ComplaintsforGarden Art of Pittsburgh

• Initial Complaint

  08/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I paid Author F*** owner of the garden of art of Pittsburgh 30% for upfront deposit for excavation, weed block, planting of green emerald arborvitae trees on my property. The work was supposed to start by June 7th 2022 and be finished by June 28th 2022 that never happened. I reached out about when the work would be started there was postponement then after a month when the work was not completed I reached out stating that we probably needed to cancel the contract and him to refund my money. I've received a run around about getting my $1425 back and now he's claiming bankruptcy. This person has went out of town and posted this on Facebook claimed that there were family deaths etc. all of this just to scam people out of their money. My last text to him was asking for good faith payment since he was going bankrupt being a single parent wanting my money back over time I have yet to hear back. I tried making a phone call to him with no success in reaching him.

• Initial Complaint

  07/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I signed a contract with Garden Art of Pittsburgh on April 15, 2021 for $7,000. Services included a full vegetative installment in our backyard with 69 plants. I paid a $4200 deposit with a July 22, 2021 start date and a September 1, 2021 completion date. The owner delayed the start of work 4 times between July 22 and Sept. 7 and no-showed to 3 agreed-upon in-person appointments to discuss the beginning of work. On Sept. 7 (a week past the completion date and with no work yet started) I asked for my deposit to be refunded. The owner agreed, writing “payment on the way.” The owner then postponed repaying our deposit 7 times throughout Fall, 2021 and early 2022—not even small amounts we asked for to show a good faith effort. Assuming we would never see the refund--the owner indicated he had no capacity to repay- we agreed to a reduced scope of work in lieu of returning the deposit if he could begin at the start of the Spring 2022 planting season. By July 13, 2022, five agreed upon completion dates had passed, and the only work done was some removal of plants/fabrication of 3 planting areas (no plants!). So, it's a year and a half since the owner said he would "beautify our home" and we are back to where we started—minus the $4,200.

• Initial Complaint

  07/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I signed a contract and provided a deposit for yard work. The work was not started within the timeframe agreed upon. Despite repeated attempts I have been unsuccessful in getting my deposit returned. Owner has shown himself to be unreliable and has held my deposit for over a year, claiming the need to pay off other debts.

• Initial Complaint

  11/11/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Garden Art defaulted on a $23,130 contract to demolish two retaining walls and a fence, and build two new retaining walls and a privacy fence. I signed the contract on May 25, 2021 and paid a total of $13,878 in deposits. Garden Art completed partial demolition of the old walls and fence, installed new fence posts, and delivered some fence materials. No other work was completed. Owner repeatedly gave excuses for not being able to complete the work, and at one point indicated he needed more money. I told him no. I sent a notice of default on October 13, giving the company 8 days to remedy the default as per the contract language. At the end of the 8-day period (October 21) the contract automatically terminated since the default was not remedied. On November 3, owner notified me that they are unable to complete the project this year "due to factors overcomplicating the process." He admitted he was in default and offered a partial refund. I proposed a $10,000 refund. Owner indicated it was too high and would "look at these numbers." He never made a counter offer and is unresponsive.

  Business response

  11/23/2021

  This customer is not lying, though there is more factors surrounding us defaulting. Will have agreed to pay customer full amount requested back due to it being our fault job wasn’t completed in a timely manner agreed upon, even though $7,000 returned would have been more realistic. It’s alright though. We take full responsibility for our actions and pray this will never happen again!

  Customer response

  12/06/2021

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********.  The business agrees to refund the $10,000 I had asked for but provides no timetable for payment. Unfortunately, I have learned that the owner cannot be relied on to keep his w***.  Can this complaint be kept open until I receive payment?
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******

  Customer response

  01/04/2022

  The matter is not resolved. I received a letter from Mr. Arthur F*** (the owner) on 12/11/21 indicating that he would not be able to refund my money until February. He had previously indicated he would refund my money in 30 to 60 days, which would have been by 1/12/22.  Please keep this complaint open. 

  Customer response

  02/07/2022

  No. I received the attached letter from the owner on December 11 indicating he would try to send me regular refund payments over the offseason.  I have not received any payments nor any communication from him since then.

*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. ↩