Grassroots Tree Removal Inc.

n October of 2016, we contracted with Grassroots Tree Removal for the tree trimming and removal on our property for $4,400. On the last day of work, the owner asked to be paid the full $4,400 as they began work on the final tree, because we were about to leave the house. We paid in full however,... they stopped working before the job was completed. We still have one tree that needs to be taken down. They stopped work on this tree due to what they claim was a bee infestation. Per an amended contract, the owner was suppose to come back in the following months once it was cold enough for the bees to no longer be an issue. I have contacted him several times but he never calls back with a date of service. He tells me that he will finish the job and needs to check his schedule but I have never heard back from him. Here recently I have called him and left a voice message on 12/11/17 at 10:56 am and 1/3/18 at 9:54 am with no call back. He has had from October of 2016 to do this work which is why I'm complaining to BBB. I still have my copy of the amended contract where the owner wrote and initialed that the work would be completed. We want the job finished to our satisfaction per the terms of the contract. Explicitly, that means the full removal of one final ash tree on our property that was only "topped" but the trunk remains standing.

At first, it seemed okay. We had agreed and he had contracted to cut down 5 or 6 trees and cut them into 30" pieces, leaving them on the ground. I was to take care of the brush. He asked for money before the contracted part of the job was finished, though, and we agreed to pay as work was completed. The job got big: about 25 ash trees were ultimately cut. We did not put a deadline on the work. Problems began to appear after the first 8 or 10 trees were cut. He would promise to appear, but fail to show up. Repeatedly. Very unprofessional. He would also fail to return phone calls. It was clear that he was doing work for others instead of work for us. I discovered one day after he left that a limb from a tree they had cut had damaged my septic tank. It was clear how it happened, but the damage was not reported. Repair costs were just shy of $500. He acknowledged responsibility and agreed to cut three more trees, two of which were to be cut in payment for the damage done and which I had paid to have repaired. He then failed to appear when he promised (again) and when he did come, he told me the trees selected were "too big" and should cost a lot more. He had seen all three trees previously and agreed to cut them at the original price (~$275 each). I agreed to increase the price as long as the cost of the damage caused by his crew was counted as part of the payment. He agreed. He and his helper cut the trees and told my wife they had finished. She paid them. They had not cut the trees into pieces as agreed. I contacted Jeremiah and he told me he hadn't had a saw big enough to cut the trees into smaller pieces, but he'd be out to finish the job. When he didn't show, he promised several more times to come finish the job. Then Jeremiah stopped answering my phone calls. I had to cut the one on my neighbor's side of the fence and haul the brush to my property. I called Jeremiah's insurance company, but they told me he had a $1000 deductible and I would have to get the money from him. I cut up the trees with my 18" chainsaw. I have hired people to work for me whose workmanship was not as good as Jeremiah's. I have NOT had anybody work for me who was less trustworthy than Jeremiah and whose promises were so frequently broken. If you hire Grassroots for any work, I strongly recommend that you pay them nothing until the job is complete and you have inspected and confirmed that (1) everything they agreed to do was completed per the contract and (2) they did not damage your property in the process.