H A H Landscaping

Herb cashed our checks for $25 and $560 on October 20th and that was the last we saw of him. He had done a good job of removing the damaged boxwood hedge, and cut up the maple and hauled everything off that day. He was supposed to come back and remove the stump and large roots, reshape the mound and plant the replacement tree and hedge. He ordered an underground survey by the local utilities and had to wait until they comleted their work (which was done the following week). But that was the last we saw of Herb Henne. After numerous calls, emails, and two visits to his elderly parents home (where he is living) he has not contacted us. We have let State Farm know that we have been defrauded of the money, but due to their policy of letting the homeowner contract, they consider their responsibility ended. I have followed thru on various suggestions State Farm's agent made (contacted the Salem Police to see if there is a fraud squad - there is not, contacting the Marion County Sherrif's Civil Dept to find out how to file a small claim - they do not, they serve papers for a fee of $35, the Court does not answer its phones). As we have no money to invest in further pursuit of this fellow, we are now filing a report with Angie's List to prevent others from dealing with him. He must have needed the $560 much more than the finished work and local reputation. However, we are making lemonade out of these lemons, deciding to not replant exactly what was there (a 50 year old upright japanese maple cannot be replaced anyway), and are planning a fruit or nut tree in the Spring and attaining a more open and inviting front entrance than the mature and dark area that was destroyed. We do have the balance of the funds in hand to use and will be able to do this ourselves.