the goodness of our hearts.

Due to the changes and additions we had to utilize our sub-contractor, [redacted], for the front yard landscaping as well as the back wall. On July 21st the final payment was made by the clients and the job was completed. Then on August 22nd the client emailed Landscapes aRe Us requesting receipts of all the materials used for the front yard. We emailed back on August 26th stating [redacted] worked on the front yard and he would have those receipts, that we had no access to them, and we gave the client authorization to speak directly to [redacted]. It wasn't until the Sept. 2nd that we heard back from the clients via voicemail that he didn't have [redacted]s phone number and wanted us to get the receipts. He also let us know in that same voicemail that Sept 2nd was the deadline to get the "Cash for Grass' paperwork turned in. In the voicemail, which we have saved, he then went on to threaten us stating if we didn't get this done "we wouldn't like what he had to do".

In none of the contracts or many addendums signed by the clients was there any mention of this "Cash for Grass" rebate and that receipts were needed. Landscapes aRe Us was neither under contract nor responsible for providing receipts to the clients. In this industry the standard is that contractors purchase materials in bulk and not on an individual job basis. Perhaps had we known when the job was started this was needed, we could have written an addendum and gotten this on contract so that receipts would have been provided. In 50 years of business we have never been asked to do this.

In closing Landscapes aRe Us is under NO obligation to provide receipts to the client. Please let us know if you would like us to send you all of the emails, contract, addendums and voicemail.

Thank you

Review: Contacted this company about a pond pump problem I was having. I clearly explained that it was not clear if the pump needed to be repaired or fixed. they explained that there is a service charge of $85.00 paid upfront before technician can visit. I agreed to the service charge, I informed them that the house is vacant and gave lockbox combination. later that afternoon, I was contacted by [redacted] who told me the technician spent almost an hour to figure out the problem and that's an additional $65,00 charge. I asked her why I was not contacted for approval, she said the $85 service charge is for driving to the property and since the technician spend time diagnosing the issue its additional $65.00 per hour. she also said the technician recommends the pump to be changed and the GFI changed and that if they had the right pump he would have replaced it. All this would have been done without my authorization. I have tried to resolve this issue with [redacted] but will not accept and had charged my account $144.80. I also do not have a receipt or a report on what was found and cost estimate. The technician left the door leading from outside into the garage and from the garage into the house unlocked, very unsafe and unprofessional. My calls now goes to [redacted]'s voice mail and receptionist screens my call.Desired Settlement: I want the additional $65 charge refunded, I was a written report identifying the technician's findings and recommended repairs and a receipt for the $85.00

Business

Response:

[redacted],