ComplaintsforBlades of Green, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  12/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 23 Sept 2022, I started lawn care with Blades of Green. I enrolled in their premium service that included fertilizer, weed control, soil adjustment, grub control, an annual soil test, aeration/seeding, and mole/vole control. I was enrolled in their monthly treatment cycles and all payments were automatically billed to my credit card on file. Monthly treatments for lawn and tree/shrub care were $150.88; mole and vole treatment were an additional $98 per month. In July 2023, I added disease control for an extra cost; monthly payments were increased to $246.44. In January 2023, I received an email stating that all clients would be automatically enrolled in their "budget billing" payments, though no cost estimate or invoice was provided. In Sept 2023, after I had expressed concerns over several months due to the grass looking terrible and weed control not working, I ended my membership and made it clear that I didn't want them on my property any more, as I didn't want to owe them any more money. I was under the impression that all bills were paid in full during my monthly payments. When I requested a breakdown of current services, they provided a summary of services but NO PRICES listed anywhere (see attachment). On 4 Oct 2023, I received an email from Blades of Green stating that I owed a remaining balance of $541.99 due to "budget billing"; they claim that I had received $2,732.88 in services yet had only paid $2,190.89. I have never received any price breakdown of services and was under the impression that all my bills had been paid in full during the months I had received them. This is why I intentionally terminated my membership 1 year after signing up. Blades of Green employs a very confusing "budget billing" payment schedule that fraudulently charges their customers. Multiple consumer reviews on Yelp claim this and cite unethical billing practices from a deceitful, dishonest company. They still say I owe them $541.99, a fee I shouldn't have to pay.

  Business response

  12/18/2023

  For the most part, the customer's assessment of services agreed to and the equal monthly billing cost are correct. What they've not affectively explained that our equa monthly billing payments is a convenience based process whereby we take the total cost of ever service that they sign up for and break it out into equal payments for the customer's benefit. Our general Lawn Services are typically performed during optimal times of the year, which is from the Spring to the Fall therefore it would not be possible to have twelve equal payments for the services if the services are only performed for approximately nine months or there about depending on "Mother Nature." The equal payments are just that and they do NOT run in tandem with the service provided because most services are based approximately on a six week cycle, while the billing is every month (30 days). if the client wanted to pay for the services as they were being performed, then they could have done so just as many other clients to. We call that Pay as You Go. They also had an option of paying for everything in advance for the entire season. We call that Advance Pre-pay. The equal monthly billing is the most popular because the customer is allowed to pay for services over time at one set cost each month. The payments are not taxed or has any hidden fees - it's a straight 12 equal payments for the total cost of ALL services that they signed up for. We find it odd that the client is now saying that they entered into an agreement, not once but twice for services, and never asked for the actual cost of each service. Pricing is not a secret as every customer receives a welcome email packet when they sign up with that breakdown. The "extra" cost that they reference is the difference of the services rendered compared to the amount they had already paid into the month fees. A good example to hopefully help clarify this is: If a client joins Blades of Green in June and signs up for Basic Lawn Care at $500 of seven rounds of treatment and agrees to the twelve equal monthly billing of $41.66 but then cancels two months later in August when only two rounds had been performed for the season, then they could cancel with only having to pay the two months at a total of $83.32. However, if the client signs up in June for our Fall Aeration and Seed (which is only performed the ONE time each year in the Fall) at a cost of $1000 for the season or at the equal monthly cost of $83.33, and then cancels in October, the customer is still responsible for the FULL $1000 because we performed the service. The equal monthly payments is a convenience to the client, but they must pay the remaining balance of any services already performed if they cancel before we have recouped our cost. This is NOT a penalty or added fees - it's just paying for what you have received. Adding the additional services after the initial agreement was put in place added an additional twelve month breakout on the NEW services. It doesn't get added to the remaining months of the already active services that you've since paid into. Wehope this offers some clarity for you.

