MINI...SERVICES INC

Horrible experience.   No returned phone calls, did not show up as promised.   

You get what you pay for and this was a disaster.  Sure, he was cheap and on time, but he never took readings to determine the slope of the entire yard.  He claimed he was installing "catch basins," when in fact he only installed connection devices to his main drain.  In exactly the area I wanted to "dry out," Vince installed drains that could  never work because water would have to flow uphill into his main drain.  Several of his exposed drainage devices were actually connected with duct tape, a fact he tried to hide by covering them with dirt.  He covered up an intake grate with a huge pile of stones, thinking I might not realize it was placed too high above the level of the ground to ever collect water.

Despite the name of his company, he used a much larger piece of equipment than was necessary (something I later learned).  He cut through tree roots I asked him to be sensitive to -- one he left sticking entirely out of the ground.  He had no understanding or interest in landscaping... just digging.   In digging his trenches, he left large rocks and roots throughout my yard, which he never raked or made any attempt to remove.  He absolutely ruined much of my yard.  He left huge tire marks through both the front and back yards and claimed he couldn't see them when I pointed them out. He did not compact the soil properly when he filled in his trenches so that now the ground is collapsing and even eroding entirely away in at least one spot.  His work was so poorly done, the drain cap disappeared with the first heavy rain and I had a lake exactly in the spot I specifically wanted to address.

His attitude was extremely unpleasant and downright frightening to a single woman.  He became very defensive and argumentative when I tried to have him correct many of these issues.  I felt he was very patronizing to me because I am a woman.  I was glad I had others with me when I confronted him on his poor workmanship because of his yelling and threats.

I chose his firm because he had many high ratings on Service Magic.  I absolutely can't understand it unless he had his friends and family submit them.  The work he did at my house has to be re-done and I'm out the money I paid him.  Yes, I'm paying more for the second go-around, but I feel it will be done correctly and with care about my lawn and landscape.  Thank goodness I held back a portion of the full price and refused to pay him the entire amount because of his terrible workmanship.  Stay away.

He came when he said and finished when he said.  Everything went surprisingly smooth!