Chase Landscaping

Mr. Segler came to my property without calling me first. I was in the backyard when I heard his tractor coming through the side yard. He dug the trench, never bothering to use a transit. I figured he would use the transit when installing the gravel and pipe. He did remove one plant from the foundation area (not two as contracted). He wanted to knock a hole through the foundation wall but I would not let him. I am glad I was home at that time. A few days later, on Saturday night, I went to a dinner event at church. At about 7:00 pm I received a call from Mr. Segler saying he had completed the job and needed to be paid so that he could pay his helper. I left the dinner and joined him at the house (in the dark of night). There was evidence that he had been there and done the work but he had not even attempted to let me know that he was on the property. Apparently he works very quietly. I never saw his pickup truck, a dump truck or even a wheel barrow during the day. As an idiot, based on simple faith that he had performed the required work, I paid him the remainder of his fee. The first rain storm showed that his work had accomplished nothing. I dug out the drain pipe in several locations and saw that he had not bothered to site in a correct drain elevation, nor had he buried the pipe in gravel. Also, he had not placed gravel under the house where water stands (as contracted). I called him to tell him he had not accomplished the work properly or according to good engineering standards. A few days later I heard something in the backyard and went out to investigate. Mr. Segler and one helper were digging a shallow trench along the foundation (about 4-inches wide, 8- inches deep and 10 feet long and had been slopping tar on the brick and block above the footing with no attempt at cleaning the exposed area. They also slopped tar along the inside walls of the crawlspace without cleaning the block. I told him as he was performing this "water proofing" exercise that it was useless but he continued. He did not return to close up the trench. At the first rain, I went under the house and found water bubbling through the block just as bad as before. I made phone calls to Mr. Segler at least twice afterwards, but he would not answer and would not return the calls. I offer this lengthy review hoping I can save some other stupid customer from employing him in doing anything whether it be cutting grass, dropping trees, or landscaping. The only "DO" I can think of is just look elsewhere for landscaping or drainage work and warn your friends if they mention his name or the company name.