  Customer response

  01/16/2024

  Better Business Bureau:

  I would like to reject the offer of Arbitration for complaint ID ********, as I am pursuing other legal action against Blades of Green. Of note, Blades of Green has received 4 other complaints to the BBB in 2023 for the exact same reason that I cite: fraudulent billing practices. It is a discredit to the BBB that they should rate Blades of Green so highly (4.86 out of 5). Time will tell with this dishonest company...

  Sincerely,

  ******** *******

• Initial Complaint

  11/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company has been my lawn weed control company since early 2019. When I initially called the company they told me that there would be a monthly fee to cover their services which I have paid for the last 4.5 years. I have recently sold my house so I called them to cancel the service. After I did this, they sent me an email telling me I owed them and additional $462.67 because they performed more service than I paid for. Additionally, they told me I signed up for budget billing which was not explained to me at that time. Several weeks ago they called me to schedule my Fall aeration and seeding service. Their service person was at my property for 15 minutes and they put a charge on my account for $589.50 for this short service call. This service call is primarily what has driven this balance due. Had I known they would charge an outrageous price for this service call and that it would not be covered by the money I have already paid them ($6073.33 over the course of my monthly payments) I would never have allowed them to come and do this aeration service. I feel this company has not operated in good faith in explaining the way their system operates and the cost of this latest service call. Can you please help me with this charge and encourage them to be more forthright in dealing with their customers.

  Business response

  11/02/2023

  We have provided all of the information that we can related to this matter. As we stated in our last correspondence, the services that were rendered to this property are all available via the customer portal. A separate email has been sent to the customer for them to register to access the data. Our Fall Aeration & Seeding service happens just once each year in the Fall, and is one of the most expensive individual services of the year, and the cost was indeed shared with the customer before the service was rendered. It is not reasonable to think that we would render such a service as they agreed to and then to not expect that the cost of that service to be paid. 

  Customer response

  11/03/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  It is simply not true that the cost of this service was explained before it was rendered nor was it explained that my monthly fee did not cover all of the services they performed. 
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *******

• Initial Complaint

  10/23/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We have been working with this business for about 4 years. They have billed us electronically monthly and the amount was always deducted monthly off the credit card I provided (which they have stored to do reoccurring charges). We decided to cancel a portion of their services which is our right to do. We were told they would review the services provided over the last 4 years and potentially expect additional charges. I don’t understand why there would be additional charges if we always carried a zero balance but when we go to cancel their service suddenly there is a balance. They have not provided a detailed statement on additional charges just an email with the amount. Since this is the shady business practice they wish to do we have since canceled all services with them. We are also aware of many social media posts regarding the same practice. I’m not asking anything other than to not be charged these fantom charges and for both parties to go their separate ways.

  Business response

  10/26/2023

  On 9/22/20 the client’s husband (**** *****) called Blades of Green to sign up for services. At the end of his call with a Blades of Green representative, Mr. ***** gave verbal consent for both services and Budget Billing. It was explained to the client during this verbal authorization that Blades of Green is a non-contract company, and that the client could cancel at any time. It was also explained that at the time of cancellation, there may be either a credit due or a remit balance owed, and that Blades of Green would compare all services performed and all payments collected to determine the outcome. The clients chose the Budget Billing payment option, which allowed them to have equal payments, rather than opting to pay per application at the time of service. The Budget Billing program takes the total amount of services that the client is signing up for and breaks it out into 12 rolling monthly payments. Services do not coincide with these monthly payments, as services are not performed on a monthly basis. Services are performed based on a state-regulated agronomic schedule to ensure the best results for our clients and to not cause harm to the landscape or environment.  Blades of Green does not reconcile accounts at the end of each calendar year, instead reconciling the account in full at the time of cancellation. Due to the fact that accounts are not reconciled at the end of each year, the clients would not have been informed of any balance carried over between service years.   
  
  On 10/23/23 the client (***** *****) was sent the full allocation of the account per her request. This document shows all services performed and their per-service cost, as well as all payments collected on the Budget Billing program. This document showed that to date the clients have received $3,379.70 in services and Blades of Green has collected $3,124.18 in payments, which leaves a remit balance due of $255.52 for products used and services rendered at their property.  
  
