ComplaintsforFine Design Lawn Care Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  05/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May of 2021 I hired FineDesign to do landscaping remove existing grass and lay new Scotts ProVista sod. The company did the landscaping. They did not complete the job of landscaping. I had plane fair to go up north the second week in July, it wasn't until the week of leaving did they burn the existing grass with a tool they used. The day before I left they finished laying the new sod. I hired them to mow the lawn while I was gone. When I returned the first week in August, I was surprised to see the lawn had never been mowed and was full of weeds growing over unto the sidewalks and driveway. I was not even able to see the grass for the weeds. I complained and they came and mowed. They stated they could not come because of COVID. I hired a lawn service to spray and feed the lawn. The lawn continued to worsen no matter what was being done. There are more dead areas than lawn. I do have a irrigation system and lawn did get plenty of water and care. The money I paid out to this company was $8,899.47. They did not try to resolve the problem or even wanted to. $4,000.00 was for the grass.

  

  Business response

  05/27/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2022/05/19) */ Contact Name and Title: Brett M. Owner Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX Contact Email: ******************@gmail.com Hello Ms. ****, We did provide you with hardscape installation services along with provista sod installation. Before installation we removed your existing lawn with a sod cutter and raked it up and removed it all. We did not burn your grass with any type of tool. On 7/16/2021 we completed the sod installation, I set up your irrigation to run daily at the proper time of day and for the proper amount of time. You were to leave for 4 weeks to go on vacation, so I made sure you were all set before leaving. I even had a pest control and fertilization company come out to get you set up for that service. Unfortunately, you did not get set up before leaving and you readjusted your irrigation system to run less time than what was required during that time. During the time you were gone we did exchange text messages and you expressed that your neighbor informed you that the lawn looked great due to receiving a bunch of rain. Thank goodness for that! Upon your return you were unhappy with the amount of weeds in your yard and it needing to be cut. We discussed the irrigation again along with the fertilization services. Your first cut was performed on 8/25/2021. I then got you established with the fertilization company that I earlier referred you to and paid them for your first month of service out of courtesy because I wanted to ensure your new sod got everything that it required. On August 20th my crew came out to finish the small area of rock that was not completed before you leaving out of town. We previously spoke that we would not be finishing it while you were out of town to avoid any further issues after you accused us of damaging your driveway. I had a concrete expert come out to look at your driveway and after he explained the crack was clearly an old crack and what it was most likely caused by, you proceeded to call him a liar and the devil. Luckily, I was able to find a picture that I took before work commenced showing the crack in the driveway was there before hand. Even after proving it was there prior to us starting work, you insisted it wasn't, but did not continue to insist we replace your whole driveway. After completing the rock installation and doing a complete walk around of the property, you expressed the fact that you were happy with the work we completed and you paid us the final payment on 8/26/2021. On October 27th 2021 you accused us of not showing up to complete your weekly maintenance on October 13th or 20th 2021, so we decided at that point it was best we went our separate ways. You refused to pay us for October services provided, so I called it a wash and moved on. Just before this incident you had called me to complain about dead spots in your lawn which you admittedly explained you sprayed round up on a day after it had been treated by the pest control company. Luckily the pest control company called me to give me a heads up on this incident so I could be aware of what was going on and discuss it with you. You then texted me looking for a company where you could get provista sod to fix the areas you damaged. You continued to not follow instructions when we expressed your lawn needed to be watered more frequently. You kept turning your irrigation off completely when instructed not to. It was best we parted ways to avoid any further accusations or issues. Our final maintenance service provided to you was on October 20th 2021 and services were cancelled on October 27th 2021. Unfortunately, we would be unable to help you any further than we already have. It has been nearly a year and the issues you are having with your lawn are not due to our services. Please be sure to view the files provided as a reminder to what has been expressed above. Thank you! Consumer Response /* (3000, 8, 2022/05/23) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Regarding the sod cutter. You did not remove the exciting grass by cutting up the sod.You used a weed brush&trimmer or a string or stringless trimmer. I asked Kevin what he was doing, he stated he was burning the grass down to dirt. After it was raked you proceeded to lay down the pellets on top of weeds that still popping through the soil. You provided the first spray, I hired Elite in Aug.when I came back. There was no mow on the lawn from July 16th to Aug. 25th. when your dad did the first cut. I terminated your dad because he continued to mow the trimmings and pulled weeds onto the grass, calling it mulch.As of Oct.13, your dad never talked to me. I was in Sarasota the whole day seeing two doctors and getting in MRI. I didn't get home until after 5:00p.m.. My neighbor checked her camera film and saw your dad was here on Oct. 6th and 20th. I paid him for those days. I never sprayed the lawn with Round Up last year. Yes I did send a text to you regarding the name of the sod company you used. I had the guys representatives of Scotts ProVista out to check my lawn. They wanted to know where you got your sod. That is why I texted you. I never turned of my irrigation system, It was running all the time I was gone. Your the one who set the timers on it before I left. Business Response /* (4000, 10, 2022/05/25) */ The screen shots of our text messages prove what you are saying is not true. I've provided a copy of the receipt for the sod cutter rental which was delivered that morning by my father. I personally used the sod cutter to remove the existing grass, while my guys raked it all up behind me. The fact of the matter is that we provided you with the services, the services were executed properly, and completed nearly a year ago. I personally went above and beyond to ensure that your new yard was properly cared for by setting up your irrigation. I also set you up with and paid for your first month of treatment from Elite Pest Control. We still offered our maintenance services even after the accusations and disrespect you showed us throughout the process. We did all this to ensure your yard received the level of care it needed. The last time we spoke, October 27th 2021, was regarding our maintenance services which you claimed we did not provide on dates that we did provide the services. There was never a complaint on the sod or landscaping services we provided until you contacted the BBB. It has been 7 months since we parted ways; in that time there's been frost, a dry spell, and we have not provided you any further services. You had also sprayed round up on your lawn the day after it was treated by professionals, and basic care instructions to ensure the health of your new sod were not followed, to which we tried multiple times to remind you of and tried to continuously work with you to attempt to keep your satisfaction as a customer. At this point, too many things could have contributed to the state of your sod. I do know, however, that whatever has happened to your lawn was not due to our services, or lack thereof. I ask that the BBB close this complaint however it is supposed to be handled with the proof and information provided by both parties. We will not be issuing any type of refund, replacement or repair to this customer or any other services for that matter.

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