ComplaintsforForester Tree Service

• Initial Complaint

  08/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I hope you can help us.We hired Forester Tree & Plant Health Care Service to remove a tree from our yard in August 2021. The tree was removed, and an additional smaller tree was cut down (added for an additional charge). The agreement was to include ***** grinding on the ***** from the original tree contracted for (not needed for the tree added).The ***** grinding did not occur the day the trees were cut down. They came back a couple of weeks later (unannounced) when we were out of the house.I wish we had been there to oversee. The grinding was terrible. The wood chips ground up were heavily mixed with dirt and unremoveable. Additionally, there was a portion of the tree bark, about a foot across and 3-4 inches above ground level not ground up at all.I tried calling, left a message. Never got a response. Sent a letter. No response.Finally I sent a letter explaining our evaluation of the work done with a check deducting 10%.. The check was marked payment in full, and it cleared the bank in October 2021.We still have received no contact from Forester ... well, except for a form saying they were going to file a lien.I sent a letter responding to that as well, but no response came.Can you help us? ******* & ***************************** ***************************************************************************** ************

  Business response

  08/18/2022

  We have made contact with the customer and are currently working towards a resolution that will be amicable to both parties. 

• Initial Complaint

  11/05/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  We hired Forester Tree Service to trim the Norway Maple in our back yard on July 26, 2021. There are power service lines running through it to our and our neighbor's houses. We Energies came out to cut the power to the lines. They asked me if we needed the lines taken down. I told them to coordinate with Forester. When Forester finished, the side of the tree with no power lines was well trimmed, but the other side was not. The Forester workers said they could not trim it with the lines in place.Subsequently, I called We Energies and they sent their Head Forester, ***************************, out. He said his guy should have taken the lines down, but even with them in place, Forester should have been able to properly trim since there was no power in them. **** said he would send his guy out again and he would supervise if Forester would come out again to finish. I spoke to **** at Forester. He assured me they would take care of it, so I paid the $844.00 ****.I have now called over a dozen times to try to get a resolution but to no avail. I passed on two other tree trimming businesses because I thought Forester would do a more professional job. I may now have to hire another company to come out and finish the job. I would never recommend this business to anyone I know.

  Customer response

  11/08/2021

  Re: You have a new message from the BBB of *********
  External
  Inbox
  
  ********************* <************************>
  Sat, Nov 6, 11:26 AM (2 days ago)
  to Better, me
  
  I spoke to the owner of Forester Tree Service (***********************) by phone this morning (he called me). He assured me he will take care of the issue. I am awaiting further communication from them on Monday as to when they will schedule an electrical service outage and finish the work. So, no resolution yet other than an assurance that they will complete the work.
  
   
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  09/11/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Forester Tree Service was to remove 6 trees before June 9th because my driveway was being resealed. They rescheduled to July 2nd, saying they would not access the driveway. On July 2nd, while removing the trees, they damaged the driveway and the estimate to be repaved is $300. In removing 3 trees from the back yard, they destroyed a 20' section of 6' Honeysuckle shrubs by repeatedly retrieving branches through the hedgeline (this was not incidental damage for tree removal). Dylan (owner) said he would take $300 off the total bill for the driveway, and I requested he take an additional $250 off for the damage to the shrubs. I have called and sent e-mails every single week since July 9th; I have received a few responses saying they will get back to me...they never have. I have not received any bill from Forester Tree Service and would appreciate your help in resolving this issue.

  Business response

  09/22/2021

  As of 09/21/21, client has received their invoice and has paid their bill in full.  Summary of situation follows:
  
  Client requested we not use their driveway and based on the original scope of the work, this was not a problem.  Client then reached out with additional requests for service, which necessitated the use of their driveway.  Client was notified, and we used the driveway accordingly.  Client was also made aware of potential damage from falling debris to anything around the trees being removed. 
  