  As was mentioned in the initial email notifying the clients of the balance due, we are willing to work with the client to set up payment arrangements. We would like to offer them two equal payments of $127.76 to clear the balance due. If they would like to take advantage of this offer, they should contact our Revenue Conservation Department via email to make arrangements.  
  

  Customer response

  10/26/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Blades of Green told my husband upon cancelling service that they would be performing an account reconciliation which could result in a credit or additional charges. There was no attempt made by BOG to ask us if we consented to this practice; they just told us it was going to happen. We were never notified in any manner from BOG prior to using their services that account reconciliation or budget billing would be their practice upon cancellation of services. When we selected them for services we were under the impression their service prices were what we would be charged. Now upon cancelling suddenly there are additional charges. Telling us upon cancellation is not an agreement. We canceled our credit cards because we did not approve of them doing this and did not want unauthorized charges made.

  They provided the reconciliation and they are charging us for something 3 years ago with  no proof we ever actually received such service. Which is why charging when services are rendered is so important; which is why we paid monthly through our credit card. 
  Maryland has statute of limitations on unbilled receivables. 
  *********************************************

  This Is a horrible business model. BOG is solidifying customers needing to cancel for whatever reason to never return to their business. 
  I want to reiterate that BOG has never mentioned at anytime about their policy of reconciliation of accounts or budget billing during any time in the 3 years we’ve used their services. We were only told this upon termination of using their company which we still did not approve but given no options.

  I reiterated services should render payment as soon as services are provided and that is what we did on a monthly basis. If BOG needed to up their prices they should have been up front and honest annually when the need arose. And not only as customers cancel. 
  
  We have spoken to 11 families so far that BOG has done the same thing to and we expect the number of families to grow over the next few days and weeks as we continue to fight through this. We feel we have been wronged by BOG as do many other families. 
  
  

  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *****

  Business response

  11/01/2023

  We understand that the claimant doesn't agree with the way our previous Budget Billing plan worked now that they are canceling services and owe an outstanding balance. As with all clients who took advantage of our equal-monthly payment plan (Budget Billing) when it was offered, they were explained that the total cost of the services purchased would be broken into 12 equal payments for their convenience. There were other payments options available that included pay-as-you-go, which meant that you would pay in full for the services at the time that they were rendered, but Mr. ***** selected the most popular payment plan of Budget Billing. This payment option is the most popular because it allows the customer the convenience of knowing that the same amount would be billed each month until the plan had concluded or renewed for another year. Because the *****'s had Pest Control and Lawn care services with us, and that they signed up for them at different times under two different Budget Billing plans, we continued to bill them once each month at the then combined payment amount for all services assigned.

  There is a different cost per application for all services that we provide our customers such as, for lawn care, these applications are only performed from the Spring through the Fall each year because of the efficacies of the treat, and state regulations. However, the client is still billed for the services because they chose the equal-monthly payments to spread out the total cost for their convenience. The same applies here to the actual cost of all services, whereby our lawn care program has a different cost per application throughout the season, so therefore, if we perform a more costly application in May in June and then the customer cancels in July, they are still responsible for the total cost of those applications because they were rendered. The misconception here is that the *****'s feel that they shouldn't have to pay for services that we rendered because they were on an equal-monthly billing plan, which is not correct. You still must pay for all services redbird to your property at the time of cancellation.

  We find it a bit strange that the *****'s are now claiming that they cannot confirm that services were ever rendered to the property but never once raised a concern over the past years when the monthly payments were being charged. If they truly believed that Blades of Green was not administering services as stated in our After Service Summary following each service, we would have heard from them as Mr. ***** has reached out to us many times about other matters and never questioned our service delivery. If the *****'s would like to validate the services rendered to their property since 2020, we will kindly email them their login credentials to our customer online portal, where they can review that detail for themselves. Blades of Green has always done the right thing for our customers and stand by our integrity and quality service delivery, and always will. Again, we understand that the *****'s are not happy about the way that the final allocations outcome on their account, but the proof is there that we have always done the right thing by them. 

