A-1 Discount Tree Service Inc

It was a nightmare working with this contractor, specifically Jack Paff, the owner. At the time of the sales pitch and estimate, he was very polite and emphasized, I am insured and if you are not satisfied with my job, you don't pay me. The estimate was $1730 for cutting 2 small skinny trees, a couple of limbs from a large tree, and removing 2 bushes and a vine which now I realize was overpriced. I called 811 before any digging and by Monday, March 29 my property was fully flagged. The job started on April 2, 2021. He came in with another employee, his brother Richard. I showed up around 3:30 PM and they were in the middle of the process. By then, the polite salesman turned into a rude person. It turned out, his chainsaw snapped because he got it tangled in my neighbor's old barbwire fence. Obviously he did not assess the area well before cutting. I had to run to Menards and buy a barbwire fence cutter to cut off a segment already on the ground. He rented a huge Barreto RTK Track digger/cultivator to triturate stumps and bushes roots and then he was in a hurry because he needed to return the equipment at a specific time. Then he went to work in the front of the house to remove 2 bushes and a vine I wanted to be replaced. He started doing the job with this huge equipment in a narrow area not more than 7-9 feet long. He broke off my sewer vertical pipe because he was negligent enough not to check for the location first, even though the pipe was marked with HSE flags (sewer company in Fishers, IN). He went ballistic and started raising his voice and accusing me of not letting him know where this pipe was which I had no clue. He raised his voice at me, a 55 year old woman and my 89 yr old mom got really nervous inside the house. Apparently, Jack doesn't know the meaning of the different colored flags all over my patio or he is just too negligent doing his job. I mentioned his insurance must pay for repair and he raised his voice mentioning that the insurance deductible was $1000. I started calling plumbers for estimates and all companies advised to get a camera inspection first to make sure the pipe was not cracked underneath with the impact. I mentioned Jack the service call was $95 and camera inspection was close to $200 without the repair. He left in the middle of this issue, without picking up all tree limbs and other trash because he was late for the machine return. He said he will come the next day to finish up. He called me Sat April 3rd asking where was I, that I needed to be there for payment (the job was in my property in Fishers but my main residence is Columbus, IN). I told him I could not drive as I was ill with COVID vaccine side effects and he started screaming over the phone in a belligerent way, I want my money, I want my money. With a very calm voice, I mentioned I will not pay until I know the final cost for expenses related to the sewer pipe repair. He kept screaming and told me he was going to contact his lawyer. I mentioned again he was going to get his payment after I discounted the amount for all the damage. He kept screaming disrespectfully, stopped the job halfway, left the trash in front of my house and left even though I mentioned my complex has very strict covenants and he should not do that. He told me his lawyer said I could not hold his money so if I didn't pay right away he will take me to court. I said, go ahead Jack, sue me and I will counter sue you. Then he mentioned in a text he was not insured even though his advertisement flyers and his work truck clearly reads FULLY INSURED. When I mentioned this, he sent me the last text of the day saying he was going to show up Monday Apr 5 to finalize the job so I could pay him his money after deducting the cost for repairs. Today is Sun Apr 4, Easter Sunday, and I was lucky enough to get a hold of a very reliable contractor that has done many jobs for me before. He was kind enough to come in today, did the camera inspection and fixed the broken portion of sewer pipe for a very reasonable price. Unfortunalely I have to drive back and forth from Columbus again tomorrow after Jack's work is finalized so I can pay. By the way, he advertises accepting credit cards which is a lie. Only cash or checks, in his own words. My advice to you is, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CONTRACTOR unless you want to go through **** !

Tree trimming went fine as they accomplished what I wanted (however, now I think I was overcharged but it was my first tree trimming). Moreover, I paid Jack some extra money for him to fill my fireplace wood box. He promised to return soon and do that. He has never showed again, even after calling him 3 times to do so. I expect a vendor to keep their word. This vendor did not. I will not use them again

It's seem to start out well with Jack Paff, he came and gave me an estimate and said the work would be done when weather was permitting, I gave him a down payment and waited a couple of months for the work to begin. I called him to inquire and he told me that his tree climber wanted more money, so I agreed to an increase in cost but still no work was performed! Call three weeks later, Mr. Paff gave me a sob story about his truck clutch out for three weeks, I asked for my money back, so far nothing!

DISASTER OF THE THE WORST KIND!!!!

Work was begun on June 10, 2015 and tree was completely down on June 11, 2015. Jack asked for payment in full so he could pay his crew and I gave him a check for the balance, even though all the wood was still laying through out the yard. Wood was left for another neighbor to pick up, which was not part of my original contract with the owner.  Contacted Jack on June 27 to ask what the plan was.  He came by on the morning of J une 28. Said he would  go by the mans house and see if he could get him to come by or he himself would come back with a crew later on that day to get the wood but that it would be gone by the end of that day.  It was not.  Contacted Jack again on June 30. Told him I needed him to either come and get the wood or come and cut it up so I could haul it out myself.  He said he couldn't do that but that he would contact the neighbor to see when they could come and get the wood. The neighbor did come and get the most of the wood but didn't understand why Jack didn't just complete the job himself.  He left two large pieces for Jack.  Contacted Jack again on July 1, telling him of the large pieces that were left as well as about the damage done to my yard from the wood being there for so long and from the tree being taken down.  There were several deep ridges.  Grass was killed.  Plants and bushes were ripped and torn. Mulch was blown from around plants. There was no response.  Texted again on July 8  telling him I had wood still needing to be removed and asking what the plan was to fix the damage.  I included pictures.  Again, no response.  On July 31, I contacted again stating I hadn't heard from him in a while and it was time to start talking partial refund and he needed to remove the remaining two pieces of wood.  He replied he would be there Saturday, the next day.  Again, he did not show.  On August 21 I texted him again informing him I had contacted a lawyer who believed I am entitled to half my money back by filing a claim against his insurance.  Told him I needed the tree gone by Saturday and $250.  I didn't hear anything until 7:01 on Saturday evening, when he texted me, "I Will take Care of Sun. Sorry" He did not show on Sunday.  I got a text on Monday saying he was removing the wood at 11, but that he didn't owe me any money.  The remaining texts were rude and not worth repeating. I believe waiting over 10 weeks for completion of a 1 week contract is being more than patient and not deserving of the way I was treated.  Jack is a smooth talking salesman with lots of excuses who doesn't follow through with his promises.

This has been a NIGHTMARE.  Jack would promise to come and not show up - day after day after day.  Finally, after the trees were cut down, the wood was stacked in the wrong area and the debris from the last tree was not cleaned up.  It took over two weeks to get them to come back and finish the job. Our new asphalt driveway was damaged in the process! Jack has promised for WEEKS to get it fixed.  It has taken numerous phone calls and our driveway is STILL not fixed - it's been almost two months since it was damaged!!  When I called him this morning, his response was,"Well, I'm really busy" - I've ALREADY paid for the job and I'm still waiting for the driveway repair! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!

It did not go well.  We agreed to have A-1 take down trees, with an open date to perform the service and gave Mr. Paff a deposit.  Our only request was that they not cut down tress during 4 days in June while we had company with young children who needed to play in the yard.   Very early on the 1st day of our guests visit, the crew started sawing.  They said those were the only days available.  Each day the crew left plastic bottles & litter on our property as well as one of our neighbor's.  On the 3rd day, they left without completing agreed upon work.  Mr Paff promised if we'd pay him so he could pay his workers at the end of the day, they would come back the next morning to finish splitting & moving wood.  It's been over two weeks and he has not returned our calls nor sent anyone to complete the work for which we have paid.  If they do show up to finish the job, I will be happy to update this review.