ComplaintsforLandscaping Solutions OF Florida, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  06/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The landscape company installed a natural area over a natural drainage easement. They did not add weed barrier as agreed based on attached contract, the work was completed in a sloppy manner. The owner was outreached repeatedly during the morning of the project (Attached chat exchange) and refused to come to the job site, did not outline the bed as agreed prior to the start of the project, and has not responded to inquiry and photos to correct the issue.

  Business response

  06/24/2023

  Hello,
  
  All services were completed at your home that was stated on your contract. You provided the final payment for services because all services were done to your approval.
  
  
  You mentioned that we did not lay weed liner first before installing your trees. As Mark stated in the text messages you posted, you DO NOT lay weed liner first before installing five 30-gallon trees. You are supposed to dig the holes and install the trees FIRST before any weed liner is laid. If you lay the weed liner and then puncture the holes, it can cause greater tears in the weed liner and the weed liner can be pulled into the hole verses lying flat and correctly on the ground. SECONDLY, if you lay the weed liner down and then dig the holes, the dirt will fall on the weed liner which then WILL cause weeds to grow – canceling the point of lying any weed liner.
  Weed liner was laid at your property. We can have our general manager go to your home, move the mulch where you will see weed liner is present throughout the areas in which it was stated on the contract that weed liner would be laid.
  
  You said that you outreached repeatedly Mark during the morning of the project and refused to come to the job site. We have a general manager that is extremely knowledgeable, responsible, and honest. He was at your home surveying, guiding, and monitoring the work. Mark is the owner of the business and has daily appointments for estimates and ownership responsibilities that limit him visiting every job site. However, he ALWAYS responded to EVERY text message even while providing estimates with other potential clients. He kept a constant, open communication line with you and NEVER failed to respond to you (as seen on your chat exchange).  Though he is extremely busy as owners are, he always tried to provide the best solutions for you. That is why he has a general manager – not a manager but a general manager that oversees the managers and job site. You had BOTH a manager Nick, and the general manager Mike, at your home for the entire process. Mark always ensures that each job has a supervisor in place to ensure that the job is completed correctly.  If you go into ******** **** ****** or a small business, you will interact with a supervisor or a manager and NOT the owner. AGAIN, we provided both the supervisor/general manager and a manager at your home for the entire job length.
  As you said “for not outline the bed as agreed prior to the start of the project,” YOU DID NOT ask for the outline to be done. You DID NOT require that it be done. In fact, when Mark went to your home to provide you an estimate, HE was the one that said “if need be, my guys will use a can of spray paint to outline the bed” and you agreed. The key words are “need be” not they will. The outline was contingent upon if they needed to NOT have to. They did not need to outline the bed so it was not done.
  
  We went above required services. You wanted us to survey your irrigation system. The irrigation was NOT part/mentioned in your invoice/contract, but we aim to please our clients and was going to check it for you FREE of charge. However, both Mark and our general manager explained to both you and your husband it was not able to be done on that specific day because you live in a HOA and HOA controls the water/irrigation times. We were unable to turn on your timer box and irrigation system because the HOA has certain days that irrigation systems are allowed to be turned on. YOU refused to accept that.

  
  You even tried turning on the system and failed to do so because of that reason. In fact, as you tried to turn on the irrigation system on yourself, our general manager was telling you that it will not work and your husband made gestures with his hand to signify that our general manager was crazy and did not know what he was saying. Like stated, you failed to turn it on because of what was explained to you both several times and HOA regulations BUT you refused to believe us. Even with your rudeness we still treated you with respect.
  
  Mark and our crew were courteous, kind, effective, and performed all services on time with precision. IN FACT, you had an 8:00 appointment with Mark for your estimate before any work was done. Just as promised, Mark was knocking at your door at 8:00am sharp. He knocked for several minutes and waited until 8:10am to call you. You were not home but at a neighbor’s house having coffee and answered the phone with no apologies or sincerity for him; you answered it as if was not a big deal. Assuming your “neighbor” lives next door, Mark waited patiently to then see you pull into your driveway 10 minutes later, at 8:20am from your coffee date with NO regard for your delay. You were the one that showed disrespect. 
  
  
  Everything was done correctly according to the contract and that is why you provided us your final payment.
  
  Thank you.

  Customer response

  06/26/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: (see response below and attached response) 

  All services were completed at your home that was stated on your contract. You provided the final payment for services because all services were done to your approval.
  

  RESPONSE:
  Final payment for services was provided however, I refused to sign the document that I was satisfied with your services. Text messages were sent throughout the day and before the team left, and I was assured by Mark that following heavy rains if there was an issue, he would correct them.  (See text messages) and I immediately expressed my concerns with where your general manager that the team had placed the landscaping and trees in a drainage area.  
  