  Customer response

  11/01/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  We never said services weren’t provided. We agreed to a monthly fee and we were under the impression that was the fee to be charged monthly for both pest and lawn care. We paid that fee each and every month. We stated we don’t know what application or materials were used and when which resulted in this sudden balance on our account. We are also stating we were never explained their billing practices. We were never provided a choice in billing types. First I’m ever hearing about this “popular” option. An option not provided. I called and asked for their pricing and we were given a price and we went with that monthly price over their competitors. Competitors we have worked with before and will again because they don’t do this BS to their customers and are straightforward with customers.

  We look at our CC statement every month and we did question charges on 2/22/2022 in which Savanna S****** responded. She did inform us of pricing changes due to inflation, something we had to hear about after questioning billing fees. There still was no mention of budget billing or reconciliation of accounts upon closing.  We continued service after speaking with Savanna because we understand inflation. I believe it was also at that time they matched pest control monthly fees to a competitor because we were looking at leaving them over pricing. 
  

  Here is what we are arguing:

  - not given notice of budget billing or reconciliation practices 

  - we were under the impression the fees PAID monthly were what we owed and keeping a 0 balance

  - we were never given any billing options, this is a new statement after the most recent BOG email. We had no idea there were options. When we shop for services we expect the quotes provided is what the price charged. We aren’t completely clueless we know inflation happens so we expect a monthly charge to go up potentially but customers expect to be notified of such changes prior. And not charged more when we discontinue service.

  - the total lack of transparency in billing is a problem for us and other families. Saying things like our “verbal authorization” which can’t be proven by either side is an issue for consumers like us. We feel taken advantage of for things never disclosed to us and then expected to pay something we never knew existed. 
  

  Due to these issues all we want is to have our account zeroed out and both parties move on. 

  We also have a claim in with the Maryland Attorney General’s consumer protection division, claim number ********* for the same issues mentioned above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *****

• Initial Complaint

  05/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We have two homes in Bowie, MD (one on ******** **** and the other on ********** ****), and have used Blades of Green (BOG) for lawn treatment service since 2018. In early 2023, we asked BOG to discontinue service for ******** ****. They subsequently billed us for $490.23, $362.08 of which they claimed was for services provided in 2018. Because they claimed that these services were provided nearly 5 years ago, I asked for verification that they actually occurred (e.g., a date-stamped notice/invoice billing/reconciliation report sent in current-time of the services), as I do not have any records from them from this period confirming service. They responded that we do not have a contract with them and that the only documentation they have is a report they recently generated, which does not verify that these alleged services were provided. As we were enrolled in auto-pay with BOG (for both homes), we were shocked and skeptical of their claims. We advised BOG that until real, verifiable proof of service from 2018 could be provided, we had no intention of paying this portion of the bill (we did advise of our willingness to pay for service provided in 2023). After our displeasure with this interaction, we asked to discontinue service for ********** ****. They subsequently submitted an additional invoice for $415.68, $412.13 of which they claim also applies to 2018. We then engaged in a similar correspondence respective this home, as occurred regarding ******** ****, with us eventually again advising that, without verifiable confirmation we would not be paying for services alleged to have occurred so far in the past. On April 20, 2023, we received a debt collection notice respective to ******** ****. We anticipate that a similar claim will be eventually filed respective to ********** ****. As a remedy, we are seeking that this (and any future) claim be removed or halted, and that the final bills be adjusted to only reflect services provided in 2023.

  Business response

  05/01/2023

  The customer has received multiple variations of proven documentation where Blades of Green has performed their services over the years since 2018. At no point in time prior to their cancellation request (in 2023) had they made claims of incorrect, missed or skipped services by Blades of Green. As the customer has already attached the Account Allocation Summary to the initial complaint, I will not included again, but I have also attached another summary of services, which will again outline the services rendered, the date of the service, the name of the technician, the technician's notes about said services, and the service type. This same detail (but in a more customer friendly version) has always been emailed to the customer ([email protected]) following any rendered services. For the purpose of clarity in this response, I have also included a snippet of the customer "friendly" copy of the Service Summary Report to show how they receive these After Service Summaries and what services were outlined during the visit. Please note that these summaries are only sent via our system once the technician has visited the property. They have been receiving these summaries since they began using our services in 2018.

