JEMM Property Services

JEMM Property Services Landscaping and Lawn Maintenance1854 Oakdale Lane S., Clearwater, FL 33764 Zeonte Sherman, Director, Landscaping Operations 727-453-9511; www.jemmprotertyservices.com Employee who performed the trimming and received dishonestly an additional payment check from my adjacent neighbor: Bobby Weddle. On May 13, 2011, I agreed with Mr. Zeonte Sherman that his tree trimming crew would trim my rosewood tree, my smaller oak tree over my driveway, and several branches from the larger oak tree growing in my adjacent neighbor's (Mr. T's) yard, for a total of $1000 in cash (Mr. Sherman requested cash). I only came to this final agreement with Mr. Sherman after he himself approached my neighbor (Mr. T) to chip in for the cost of trimming the tree growing in his yard; and my adjacent neighbor ultimately agreed to pay $150 of the total amount of $1000. As the crew came quite late in the evening (after 4:00 p.m.), and I unfortunately had to leave by 5:45 p.m. before the job was done, I told Mr. Sherman that I was leaving $1000 in cash in an envelope with my neighbor across the street, Mr. G, who counted the amount in the envelope twice and gave it to Mr. Sherman after the job was complete. The last words Mr. Sherman and I exchanged before I left for my appointment were a promise that I would receive a written receipt for $1000 and the words, "I wouldn't cheat you." Several days later, when I asked my adjacent neighbor, Mr. T, and asked for the $150 he agreed to chip in for the trimming job, he told me that Mr. Sherman had approached him saying that I had only paid my portion and that he should make out a check to his employee, Bobby Weddle, for $150--a check that was quickly cashed by Mr. Weddle. Thus Mr. Sherman and his employees received $1150 for the job in a dishonest and underhanded fashion, and when I politely called to discuss this matter, Mr. Sherman lied, saying he knew nothing about a check. Moreover, he ignored my earlier call and message saying that one heavy branch of my oak tree had been cut halfway through and was hanging dangerously over my driveway. He also ignored my request and his promise to give me a written receipt for the payment received. Adding insult to injury, he rudely hung up the telephone on me when I calmly called to question the matter, saying "I don't have to talk to you about this, Woman!" After emailing Mr. Sherman, he admitted his guilt and said he would return the $150 by giving me a money order. This he never did. I reported the incident to the Better Business Bureau as well as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, but they were unable to successfully mediate in this case. Mr. Sherman ignored their calls (except to say on one occasion that Mr. Weddle was not an employee of his) and their correspondence. As a single, senior woman, I would warn others about such underhanded practices. Perhaps it should also be noted that Mr. Sherman of JEMM Property Services has a Bible verse on his business card.

I pay them on a monthly basis. I really like the owner. He is a man of his word. They are very quick with their work and I have been pleased with their service. I do not expect them to be meticulous with their work.