  
  You mentioned that we did not lay weed liner first before installing your trees. As Mark stated in the text messages you posted, you DO NOT lay weed liner first before installing five 30-gallon trees. You are supposed to dig the holes and install the trees FIRST before any weed liner is laid. If you lay the weed liner and then puncture the holes, it can cause greater tears in the weed liner and the weed liner can be pulled into the hole verses lying flat and correctly on the ground. SECONDLY, if you lay the weed liner down and then dig the holes, the dirt will fall on the weed liner which then WILL cause weeds to grow – canceling the point of lying any weed liner.
  Weed liner was laid at your property. We can have our general manager go to your home, move the mulch where you will see weed liner is present throughout the areas in which it was stated on the contract that weed liner would be laid.

  
  RESPONSE:
  Please have your general manager come to my property and show me the bed liner.  I have attached a photo to show you installed a bed liner on half of the area and not the entire area as agreed.
  
  
  You said that you outreached repeatedly Mark during the morning of the project and refused to come to the job site. We have a general manager that is extremely knowledgeable, responsible, and honest. He was at your home surveying, guiding, and monitoring the work. Mark is the owner of the business and has daily appointments for estimates and ownership responsibilities that limit him visiting every job site. However, he ALWAYS responded to EVERY text message even while providing estimates with other potential clients. He kept a constant, open communication line with you and NEVER failed to respond to you (as seen on your chat exchange).  Though he is extremely busy as owners are, he always tried to provide the best solutions for you. That is why he has a general manager – not a manager but a general manager that oversees the managers and job site. You had BOTH a manager Nick, and the general manager Mike, at your home for the entire process. Mark always ensures that each job has a supervisor in place to ensure that the job is completed correctly.  If you go into ******** **** ****** or a small business, you will interact with a supervisor or a manager and NOT the owner. AGAIN, we provided both the supervisor/general manager and a manager at your home for the entire job length.
  As you said “for not outline the bed as agreed prior to the start of the project,” YOU DID NOT ask for the outline to be done. You DID NOT require that it be done. In fact, when Mark went to your home to provide you an estimate, HE was the one that said “if need be, my guys will use a can of spray paint to outline the bed” and you agreed. The key words are “need be” not they will. The outline was contingent upon if they needed to NOT have to. They did not need to outline the bed so it was not done.
  

  RESPONSE:
  If your general manger was knowledgeable, responsible, and honest, he would not have placed the landscaping in a drainage easement.  
  Mark did not respond to any text messages following heavy rain as requested by him if there were any issues. Texts sent 6/10,6/12,6/21.
  
  
  We went above required services. You wanted us to survey your irrigation system. The irrigation was NOT part/mentioned in your invoice/contract, but we aim to please our clients and was going to check it for you FREE of charge. However, both Mark and our general manager explained to both you and your husband it was not able to be done on that specific day because you live in a HOA and HOA controls the water/irrigation times. We were unable to turn on your timer box and irrigation system because the HOA has certain days that irrigation systems are allowed to be turned on. YOU refused to accept that.

  
  RESPONSE:
  Irrelevant, not part of any complaint and the system was never tested.
  
  You even tried turning on the system and failed to do so because of that reason. In fact, as you tried to turn on the irrigation system on yourself, our general manager was telling you that it will not work and your husband made gestures with his hand to signify that our general manager was crazy and did not know what he was saying. Like stated, you failed to turn it on because of what was explained to you both several times and HOA regulations BUT you refused to believe us. Even with your rudeness we still treated you with respect.
  

  RESPONSE:
  Irrelevant, not part of any complaint and the system was never tested.
  
  
  
  Mark and our crew were courteous, kind, effective, and performed all services on time with precision. IN FACT, you had an 8:00 appointment with Mark for your estimate before any work was done. Just as promised, Mark was knocking at your door at 8:00am sharp. He knocked for several minutes and waited until 8:10am to call you. You were not home but at a neighbor’s house having coffee and answered the phone with no apologies or sincerity for him; you answered it as if was not a big deal. Assuming your “neighbor” lives next door, Mark waited patiently to then see you pull into your driveway 10 minutes later, at 8:20am from your coffee date with NO regard for your delay. You were the one that showed disrespect. 
  

  RESPONSE:
  Irrelevant, not part of any complaint.
  
  
  Everything was done correctly according to the contract and that is why you provided us your final payment.
  

   

  RESPONSE:
  Everything was not completed correctly. I provided final payment because I was assured by you (Mark) via text exchange following heavy rains you would correct the issues, if any.  I subsequently sent you photos showing the issues on 6/10/2023 and never received a response by you or any member of your team.  The landscaping was placed on a natural drainage easement and the bed liner was not placed in the entire area; neither are correct.
  
  I have attached an estimate to move and correct the issue. I will be obtaining additional estimates from landscape professionals. The landscape company that I have outreached for an estimate simply looked at the area, shook their heads and asked what the response of the company was when contacted because it was clearly installed incorrectly. I am certain the other two companies I have outreached for estimates will have the same reaction as it is clear to true landscape professionals this job was installed incorrectly.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *******

  Business response

  07/05/2023

  Complaint: ********
  
  2nd Response from Landscaping Solutions of Florida to Mr. and Mrs. *******’s rejection of our first response

   

  PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PDF RESPONSE for the full and detailed response. You can view text message proof to support or response in the PDF that is unable to be seen here. Thank you.