  The customer has been made aware of how our Budget Billing program works whereby the services rendered do NOT line up with the services billed because many services do not occur on a monthly basis. This is because lawn care services are rendered during the spring, summer, and fall only. When services were first sold, they were made aware of the total amount of services for the entire year, and then given the option (most popular) to make those payments in 12 equal installments, which they accepted. They also had the option to pay for all services in advance of any services being rendered or at the time of services rendered. They took the option that many do to pay over time via the Budget Billing program.

  Customer response

  05/02/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: it does not adequately address relevant matters presented in my prior communications. 

  We would ask that BOG provide the recording of the referenced interaction with ******** ********* to us directly; and we grant them permission to do so. This recording can be transmitted via the BBB platform (if allowable under their policy) or sent to us directly at [email protected].
  
  Even if this recording may exist, it still doesn’t address the concern that we do not have a contract with BOG, that we do not believe that the alleged 2018 services were provided, and that they have not proven that these services occurred and that we were notified of their occurrence in current-time. Of course, we wouldn’t proactively contact BOG regarding any missed emails as they assert we should have, as we wouldn’t know to do so as we didn’t receive them. To support this point, I reassert a prior statement that we are willing to pay the outstanding balances for services in 2023 as we actually witnessed their performance and received the corresponding notice emails.  
  
  To the point of the previously declined payment, this was due to the expiration of the associated debit card, which Ms. ********* quickly addressed when it was brought to her attention. Ms. ********* further states that BOG contacted her repeatedly, several times within a short span regarding this issue. Considering how adamant BOG was to address this singular declined payment, we would think that they would be just as adamant to address alleged outstanding balances of $362.08 and $412.13 from 2018, in 2018 when they occurred, and definitely not 5 years after the fact. Additionally, the fact that Ms. ********* quickly addressed the debit card issue and that, up to this point, we have had no other issues regarding payment to BOG speaks to our willingness to honor our financial obligations to them.
  
  In closing, I want to be clear that we are not attempting to defraud or steal from BOG; however, we will not allow the same to happen to us. This matter can be easily resolved if BOG can supply us with time-stamped verification from 2018 that they performed the relevant services and notified us of their performance in current-time (e.g., a forwarding of previously sent emails), as I mentioned in my prior response.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *********

  Business response

  05/02/2023

  Blades of Green has submitted all that it plans to in support to the services that were rendered at ******** *********'s property. While we respect the BBB process, we cannot continue to waste valuable time repeating or providing facts to try and overcome ridiculous assertions that ******** ********* didn't receive emails for the past five years. Blades of Green has met its obligation at this point related to this matter, and will continue with our collections process whereby the account will be turned over to outside collection services.

• Initial Complaint

  03/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My complaint is regarding the same type of predatory billing practices the other complaints have addressed here. I signed up with Blades of Green in July of 2022 for lawn care. I was quoted a monthly service charge of just over $150, and I verbally agreed on the phone. The initial conversation did not detail any additional costs on top of the monthly charges, and no contract was ever sent to me, by mail or by email, detailing any fine prints in their accounting. After their services each month, i get a summary email about what they had done, but no mention of any ledger regarding additional cost of service. I also signed up for customer portal and enlisted in autopay, but there was no additional information about any accumulating cost on there either. A few months later, I called the company wanting to cancel their services as I was about to do major landscaping modifications. This is when I get an email saying that I owe them $591 on top of what I had paid already. I contest this above charge because nowhere during the course of their services des this cumulative cost has ever been mentioned until the day I called to cancel. I committed only a verbal contract for the monthly charge, and have not signed an agreement to pay any additional "remits". This appears to be a purely arbitrary charge punishing the customer for cancellation. Looking at their complaints on BBB, this appears to be a pattern of behavior that needs to be corrected by the company.

