Stricklin’s L.P.

It started out well.  The receptionist was very nice, explained all of their billing and scheduling thoroughly.  They were able to come and perform the work in a reasonable amount of time. 

The day they came they were unprepared for the job at hand and only had a flat bed trailer, not one with sides that could be loaded up.  Nor, did they have a chainsaw in the case of moving limbs that were too large.  So, they called their boss and came back a few days later, with the correct equipment.

They returned a few days later with the correct equipment.  Toward the end of the pick up it started sprinkling a little and one of the crew asked if it was okay that they left a few things in the yard.  Not a total raking.  We said sure.  The amount they left was okay.

A few days later we received a bill.  Which included the time the first crew spent not working and waiting for their supervisor.  I found this unfair and remitted the following letter to the company:

To whom it may concern:

I am hoping there was a miscommunication between the crew who came to perform the job and the billing department. 

I was very pleased with your prompt and friendly service over the phone and felt communication between us was very easy.  The job, removing the vines and tree limbs we had already cut down and piled, was however a bit more than what the crew who arrived was prepared  for.

We were very clear on your policy of $95 per 0-60 minutes and found it more than generous when you offered to waive the haul away fee that had been estimated between $35 and $75.  However, when the crew arrived they were not prepared to complete the task and I feel it is a bit unfair that you have included that first day in the billing invoice when it amounted to little more than sitting and waiting for a supervisor.

If I had known they would be arriving with a flat-bed trailer I would have suggested otherwise.  Most yard crews I see driving around have trailers with sides, which was what they needed and ultimately returned with the following week.  However, beyond the trailer the crew didn't even have a chainsaw and would have been unable to complete the job anyway.

Once the supervisor, Mr. Stricklin, arrived he realized it would require the larger trailer and said he wouldn't be able to offer the free haul away, that it would probably be around $40.

When the crew returned a few days later it took them well under two hours and probably would have gone even more quickly if the supervisor, I presume,... would have actually helped out instead of watching the other guys work and hide in the truck whenever it began sprinkling.

I have remitted payment in the amount of two hours, plus Disposal/Hauling and taxes, which totals $276.04 while you have a chance to confer with the supervisor and crew as to the ethicacy of the original bill.

The next day Mr. Stricklin arrived at my door.  He was very cordial to me, whose name was the only one listed on the letter and payment and asked to speak with my husband.  As soon as I left them he began yelling at my husband and became irate over the letter continually telling my husband to act like a man.  Eventually, storming off and saying he didn't even want our money. 

Needless, to say we do not continue to do business with people who think it is acceptable to come to their customer's houses, get confrontational, and belittle them.