Pacific Gates Landscape and Design

Pacific Gates landscape & Design*** ** *** ***Duval,WA
11/22/
Revdex.comPO Box 1000DuPontWA
Re: ID # ***
I am responding to the above noted complaintIt is disappointing that this has escalated to thispoint
First a little background:
*** and
*** *** were interested in some landscaping workMost of my dealing was with***
At the initial site visit, on 8/3/15, various landscaping items were discussed.One item was to reseed their lawns, which included thatching, aerating, fertilizing, andspreading seed supplied by the owner
Another was their irrigation system*** mentioned that it may need to be replacedIsuggested that I diagnose the system for function, and that perhaps it is ok for their needsWenoted that there were a couple of broken sprinkler heads in the front yard that would need tobe repaired/replaced in order to get the system charged up to properly diagnose itAt thattime, I mentioned to *** that to diagnose the system, my hourly rate is $40/hour + materials,and that I estimated it would take an hour or two to check it out*** agreed
On 8/6/15, I let *** know via email that I would be out on 8/to install the new sprinklerheads so that I can finish diagnosing the systemHe replied to my email with additionalquestions about other parts of the bid
On 8/8/I sent *** an email with quotes for the various tasks that we had discussed, includingthe lawn work (this did not include the irrigation work)
On 8/10/15, I replaced the broken sprinkler heads and operated the working parts of theirrigation systemThe ***s son was home and he let me into the garage to access the crawlspaceI went under their house and investigated the irrigation water supply line for theirrigation in the back yardAll together, I had hours diagnosing their systemThis did notinclude my time for picking up parts which I did not bill forRepairing the system is above andbeyond a reasonable "free estimate"
Early in the evening on 8/10, I called *** to discuss some items I had found while working ontheir irrigation system
Because different people have different expectations of quality/level of lawn, during this phonecall I asked what level they were looking for*** commented that she wanted "Better Homesand Gardens"I explained that for a really nice lawn, the existing lawn should be rototilled,and the soil amended*** asked me to give him a price for that
Now to address the complaint:The new quote for the lawn did indeed increase in price, however, the scope of work greatlyincreasedBoth of the quotes for the lawn renovation described what work would be done.The latter quote clearly showed the increase in the scope of work.I never rescinded the original quoteIt was still validThere was no bait and switch as ***alluded to on 11/13/It was simply that there were two different quotes with two differentlevels of work to be done(I tried to explain this to *** when she called me on 11/13/15, butshe did not want to hear my take on this.)
Billing- The amount of the invoice that I sent to the ***s was for repairing and diagnosing theirirrigation system, plus materials.On 8/3/15, *** had agreed to my hourly rate for the irrigationI began working based on theagreement between *** and meOn 8/19/15, when he decided that they would not be usingmy services, he em ailed me and asked me to send them a receipt for the parts and my bill.They knew that there was an agreement, and asked me to send them a bill.I em ailed a copy of my invoice and a copy of the receipt for the parts the same day that ***requested them, 8/19/I also explained at that same time the reason that the more recentquote for the lawn was higher
On 10/4/15, after not hearing anything from the ***s, nor receiving payment, I sent, via USPS,a follow up invoice with a note on it stating that this is a copy of the original invoice.I still had not heard anything or received payment by 11/6/This is days later plenty oftime for them to send payment, or contact me if there were questions or even to dispute thebillOn 11/6/15, I sent a 3rd copy of the invoiceI put a note on it stating to please remitpayment to me within days of receipt or I would be forced to take legal measures to collectthe money owedI sent this certified/return receipt to confirm that they were indeed receivingmy invoicesThere was no harassing, nor bullyingThere were also certainly no "fraudulentbills"
I was simply trying to get paid for the work that was agreed to, and performed
Attached is a copy of the email of 8/6/notifying *** that I would be out to repair theirrigation systemThis would have been the time for them to tell me to not perform any work.However, I heard nothing as this was indeed the agreed to plan
Attached is a copy of the email of 8/19/from *** asking me to send him an invoice and acopy of the material receiptsWhy would he request an invoice if they felt I had no billablework?
There was no deception hereThe work that was performed was agreed to
On 11/13/15, I received a phone call from ***She had received my most recent invoice andwas upsetAfter hearing her views about the entire situation, I mentioned that I don't agree onher take, and would she like to hear my thoughts? She said no, she wouldn't
I hope this explanation helps to clear up any misunderstanding
Sincerely,Jerry *M***
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