  
  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: All services were completed at your home that was stated on your contract. You provided the final payment for services because all services were done to your approval.

  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response:
  Final payment for services was provided however, I refused to sign the document that I was satisfied with your services. Text messages were sent throughout the day and before the team left, and I was assured by Mark that following heavy rains if there was an issue, he would correct them.  (See text messages) and I immediately expressed my concerns with where your general manager that the team had placed the landscaping and trees in a drainage area.  
  
   Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her:

  You did provide the final balance because ALL required services were fulfilled. You did not sign the Completion contract NOT because the services rendered were not to your satisfaction or because all services on the contract were not fulfilled -NO. The reason you did not sign the completion agreement was because your irrigation system was not checked and turned on that day. You CLEARLY stated to our general manager and manager that you were not signing it because the irrigation was not able to be turned on and checked. You failed to mention that as you lied for the reason of why it was not signed. If you were dissatisfied with the services, you would have vocalized it at that time and not provided the final payment. You were dead set on having your irrigation system checked (which was not on the contract and was going to be done for free); and because it was unable to be checked because of HOA restrictions, you refused to sign the completion agreement- NOT BECAUSE you were dissatisfied of the services we provided.
  
  Yes, you expressed concerns to Mark and the general manager where the landscaping was placed HOWEVER, Mark answered you immediately with reassurance and clarity of how the drainage system works in text messages. He did not fail to respond to your concerns. (see your attached text messages #17-22). Secondly, YOU LIED when you said “Mark that following heavy rains if there was an issue, he would correct them.  (See text messages)” NO WHERE in the text messages does it say that. Mark NEVER stated that to you. We examined the text messages multiple times and NO WHERE DOES IT STATE THAT. ANOTHER LIE/FALSE STATEMENT FROM YOU! In fact, Mark specified in the text messages (#20-22) that you must keep that drainage box cleared to ensure no flooding. You said that you will have your lawn guy address that. Even our general manager reviewed everything with you.
  
   MOST IMPORTANTLY, ANOTHER THING YOU FAILED TO MENTION was that you selected that location where the bed was laid. Our general manager also explained everything to you while in your presence.
  
  
  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: You mentioned that we did not lay weed liner first before installing your trees. As Mark stated in the text messages you posted, you DO NOT lay weed liner first before installing five 30-gallon trees. You are supposed to dig the holes and install the trees FIRST before any weed liner is laid. If you lay the weed liner and then puncture the holes, it can cause greater tears in the weed liner and the weed liner can be pulled into the hole verses lying flat and correctly on the ground. SECONDLY, if you lay the weed liner down and then dig the holes, the dirt will fall on the weed liner which then WILL cause weeds to grow – canceling the point of lying any weed liner.
  Weed liner was laid at your property. We can have our general manager go to your home, move the mulch where you will see weed liner is present throughout the areas in which it was stated on the contract that weed liner would be laid.
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: Please have your general manager come to my property and show me the bed liner.  I have attached a photo to show you installed a bed liner on half of the area and not the entire area as agreed.
  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her:
  That is false information. Your picture shows 3 square inches where weed liner is not able to be seen/present. You can see weed liner present in the picture where in your initial complaint, you stated “They did not add weed barrier as agreed based on attached contract..” Now, because you can see weed liner in the picture, you are claiming there is none for half the area. That picture does not justify your “new” complaint that weed liner is not present in ½ the area- that picture of 3 sq inches does not equal ½ the bed which the bed is about 70 to 80 feet long and about 10 ft wide. Unjustifiable and you were caught in another lie.
  Additionally, your husband disrespectfully came out to the bed area while our crew was working and kicked the mulch and said “well, at least they laid weed liner in the bed.”  
  

