Don't Get Stumped! Avoid High-Pressure Sales Tactics For Seasonal Home Maintenance.
INDIANAPOLIS – Fall is a popular time of year when homeowners perform seasonal maintenance – trimming bushes and trees, cleaning gutters and winterizing their lawns – to prepare for changes in the weather.
A recent experience by one central Indiana resident who filed a complaint about a tree trimming service with Better Business Bureau® Serving Central Indiana highlights the need for homeowners to be more attentive about who they hire to perform the work.
"This is the time of year we see a rise of complaints in the tree trimming service industry," said BBB President and CEO Tim Maniscalo. "It's important for people to do their homework before hiring a company. We encourage consumers to hire BBB Accredited Businesses, which are thoroughly reviewed before accreditation. If you are working with an Accredited Business, you can be confident it is a business you can trust.”
BBB identified a pattern from pending complaints on EJ’s Tree & Construction including one from resident Daniel Anderson about the company’s work performed on properties. Complainants allege inadequate work on attic & crawlspace, drywall that was replaced, but left project uncompleted, and damaged a neighbor’s tree while working on consumer’s yard. Also, consumers allege that workers leave the job site with work unfinished and workers also fail to return to job site or return calls.
In Anderson’s case, he hired the company to cut down a few branches in his yard. One of the workers asked Anderson to use the restroom and when he came out, the worker told Anderson that he also had a pipe leaking from his toilet. The employee wrote a contract that explained the project would cost $4,000 and that Anderson would have to pay for materials as well. The job was left unfinished and the company never returned Anderson's phone calls. They charged Anderson $14,000 for renovation which should have really cost around $5,000.
"I feel completely taken advantage of by this company,” said Anderson, an elderly man who lives with his son.
To ensure other consumers don’t get stumped by fraudulent companies, such as EJ’s Tree & Construction, BBB suggests these tips for homeowners:
- Hire a professional. Find BBB Accredited Businesses in the tree service industry here. Be sure you know who you are dealing with if a problem does occur and how to contact them. Ask the company for references.
- Be cautious of door-to-door solicitations. Someone may come to your door offering a discount if you agree to allow them to deliver services right away. You should not be pushed to make a decision.
- Estimates should be given only after the company has come out and inspected your property. Ask if the estimate includes labor, cleanup and disposal costs. Only pay a third of the total project cost upfront and don't give all of the money at once. Pay with check or credit card to offer some protection if something were to go wrong.
- Get everything in writing. Make sure the contract includes all verbal agreements, and it says when the job is expected to be completed, payment terms, contact information for the company, including phone number and address. Be sure it includes a refund and cancellation policy.
- Ensure the company is covered by insurance. Tree care can be dangerous if not done by properly trained experts. Confirm the company's insurance covers worker's compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents.
About Better Business Bureau
For more than 100 years, BBB has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2013, people turned to BBB more than 132 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.5 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. BBB Serving Central Indiana, founded in 1916 and serving 46 counties in central Indiana, is one of 112 local, independent BBBs across North America.
