Top Notch

The owner Frank Flynn estimated this job personally, and we signed a contract with 1/3 of the total due up front, 1/3 after the tree was down, and the final 1/3 after the grinding, cleanup, and sod was laid.  He and his team did a great job taking down the tree which was hanging over both mine and my neighbor's houses.  He did damage a small tree when the main trunk was felled, but he anticipated this and texted me first for approval, which I granted.  So far, so good.  They came back the next day for a few hours and brought limbs and brush to the front yard creating a huge pile for subsequent chipping and removal.  Then, they didn't show up, and never showed up again.  
Many calls and texts to Frank were met with him asking for more money up front - despite what HIS contract had stipulated.  He claimed that he'd quoted it so tight , that unless I wanted to wait a week or two, I'd need to pay him the final balance up front.  He actually had quoted the job twice, as we added the sod services - so he had no excuse for not making the money he needed to complete the job.  I kept politely asking him to finish per the contract, and he sent excuse after excuse - pages and pages, and all via text mind you - about how he "cut me a deal" and I should be "ashamed" for not paying him the final balance so he could finish the job.  He accused me of holding him up on the job by not paying him the final balance in advance (against the contract), and even said that I "should be ashamed of taking advantage of small businesses...."  
The contract clearly stated the terms, and he abandoned the job.  I've filed a formal complaint with the local BBB, but expect to never hear from Frank.  After waiting weeks with a giant eyesore in the front lawn, I contracted a reputable company to finish the job.  While the pictures on his website of his landscaping, deck, and patio work look great, and I'm sure he's done some good work, my experience with Top Notch was worse than awful.