  
  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: You said that you outreached repeatedly Mark during the morning of the project and refused to come to the job site. We have a general manager that is extremely knowledgeable, responsible, and honest. He was at your home surveying, guiding, and monitoring the work. Mark is the owner of the business and has daily appointments for estimates and ownership responsibilities that limit him visiting every job site. However, he ALWAYS responded to EVERY text message even while providing estimates with other potential clients. He kept a constant, open communication line with you and NEVER failed to respond to you (as seen on your chat exchange).  Though he is extremely busy as owners are, he always tried to provide the best solutions for you. That is why he has a general manager – not a manager but a general manager that oversees the managers and job site. You had BOTH a manager Nick, and the general manager Mike, at your home for the entire process. Mark always ensures that each job has a supervisor in place to ensure that the job is completed correctly.  If you go into ******** **** ****** or a small business, you will interact with a supervisor or a manager and NOT the owner. AGAIN, we provided both the supervisor/general manager and a manager at your home for the entire job length.
  As you said “for not outline the bed as agreed prior to the start of the project,” YOU DID NOT ask for the outline to be done. You DID NOT require that it be done. In fact, when Mark went to your home to provide you an estimate, HE was the one that said “if need be, my guys will use a can of spray paint to outline the bed” and you agreed. The key words are “need be” not they will. The outline was contingent upon if they needed to NOT have to. They did not need to outline the bed so it was not done.
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: If your general manger was knowledgeable, responsible, and honest, he would not have placed the landscaping in a drainage easement.  
  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her:
  The bed was placed WHERE YOU WANTED IT TO BE – NOT where Mark or our crew chose. You are complaining about it now because the HOA will not and has not approved the bed where YOU CHOSE and WANTED it to be – not us – YOU.
  Our general manager is knowledgeable, responsible, and honest. It is you who are not knowledgeable of landscaping, dishonorable, and dishonest.
  You lied in your google review, you are lying here in your BBB complaint, and you even filed a complaint with the department of agriculture and lied in your complaint that we never answered your complaint on BBB- you are the dishonest one!
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: Mark did not respond to any text messages following heavy rain as requested by him if there were any issues. Texts sent 6/10,6/12,6/21.
  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her:
  Once again, you are LIEING when you say “Mark that following heavy rains if there was an issue, he would correct them. (See text messages)” in first response and above response “as requested by him if there were any issues.” NO WHERE in the text messages does it say that. Mark NEVER stated that to you. We examined the text messages multiple times and NO WHERE DOES IT STATE THAT.
  Mark did not respond to you at 6/10/23 because it was Saturday night at 8:14pm. It is after hours and on a weekend- we are closed. Secondly, by the 6/12, you had posted a negative Google review that was full of lies! We were completely caught off guard by your unjustifiable and false accusations of us. We kept an open communication with you, did all you asked from us, and fulfilled the required agreement. There were no problems or communication issues from you for over 1 month, until 6/10/23 at 8:14pm. No communication for over 1 month means you were satisfied with the services. Because we did not answer you Saturday 6/10/23 at 8:14pm and Sunday 6/11/23 (we are closed- it is the weekend), you proceeded to write a harsh review by Monday 6/12/23. This is another example of how you are controlling – you want on answer on your time frame and terms. By your false, negative, and unjustified actions, we did not want to continue to communicate with you. Why would any person or business want to continue business/services with a person who does such things? At the point of you blind-siding us and you broke any trust of maintaining business with you.
  
  
  
  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: We went above required services. You wanted us to survey your irrigation system. The irrigation was NOT part/mentioned in your invoice/contract, but we aim to please our clients and was going to check it for you FREE of charge. However, both Mark and our general manager explained to both you and your husband it was not able to be done on that specific day because you live in a HOA and HOA controls the water/irrigation times. We were unable to turn on your timer box and irrigation system because the HOA has certain days that irrigation systems are allowed to be turned on. YOU refused to accept that.
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: Irrelevant, not part of any complaint and the system was never tested.
  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her: THIS IS REVELANT because this is the reason why you did not sign the completion agreement (which YOU FAILED to mention and is the truth). This also shows your character; your persistence and fixation to be in control by insisting and persisting to test the irrigation system and even tried to turn it on yourself after Mark texted you and our general manager told you it was impossible to do that day. 
  
  
  
  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: You even tried turning on the system and failed to do so because of that reason. In fact, as you tried to turn on the irrigation system on yourself, our general manager was telling you that it will not work and your husband made gestures with his hand to signify that our general manager was crazy and did not know what he was saying. Like stated, you failed to turn it on because of what was explained to you both several times and HOA regulations BUT you refused to believe us. Even with your rudeness we still treated you with respect.
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: Irrelevant, not part of any complaint and the system was never tested.
  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her: THIS IS REVELANT because this is the reason why you did not sign the completion agreement (which YOU FAILED to mention and is truth).
  AS MENTIONED ABOVE, this also shows your character. You must be in control and be correct. You micromanage the job not because of our services were not to standard but because of your need to be in control of everything. Again, this is why you did not adhere to Mark’s and our general manager’s responses and explanations of the irrigation testing but HAD to test it yourself and failed. Because you failed and were unable to be in control and correct, you refused to sign the paper and would not sign because the irrigation system was not surveyed at the time you wanted. Like you mentioned in your response – system was never tested NOT because of us but because of the HOA regulations you failed to believe. It is not part of the complaint because we were going to test it for free and because YOU couldn’t turn it on after we explained why.
  
  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: Mark and our crew were courteous, kind, effective, and performed all services on time with precision. IN FACT, you had an 8:00 appointment with Mark for your estimate before any work was done. Just as promised, Mark was knocking at your door at 8:00am sharp. He knocked for several minutes and waited until 8:10am to call you. You were not home but at a neighbor’s house having coffee and answered the phone with no apologies or sincerity for him; you answered it as if was not a big deal. Assuming your “neighbor” lives next door, Mark waited patiently to then see you pull into your driveway 10 minutes later, at 8:20am from your coffee date with NO regard for your delay. You were the one that showed disrespect. 
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: Irrelevant, not part of any complaint.
  
