Consumer alert! Do not trust this company's estimates before agreeing to their no-show policy... It's a racket, and the parties involved will do anything to steal your hard earned money!
Had brush cleared from the yard of a home in Harper Woods. Called the company and sent photos of the pile to the manager. Manager referred me to a sub contractor, who, also received crystal clear photos of the pile of brush to be picked up from the curb.
Both of these individuals assessed the pick up to be approximately $1000, which included the costs of a dumpster, pick up, and disposal. I agreed to this, informing both parties that their price was in line with what the city of Harper Woods estimated on site.
The subcontractor scheduled the job for following day at between 7-8AM. A sub-sub-contractor shows up, at 8:30, and along with a rinky dink trailer. Then the trouble with this highly unprofessional company started....
Prepared to do the job was a skinny man, and a young boy. The sub contractor, who never bothered to show, demanded over the phone that the pile now required four to five trips... At a cost of $4000. I argued that since, the estimate was so high and beyond what was originally quoted, the no show fee of $100 demanded of me should not be paid.
To be clear the photos of the pile of brush and limbs, were taken by the city's building department, day before. I had pushed the two rows of brush into one, stacked along the curb. The shady owner and sub contractor, who not once showed, relied on a sub-sub contractor's estimate, and insisted on shaking me down.
I offered to meet the sub contractor half way on the no show fee, at a reasonable sum of $50, however the owner of the company, and the sub contractor both whined over the phone that my photos were deceiving and that I needed to pay, or have a lien placed on my home. The company refused to compromise.
Their intimidation tactic and threatening tone of voice worked. My wife was with me and I needed to attend an urgent meeting for town. I paid the no show fee despite a difference of $3000 in their estimates that had I known would be so unreasonable, and $3000 more than what the city was charging, I would have never agreed to.
This before threatening that a poor review of their bad business practices would be left and that a complaint with the Better Business Bureau submitted. This is a dishonest and unprofessional company and one I will be informing others to stay away from.
This company charges a $100 no show fee, backed by inaccurate and misleading estimates over the phone. Do not believe what is estimated over the phone, when you contact this company. They will inflate their estimates on arrival forcing you into a tough spot. Legitimate and ethical businesses offer free estimates, and will not shake you down for money, like this company, if you refuse the job. read more
