Derleth Pruning

I had met Scott Derleth in passing over the past few years. - Which was cordial pleasant and even friendly. I contacted him in the fall of 2013 because I know he has a dump truck for his tree work - and I needed someone to haul a small quantity of old cement to a local recycle center. He said he knew where my street was - because HIS insurance broker's office is on the corner of my street. He told me he had FULL Liability Insurance. (Remember this) He set a price of only like $10 - which was too low for his interest - and he reluctantly took the (approx) $50 I paid him. We rode together - had a good conversation - I admit I didn't like breathing his smoke and it was about 90 degrees in his truck. I also hired him to prune a tall evergreen - as squirrels were getting in my attic. He even stood on the roof of my house - and used a pole saw and trimmed it way back. However the Squirrels jump further than we guessed - and kept getting in. I also had problems with Bats in my chimney - and he said he was interested in doing the labor of installing metal screening (machine cloth) over the top (under the 1st layer of bricks). I expressed - Several Times (!!) I wanted to accomplish this BEFORE Winter (October is what I wanted). He said he'd do the work in the next two or so weeks. I left him several voice messages - but he did NOT get back to me - for at Least Two MONTHS! Spring is mating season for Squirrels - and I think Bats look for a home then too. I called and left him another VM - explaining More Squirrels have been getting in. - This is when HE decided to call me back. He came over (we're talking early March now) - and we Both agreed that tree Had to come down. I reviewed points that are important to me - I have told him I am fussy about certain things - and went into detail. I reminded him about the chimney. I asked him how much - he paused and said, "$400 for the tree -- and I'll do the chimney too". (he gestured with his thumb towards my chimney). I should say - this tree was about 35' tall - and only about one foot from the lot line of a Bad neighbor. This time I thought his price was on the higher side - but trusted him. Before I said 'Yes' I conferred with a man who sells chainsaws. He said about $300 to $400 for the tree and did Not comment about the chimney. I told Scott Derleth 'Yes', and we set up a date for days later. He was to bring his own ladder - but when he arrived told me he realized he pulled the rope out of it - and it was Not usable. Then announced he Also forgot his ropes for pruning branches. He said he did NOT need them for this days initial pruning. I mostly stayed in my house - doing paperwork - and checked in about every half hour. After about an hour - I heard a Loud CRASH - outside. He had dropped a long heavy branch Through my back stair (as in One). I asked if He was okay. He said 'yes' - then Blamed My step for being Old. And added, "I guess I bought that one." I said, "You sure did." He admitted it happened because he forgot this ropes to lower branches. I told him to stop - go home (only One town over) and get your ropes before doing ANY more. He said he'd just do Other work for the day - and bring the ropes next time. This was a LIE!! - He just continued the same work - WithOut these ropes for safety. He forgot to put his pruning ladder away - I called and did it for him (so no one would steal it) At one point - he asked me 'How many of my forsythia hedge he could break - and have me be Okay with it?' I reminded him the answer is NONE! I restated and reminded him - that although I wasn't going to hover over him - I insisted on being present for the dropping of the main part of the tree. It was then - that he said he doesn't even like ANYONE around when he works. I believe it was Friday March 7th - he did a Sneaky Trick on me. He called in the morning - and told me he was ONLY pruning today - and would NOT be dropping the main tree. So I went out to do my work on the road - and left the house for most of the day. When I came home around 5pm he was Not there - his Dual-Wheel tire tracks were up VERY close to my garage - and the WHOLE tree was GONE. I was NOT happy!! TO BE CONTINUED!!!! (TAKING A BREAK FROM TYPING) ***************************** I had met Scott Derleth in passing over the past few years. - Which was cordial pleasant and even friendly. I hired him on April 4, 2013 - to prune a couple of trees. It went smoothly and was only $50.00 (think he gave me a break). (this was meant to keep Squirrels Out of my attic) I hired him again 11-15-2013 - to haul some used cement (locally) to a recycling plant. Again - he didn't ask for much money - I paid him More than he requested. We both said we got more than we bargained for. October 2013 - I wanted to hire him to put screening over my chimney BEFORE winter. We talked a couple of times - I left Several voice messages - that he Chose NOT to return. Early March 2014 - I left him Another VM - saying the squirrels were Back IN my attic. THEN - he decided to call me back. He came out - looked the tree over - we agreed it Had to come down (to prevent the critters). He looked it over said $400 to take it down/haul it away. - Then he gestured with his thumb towards my roof and said, "And I'll do the chimney too." I confirmed with an expert that the tree should be $300 to $400 - so I said 'Yes'. Mr. Derleth did Not bring his own ladder (for my roof) because he Forgot to 're-rope' it. : ( When he arrived to work on taking down (not all in one day) the tree - he announced he had (Also) FORGOTTEN his ropes - to safely lower larger branches. After an hour or so of work I heard a 'Crash' - found he had dropped a large branch Through one of my back steps - Which he promptly Blamed ON the Step. : ( I told him to stop Everything - go home (one town away) and get his safety ropes. He lied - saying he'd do more work that did NOT require his ropes - later I found he just kept on dropping Large branches. Mr. Derleth likes to 'stay off the grid', NO business cards, NO Yellow-pages, NO advertising. He says he 'likes word-of-mouth' - and now - I'm Glad to accommodate him - right here on Angieslist. TO BE CONTINUED!!!! (TAKING A BREAK FROM TYPING)