  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her:

  THIS IS REVELANT because it reveals and demonstrates your character. You want to be in control of all things and be correct even though things were explained to you. Examples:
  1. When to lay the weed liner down. (Very 1st text sent to Mark in your posted text messages - #1-2)
  2.Micromanage every part of the job.
  3. Have Mark come to the job site.
  4. Insisting and persisting to be correct and have the irrigation system tested even after it is explained that it cannot be done that day.  
  5. Check and evaluate the irrigation system.
  6. Filed false statements in your google review, in your initial and second BBB case, and lied in your department of agriculture complaint.

  
  All these examples and more it shows your persistence and fixation to be in control.
  
  

  1st Response from Landscaping Solutions of Fl to initial complaint: Everything was done correctly according to the contract and that is why you provided us your final payment.
  
  Mrs. *******’s 2nd Response: Everything was not completed correctly. I provided final payment because I was assured by you (Mark) via text exchange following heavy rains you would correct the issues, if any. I subsequently sent you photos showing the issues on 6/10/2023 and never received a response by you or any member of your team.  The landscaping was placed on a natural drainage easement and the bed liner was not placed in the entire area; neither are correct.
  
  I have attached an estimate to move and correct the issue. I will be obtaining additional estimates from landscape professionals. The landscape company that I have outreached for an estimate simply looked at the area, shook their heads and asked what the response of the company was when contacted because it was clearly installed incorrectly. I am certain the other two companies I have outreached for estimates will have the same reaction as it is clear to true landscape professionals this job was installed incorrectly.

  
  Landscaping Solutions of Fl 2nd Response to her:
  First, for the third time, you are LIEING when you say “Mark that following heavy rains if there was an issue, he would correct them. (See text messages)” in first response and other response “as requested by him if there were any issues.” NO WHERE in the text messages does it say that. Mark NEVER stated that to you. We examined the text messages multiple times and NO WHERE DOES IT STATE THAT.
  Aagin, Mark did not respond to you at 6/10/23 because it was Saturday night at 8:14pm. It is after hours and on a weekend- we are closed. Secondly, by the 6/12, you had posted a negative Google review that was full of lies! We were completely caught off guard by your unjustifiable and false accusations of us. We kept an open communication with you, did all you asked from us, and fulfilled the required agreement. There were no problems or communication issues from you for over 1 month, until 6/10/23 at 8:14pm. No communication for over 1 month means you were satisfied with the services. Because we did not answer you Saturday 6/10/23 at 8:14pm and Sunday 6/11/23 (we are closed- it is the weekend), you proceeded to write a harsh review by Monday 6/12/23. This is another example of how you are controlling – you want on answer on your time frame and terms. By your false, negative, and unjustified actions, we did not want to continue to communicate with you. Why continue business/services with a person who does such things? At the point of you blind-siding us and you broke any trust of maintaining business with you.
  Secondly, the bed was placed WHERE YOU WANTED IT TO BE – NOT where Mark or our crew chose. In fact, after the crew began to create the bed, you informed Mark in a text message that YOU wanted it moved 1ft over and we complied and moved it a foot over where YOU WANTED it.
  You are complaining about it now because the HOA will not and has not approved the bed where YOU CHOSE and WANTED it to be – not us – YOU. You have the new estimate for an entire relocation because where YOU chose the bed to be done is not correct and does not meet HOA regulations. Now you are forced to relocate it and want us to compensate you for YOUR BAD CHOICE and control.
  Thirdly, you were micromanaging every part of the services done at your home- hence the frequency of text messages throughout the entire time the services were completed. If the bed was not where you wanted, you would have made it known during your estimate with Mark as well as when the services were being done. You selected that location and were happy the final product and THAT IS WHY YOUPROVIDED THE FINAL PAYMENT. If the location of the bed was not where you wanted – you would have made it known as you made many things known throughout the process/job.    
  
  
  Best regards,
  Landscaping Solutions of Florida LLC

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  05/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I would never recommend this company. I hired them last July/Aug to landscape my front yard. I liked the design Marc (the owner) described, and though I had one or two minor problems during the work, I was pleased with the overall outcome. That is until a couple of weeks later when I saw weeds ALL OVER my brand new landscaping! I couldn't believe it! I called the guy who actually did the work, and he informed me that they hadn't put down a weed barrier under the 6 1/2 TONS OF RIVER ROCK! When I asked him why not, he said I should have asked for it! I told him that HE was the professional and I shouldn't have to ask, he should have KNOWN. I've never heard of having to ask a so-called professional to put down a weed barrier under 6+ tons of rock!! So then I called the owner who stated that they stopped offering the weed barrier to customers, because many of them declined to have it due to the high cost. But I wasn't even given that choice to make! They also put river rock along both sides of my driveway, but they didn't even shovel out the dirt to keep it level with the driveway! So the rocks just keep going onto the driveway, and it's hard to get in and out of the car without stepping on them. I simply couldn't put up with it any longer, so now that I can afford it, I'm having to pay someone else to dig up the driveway rocks and do them right! I paid over $5,300 for all this landscaping, and it was absolutely NOT done properly. I know I waited a long time to report this, so I don't know if any kind of partial refund would be possible, but it would certainly be nice to defray the cost of having to pay someone else to do it right! Sadly, I can't afford to have someone re-do all the front landscaping to add a weed barrier, so I constantly have to have my lawn service spray to try to kill all the weeds, only to have them come back within a week!! (The attached photos were taken at the end of Aug, 2022. Work was completed the first week of Aug, 2022.)

