It is possible that the stereotypical attitude held by many people regarding the unreliability of contractors in this country may have come from their experience with this company. Service was contracted on September 8, 2009 and was to be completed by September 20, 2009. I contracted with Arborscape Tree Preservation LLC not because they were the least expensive (they were not) but because they assured me that they could remove the trees by my time sensitive deadline.. I was having a semi-trailer delivered from Oregon to Charleston and needed it transported before the weather turned in climate. One of the trees was blocking access to my back property where the trailer was to be delivered. The trailer was to depart Oregon on October 1st, 2009, after the trees had been removed. When the service hadn't been completed as agreed, I contacted Mr. Christmas and reminded him of my deadline. On four separate occasions between October 1st and October 19th, 2009 I was given several additional dates that also were not met. My transporter cancelled delivery of my semi-trailer when the weather turned in climate. I notified Mr. Christmas that his inaction had caused me an undue financial loss in that I would have to transport and store the trailer until May 2010, a cost of over $1,000. As I am a disabled veteran living on a small disability, money is tight. I asked at that time if Arborscape could remove the one tree obstructing the back yard and refund me the balance. Mr. Christmas agreed to this on October 19, 2009. He said he would instruct his office to take care of the refund and they would call me. On October 20, 2009 I called Mr. Christmas as the office hadn't contacted me. He said to call the office, which I did. I was told that the check would be mailed on Thursday, October 22, 2009 to me at my Charleston address. On Monday, October 26, 2009 the owner of Arborscape Tree Preservation LLC arrived at my house with his crew. From this point on was when the nightmare escalated. Neither the owner nor all of the workers, except one, wore any protective gear (i.e. goggles, hard hats, safety harness). Workers were walking under the tree as limbs fell, man in bucket was leaning out of bucket cutting limbs with chainsaw, no safety rope around him on chainsaw.No limbs were roped off causing limbs to fall on fence & gate. Man in bucket climbs completely out of bucket atop topped tree (approximately 20' in air) with no safety harness. Worker feeds wood chipper without wearing protective eye wear or hard hat. All of this while the owner is standing watching over the operation. Prior to contracting with Arborscape I visited their website and it portrayed the company as being professional. The video shows all of the workers wearing proper protective equipment. This was not the case in my situation. As of this date, December 4th, 2009, I have yet to receive the agreed upon refund. I have even discussed filing a claim with the South Carolina Attorney General consumer's affairs department. Still no action. If anyone is interested, I would be more than willing to forward copies of my correspondence with this company as well as photos of the workers in action. You can contact me at:
[email protected]