Arbor Tech

Mike, the lifter, approached us after cutting limbs off a neighbors tree, about doing the same for us.    We had a very large branch from our magnolia tree removed.    The other employee (can't remember his name) is the chain saw expert, while Mike holds the rope to control the fall of the branch.  Nothing high tech.   They finished the job in about 30 minutes, carried the branch sections to their truck, and removed them for us.  Offered to sweep off the deck after.   So, we really have no complaints, but I too felt the whole approach and their manner was a little questionable.   I would feel uncomfortable hiring them for anything more complex/long-term job without more info and a written contract.  They did give us a flyer with phone numbers that has "licensed and fully insured written on it, and Mike said he is from KDH, while the other guy is from Richmond.    It's good to have the branch gone- did we pay too much? - and glad nothing was broken in the process.
The "approach the person in the yard" while canvassing the neighborhood method of their business is what sends up a red flag for me, and why I wanted to check them out on Angie's List.  I plan to look for someone with better credentials/reputation for future jobs.

Mike from Arbor Tech showed up to give me an estimate that I later found out was high to begin with.  Not knowing this, I gave him the job since he said he could start first thing the next morning.  He showed up around 11:00am with no bucket truck, no dump truck, no stump grinder, no pole saw - only an old pick, a suspect looking crew, a couple of chainsaws, some old climbing ropes, and climbing spikes.  He dropped a couple of trees that day and cut them up.  His crew began stacking all the branches out by the road for the town to pick up, which I later found out was illegal for a tree service to do.  By four or five o clock, they were ready to call it a day.  My yard was a disaster but Mike assured me they would be back first thing the next morning to finish the job (everything except grind stumps which he couldn't do because his grinder was being worked on).  He asked for half the money we agreed upon upfront (in cash) and I was stupid enough to give it to him, but told him he wouldn't get any more until the job was complete.  The next day they didn't show up.  Two days later, they finally showed up in the afternoon (one of the crew members appeared drunk) and left an hour later claiming it was too wet to cut.  Our yard was still a disaster.  I then found out from a legitimate tree removal service that Mike was most likely operating without a license or insurance and did not have the equipment to finish the job.  We then paid this tree removal service to finish the job which they did right away, and I told Mike not to come back.  I also told him he owed me some of the money back that I paid him, which he agreed to do, but then quit answering my calls.  I believe Mike and his "company" Arbor Tech to be fraudulent.  They pose as a licensed and insured tree removal company and I don't believe they are either.  They accept jobs that they don't have the equipment to complete, but don't relay that information to the homeowner up front.  They currently work out of and reside at a cheap hotel in KDH.  If they get their hands on any of your cash, you won't see them again for a couple of days, if ever.

Recruited at door and agreed to cut down several trees for $400.00.  Cut one and partially cut two and ruined the yard in the process.  Left debris and trash in yard..no clean-up.  Didn't finish and said they would return on Monday.  When called to come back said they'd come when they got ready.  So far haven't seen them.  Have no address or any other way to contact them or report them.  They are not listed as a LLC on the Secretary of States web site, so I doubt the are.  Say they are licensed and insured.  Wish they would let me know with whom and I'd put in a claim.