  Business response

  05/29/2023

  Hello,
   The complaints stated by Mrs. ****** are inaccurate, invalid, and not pertaining to our business, Landscaping Solutions of Florida LLC, in any way. We had serviced Mrs. ****** nearly a year ago. To be exact, we last serviced Mrs. ****** on August 5, 2022, for landscaping services at her home. We are not responsible for services completed nearly a year later. In fact, Mrs. ****** was not just content, but pleased/satisfied with the services we provided at her home because she paid her final balance without hesitation and signed, dated, and emailed the Completion Agreement Contract to us. By emailing the Completion Agreement Contract, she had additional time to review all the services we provided at her home and was able to review everything thoroughly before agreeing to the Completion Agreement Contract.

  
  The Completion Agreement contract that she herself, signed, dated, and emailed to us clearly states "I (her name was stated) agree that I have examined the work performed and completed by Landscaping Solutions of Florida LLC at (her address) and agree that the work has been completed to my satisfaction. The finished work has met all the requirements listed within the contract executed on August 5, 2022, between myself and Landscaping Solutions of Florida LLC and has been done to my approval. Landscaping Solutions of Florida LLC has fulfilled the contract and requires no further action or work on their behalf. They are released from any further action associated with our contract. "
  By signing this Completion Agreement Contract, she admitted that she approved, accepted, and was satisfied with ALL services we completed are her home and have met all required agreements to her satisfaction. This contract, as stated above, releases us from any further action associated with the work we completed at her home. However, if there was a concern(s) that came about after the form was signed (within a reasonable time frame of 30 days), we would gladly have gone back and corrected any issues.  HOWEVER, Mrs. ****** never contacted us or presented any issues with the services we completed at her home until now...beyond 30 days- close to a year later. Unacceptable. 

  
  The pictures provided by Mrs. ****** are recent, which makes them nearly a year after services were rendered at her home. How are we supposed to be responsible for the lack of maintenance of the homeowner and her lawn crew? Weeds and the deterioration of the landscaping nearly a year later is due to the homeowner not being responsible and maintaining their landscaping. We clearly did our part, and it is up to the homeowner to maintain it. We wish her the best.
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  July, 2022, we hired Landscape Solutions of Florida LLC for several yard projects including new sod, stone work, clean up and install two flower beds, trim, cut back one hedge. Although none of the projects were done satisfactorily, our primary complaints are, the hedge was not done, no landscape cloth placed before plants installed mulch skimpy, stumps not ground. All this was included in our payment, but services were not rendered.Only one person worked day 6, left early, saying the crew would return in morning to cut hedge and finish laying mulch. They never showed up, a call to Marc C. owner, was not returned and projects never finished. Secondly, both flower beds are full of weeds. We purchased landscape cloth, gave it to the workers, who said their landscape cloth was better, they would put that down before planting. This is part of good landscaping, and should not have to be written on a contract. The new Azaleas this company purchased are poor quality, Mulch is skimpy and completely missing in some areas. Thirdly, 3 Crepe Myrtles were cut down & stumps not ground, old Azeleas not removed, regrowing-a mess. A second call to Marc C., the owner, has not been returned. His response to my complaint on his review site indicated, as his responses to other BBB complaints show, any problems were caused by us, the client, and not his company. We would like Marc C to finish our project as agreed and as paid for. Cut the hedge, grind 3 stumps, clean out the beds, install landscape cloth, replace mulch. This is what was promised and this is what we would like to have completed. We are both elderly and unable to complete this job ourselves. I would suspect elder abuse except there are other complaints similar to ours where this owner blames the client and seems to be developing a history of not fully completing contractual work. Beware that several charges were added on, as Marc C under estimated his costs.

