Ivan Hernandez

My coworker recommended Ivan Hernandez, who does his lawn, to me to do the mowing, edging and mulching for my yard.  I called Ivan up to come over before my in-laws arrived from overseas to do the mowing, edging and mulching.  He showed up on a Saturday and I explained the work that I wanted him to do and we agreed on a price - $200 for the mulch and $25 for mowing and edging the lawn.  I paid him $250 for him to mow\edge now and in two weeks, right before my in-laws arrived, and to mulch the front and back yard.  That day he mowed and edged the front and back yard and did a pretty good job.  He said that he normally does mulching on Tuesdays and that he would be back out at that time to do the mulch.  I have not seen him since.  I called him every week and every week he had an excuse as to why he couldn't come out (he was in jail, it rained too much to apply mulch, problems in Mexico, etc...); it has been four months and I have finally given up.  He promised every time that I called that he would be out the next Tuesday to do the mulch and never showed up and after 17 weeks of playing this game with him I went and found another company to do the job (on Angie's List, this time).  Ivan never even came out to do the mowing and edging during all this time either.  I should not have paid him up front, shame on me, but I wanted Ivan to get the work done quickly.  Since the last phone call I had with Ivan stating that I was very disappointed with him and he had no excuse to not do the work, especially since he has already been paid for it, we have stopped communicating and I learned from my coworker that his yard is no longer being cut and he hasn't seen Ivan for two weeks.  I've learned my lesson and will stick with Angie's List for looking up contractors from now on.  Incidentally, this was the reason for me to sign up with Angie's List.