  Business response

  03/29/2023

  As mentioned to the client (**** ****) during the initial call when they first started services with us back on June 29, 2022, the billing option that they decided to choose to help have equal payments over the next 12 months, was that of our Budget Billing. The Budget Billing program takes the total amount of services (Lawn Care, Aeration & Seeding, Grub Control, Soil Test, etc.) for the next twelve months and breaks it out into these monthly payments. Breaking the cost down this way makes it easier on the client, where they are not forced to make the full payment of the total services upfront when signing with us, and neither are they expected to make the full payment PER service when the particular service is performed. The Aeration & Seeding alone (which the client signed up for) had a cost of $616.50 in 2022 when they signed up. This is just one service that's performed in the Fall and it's a one-time application per year, which was performed at the client's property in the Fall of 2022. The client was never asked to pay this amount all at once when it was performed because it was added to the total services and spread out into the aforementioned 12-monthly Budget Billing payments.

  Our clients have several options for making payments for the services that they sign up for and at no time did the client ask to pay in full at sign-up, or to pay PER service at the time the service was performed. When a client agrees to the Budget Billing plan, they are aware that the services do NOT coincide with the equal monthly payments because those services are NOT performed on a monthly basis, but on a state regulated schedule to ensure that we do not cause harm to the landscape or the environment. As mentioned in the letter to the client at the time of their cancellation request, because Blades of Green has performed more services than the client's monthly payments currently covered, they are responsible to pay the remaining costs for the products and services rendered to their property. As a result of the outstanding amount due ($591.22), we are willing to work with the client to clear this balance by offering them the option for three-equal payments of $197.07. If they'd like to take advantage of this offer, they should contact our office to speak with our Revenue Conservation Team.

  Customer response

  03/29/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Thank you for the response. The above information regarding the specific cost of services were not explained at all while I was a monthly subscriber. The cumulative cost only became apparent when I tried to cancel the service. Your business have had numerous opportunities to explain how exactly "Budget Billing" works, but conveniently or suspiciously you have chosen not to. I recall distinctly during the initial phone call that ONLY the monthly cost of $151 was mentioned, and nothing else. I was shopping around for lawn care companies at the time and would've taken this into account if I had known. Afterwards, you send out a monthly service summary, which I will attach here, and it does not include any billing or service charge information whatsoever. Consumers should not be held responsible for charges that are not made transparent when your business have had every chance to do so. I was a customer for 6 months, during which time no verbal or written explanation of these additional charges were provided. To bring out a secretive charge of nearly 600 dollars at the time of cancellation is predatory billing, and it needs to stop. 
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** ****

  Business response

  03/29/2023

  We have reviewed the recorded call between you and the Sales Agent on 06/29/22 @ 11:22:09 AM, where they fully explained the offer that you receive from our company. The agent explained that it was our Basic service plan that "did not include Fall Aeration & Seeding, Grub Control, or the Soil Test." They then offer a discount on the Soil test, which lowered your first payment to $96.13 on July 1, 2022. The Sales Agent went on to explain "that you can cancel at any time as we are a non-contract company, but should you cancel and owe us for services already performed but hadn't yet billed, then you would owe us the difference." They also explained that we would owe you is you paid for more services than we had performed. We have your verbal acknowledgement to all of this where you agreed by stating "Okay." At no time did you question any of what was stated during the multiple calls to our office before agreeing to the services.

  We understand that you were dealing with a lot of lawn issues with the **** ****** when you reached out to us and were anxious to move away from them. Apparently, the verbal acknowledgement must have been forgotten, but we do have the audio recording where you agreed and also outlined the fact that you were also able to get services from the **** ****** and later had them reverse all charges. Blades of Green provided agreed upon services to your property as outlined, which left a balance due at the time of your cancellation. This balance does not include any type of extra fees, late charges, or cancellation infractions. This balance ONLY includes the cost of services rendered that have not yet been paid by you. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