  Business response

  12/20/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/10/31) */ To whom it may concern, ******* ****** yes, had hired us for several yard projects, yet she claims she was not satisfied but provided her final balance payment with no issues or complaints. ******* ****** called Mark on the phone when she gave our crew leader her final balance check and said she was very happy with everything that was done...the only issue that she had was a small hedge that needed to be trimmed. Mark informed her that our lawn maintenance crew would be in her neighborhood, servicing lawns, at the end of the week, and they would gladly take care of the trimming of the hedge she inquired about - which would have been 3 days later to trim the small hedge as was told to her. This was the ONLY issue she had. 24 hrs later, she leaves us a bad review on******* stating that the crew did not complete the hedge - being that the 3 days (that was specificized to her) had not even passed. Attached below is her invoice, copy of all text messages, and call logs to show that Mark was kind, courteous, and had always returned every call and text message. No emails were exchanged. Her claims of "not returning calls" are false and blatant lies as can be proven in the screenshots provided below. There was no elderly abuse in any way because all text and phone calls were exchange with politeness (as seen in the screen shots), all services listed in the invoice WAS performed including the stump grinding. That is why the final payment was given to us. If we did not complete all services, there would be no final payment. No weed liner was laid down because placing weed liner is an option that clients can opt out of because they may have a lawn service that sprays the weeds for them and no weed liner is needed. Weed liner is a cost and is not "part" of any landscaping job. We have clients that requested it and opted out of it to be laid in their beds. ******* OPTED OUT of weed liner because it was an additional cost that she refused to pay. Everything MUST be listed on the contract because that is a receipt that shows what services are being rendered and to ensure that customers are not trying to add additional services for free. You do not enter a store and leave with items that are not listed on the receipt - that is stealing- the receipt shows what was purchased and the costs - the same goes for any services including ours. After being at her house performing services, several things she began to add on that were NOT listed on the contract. She was given the additional prices to complete all the extra items she was adding on and both ******* and her husband were told in advance that these additional items being added on turned from a 4 day project into a 6 day project. Both her and her husband, said "that was perfectly fine." That is why when you view the invoice, the total end balance is more and was now a 6-day job. AGAIN, if things are not added to the invoice to document all services, there will be no proof of what was completed or needed to be paid for. ******* multiple times tried adding additional things for free and we had to ensure that things were documented to get the correct payment for the services we rendered to her. Additionally, if she was so unhappy with our services, why did they both agree to keep adding more work/projects and try to solicit free work? Furthermore, she wanted her sod to be purchased at a specific nursery, called****** nursery, rather than at the nurseries that we deal with on a regular basis. She made all of this known the night BEFORE the sod is to be laid at her home. Mark had to frantically call his nursery to cancel the sod that was already ordered and call****** last minute to order the sod from them. ******* was told the sold at****** was much more expensive to purchase than the sod at his nurseries and was asked if she still wanted us to do it. She said yes. The next day when the crew went to pick up the sod at****** nursery, they were delayed there 6 hrs because the sod had not arrived- due to the short notice of ordering the sod that was caused by *******. She was notified of all of these things. EVERYTHING on the contract was delivered and finished for ******* except for the small hedge that was going to be trimmed (as was told to her) 3 days later when the lawn crew was in her area. Mark is very disturbed that ******* would write a review full of false accusations after accusations and lies of things that are so untrue to demean his character when our company has reviews after reviews in******* and BBB of satisfied customers. Mark also finds it SHADY that AFTER 3 MONTHS of NEVER hearing from ******* again after our phone conversation when the work was completed, about trimming a small hedge, that 3 months later, at 12:51pm, on Oct 14th,2022, she is leaving Mark a message about what she finds wrong with her property NOW! What a coincidence, in light of Hurricane Ian passing through central Florida on September 28th- 30th that has most likely caused her yard to be affected (just as it did for thousands of others), NOW, 2 weeks later, on October 14th, 2022, we received a call from her, 3 months AFTER ALL SERVICES WERE DONE, she is raising these FALSE accusations and need of work. What ******* is trying to do is solicit free work and we will not do that, especially for someone who lies and comes after a person's character with false accusations. Once again, we do not know why *******, after walking her property with our foreman, when the job was completed, would render a check with the final payment in full, if she was dissatisfied with the work that was performed. I know I wouldn't give such a payment if I was dissatisfied with the work on my property. Thank you. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/11/02) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Whew, the drama of this response is startling. Where is that politeness this response mentions so frequently? It is true Mark was polite when we spoke. The whole crew was respectful, friendly and polite. That is why it is apparent a third party wrote this response to our BBB complaint, not associated with the facts of this situation. She (he) has misrepresented the issues we do have and made up some we do not have. It is unfortunate that Landscaping Solutions of Florida, in writing a response to an unsatisfied client, proceeds with vitriol, anger, wild accusations as opposed to professionally addressing the complaints in question in a calm, professional and respectful manner. A phone call could go a long way before bringing out the swords. Terry, the only worker here on the last day left early, saying he would be back the following day to complete the work. We waited to see if they would show up as promised and they did not. I called Mark to see what was happening and he did not return my call. I don't care if the responder says Mark called. He did not, nor did anyone else. There was no "foreman to walk the property". Unfortunately, this response from Landscaping Solutions of Florida represents their company as being the victim; having been wronged by ungrateful clients who are trying to cheat them seems to be a theme in their responses to this and other BBB complaints. Throwing clients under the bus seems to be a standard problem resolution for Landscaping Solutions of Florida. The point made to not pay for services until completely satisfied is a good one, and a point I made in my July 2022 notes on Mark's website. That is the only thing this letter has gotten right. Some problems with a landscaping job like ours are not apparent until a bit of time has passed. This is why some complaints were not made at the time of payment. Our main specific issue is poor ground preparation for any of the projects done by this company. Flower beds that appeared to be properly prepared, now have weeds and plants that should have been removed growing in the beds that were not properly removed at the time. This would not be apparent until those weeds had a chance to regrow. Also, the new Azalea bed was not properly prepared, although it was not apparent at the time of completion. Now, the old Azaleas, supposedly removed, are now regrowing. They were cut down instead of removed. We paid for removal of old plants; (#1), a service not delivered. Same issue with weeds that appeared to have been removed, but now growing. Same issue with the smaller flower bed they installed. Poor ground preparation is also the reason the stone walkway is heaving up. The stones were just dropped on the ground, wiggled around and the soil underneath was not leveled. Same story regarding the sod. There was no ground prep, no leveling of the soil, no removal of old growth, just plopped on top of the existing weeds and grass, leaving the height of the sod pieces above the ground, making it easier to trip over. Concerning the sod accusation, we asked Mark where he sourced the sod. Because his source is along the coast, and we do not have the same soil as the coast does, we asked him to use a local source, which is******. At the same time, I asked if his crew would be able to drive past****** to pick up the sod in the morning on their way here, or should I have it delivered. If this was an issue, it should have been discussed right then by him. I called****** to check on which type of sod for our situation, availability, drove to****** and paid for the sod, and was told it would be on the pallet and ready for pick up at 6am. We also selected and paid for the plants for the flower bed. ****** indicated they would be with the sod in the morning for pick up. If the sod was not ready for pick up for 6 hours, why didn't the crew come to our house and work on something else during that time, such as removing the old weeds and grass as preparation for the sod or prep of the flower bed. ****** is 3 miles from our house, but Mark charged us for picking up the plants and sod, a fee (#2) included in the original quote and not discussed but added on the bill. Concerning the landscape cloth, contrary to the misrepresented comments made by Landscape Solutions of Florida, we purchased the landscape cloth, gave it to the on site supervisor, who said he had better cloth and would use that. Not surprisingly, we thought the landscape cloth was actually put down. Only now, after opportunistic growth has occurred, are we able to see that was never done. We have had other landscape companies over the years and they all used landscape cloth as a routine. Apparently, it is an add on for Landscaping Solutions of Florida. Their claim it would have cost them money is false, as it the accusation that the home owners "opted out" of using the cloth. Also, whether or not a home owner has weekly yard maintenance should have nothing to do with the quality of work this company does. We have had two separate landscaping services here to determine what needs to be done to correct the problems left by Landscaping Solutions of Florida. Both independently told us the Azaleas have not been planted properly. The base of the plants are 6" to 12" out of the ground, not allowing the roots to grow into the soil. Consequently, all the plants are dying and will have to be replaced. Additionally, there is too little mulch in the bed to retain moisture. A total waste of money for us. #3 About that 'small hedge' Mark missed and claimed he told us he would return in 3 days. He made no contact with us at all. At any rate, if he said he would be back in 3 days, why didn't he keep his word and come back in 3 days? That "little hedge", (abt 5 ft on one end and 8 ft on other end and abt 30 ft long) will now cost us $300 to have it trimmed. Mark must remember, we have already paid him for that. (#4) One wonders why he thinks he is the one being robbed? If stump grinding was done, how does Mark account for the three Crepe Myrtles continuing to grow and are now 4+ ft tall; or the old Azaleas now spreading out in the new flower bed? That, too, was paid for by us. (#5) Exasperated by having to pay to have this job corrected. I called Mark to see if we could amicably address at least some of the more important issues and move on. He did not return my call. Period. Which is why I resorted to filing a BBB complaint. Accusations of trying to manpiulate free work should be beneath Mark. He knows diffrently. We paid for several services not rendered by Landscaping Solutions of Florida, as noted above. Additionally, Mark under estimated the amount of mulch, the number of border blocks needed, the number of stepping stones needed, adding those costs to our bill without informing us. The mulch he skipped. Regarding Mark's claim we want free services post Hurricane Ian, this BBB complaint was filed 10-17-2022, BEFORE Hurricane Ian arrived. We had no hurricane damage, only a few leaves and twigs, which are already bagged and gone. Pretty cheap shot. We kept cold iced beverages outside every day for the workers, opened our air conditioned porch so they could rest and cool off if needed, let them use our restroom. We, for sure, did not think we earned the nasty accusations presented in their letter. All we wanted was the hedge trimmed and now that we can see it, the Azalea bed repaired. We thought we found a company wishing to turnout a good product with integrity. After the wild hostility and free floating accusations directed toward us by Landscaping Solutions of Florida, we would be very concerned about having them on our property again. Lesson to pass on: 1. Do not assume the company you hire is actually knowledgeable about the basics of their product. Anyone can dig a hole and stuff in a plant. Anyone can toss sod on top of the grass. 2. Detail every item on your contract, ie; the amount (depth) of mulch, the number of plants, method of ground preparation, additional charges must be agreed in writing, penalties if job not completed on time.

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