  In the course of tree removal with any company there will be some type of ‘footprint’ after work is completed; squished grass, broken twigs on bushes, tire marks on driveways and similar damage is a typical result of using heavy machinery around fragile landscapes and well within what would be considered routine in the industry.  We take great care in mitigating as much damage as possible: craning in/out equipment, putting down mats to create vehicle pathways, rescheduling or taking precautions in case of wet conditions, etc. but some minor damage is inevitable.  In our one-page contract that we send to every client, we state that if we must bring cranes or other heavy machinery on-site, some incidental damage might occur.
  
  In this case, the driveway had tire marks and minor scuffing which was almost imperceptible, please see attached photos for reference. This was a point of contention between client and our company, which resulted in a delayed invoice.   Client initially requested an arbitrary amount of $1000 which we felt was unreasonable.  When we stated our position, client threatened to leave a negative review unless we gave in to her demands.  Client then asked to delay the invoice until she could get an estimate for driveway repairs.  After she had it appraised and received a bill for $300, we agreed to pay for the driveway out of good faith to have the matter concluded.
  
  After receiving our response, client requested an additional $250 discount due to several broken branches on a shrub, which again we found unreasonable, citing that we verbally and through written means notified the client that falling debris from trees being removed may cause damage to nearby flora.  Pictures of the shrub line are also attached. Client again threatened to leave a negative review unless we gave in to her demands.
  
  This client has engaged in ethically questionable behavior since our initial encounter and it is the position of Forester Tree Service that this client has no issues extorting us with poor reviews even after good service to get what they want.   We acknowledge that our customer has the final say regarding their opinion, but we feel that her concerns are dramatically overstated and we stand by the work we performed on her property.

   

  Customer response

  09/23/2021

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  Mr. Payne's responses are completely without fact or merit.  I was adamant that they not use my driveway at all times, as I had just paid $300 to reseal it in June.  The additional work requested did not require the use of heavy equipment; small shrubs were removed from the front of the house and one employee with a chainsaw removed them and physically dragged the removed shrubs to the wood chipper.  All damage occurred from his crew working in the backyard.  Mr. Payne's pictures were taken at least 60' away from the shrub line and were of part of the shrub line undamaged by his workers.  I never requested a $1000 reduction in my bill.  I requested $250 for the 6' tall 20' of shrub line maliciously damaged by his workers.  I requested an invoice from Mr. ***** for over 2 months.  The paving company's estimate of $300 for the damage Forester did to the driveway took less than 5 days.  Mr. ***** finally sent me an invoice by e-mail on September 13th, dated August 27, with a due date of September 11, making it 2 days past due when e-mailed.   (His contract requires a 1% late fee).  When I advised Mr. ***** that this was illegal, he fixed the dates.  Mr. ***** is an unethical business owner and advising other potential customers via Google of the poor work performance by Forester, posting pictures of the damage to my property, advising of his slow response, if he responds at all, to customers, and his illegal billing practices should not be considered a threat, as these are just the simple facts.  If he did better work and was responsive to his customers, he wouldn't have so many complaints and poor reviews.
  
  ****** *******

  Business response

  10/08/2021

  Client changed the scope of the work on the day of service, requesting additional removals in the front yard, but did not inform the present crew about not wanting her driveway used.  We would not have used the driveway had the nature of the work not been changed.  Despite verbiage in our one-page contract that indemnifies us of liability, we paid client’s driveway resealing bill anyway in good faith.

  
  Client denies stating that the driveway costs would be $1000, but we have an email from her stating the following: “The estimate for the work (which was to include the proper equipment) was close to $3,000.  The damage to the driveway and backyard will be very near a third of this.  I am requesting a further reduction in the bill besides the reimbursement for the driveway.” It is the position of Forester Tree Service that driveway scratches and a broken branches on a shrub do not amount to $1000 in repairs.

  
  Client’s bill was emailed with the date her service was completed, as is the default setting with Quickbooks/Singleops software.  This was fixed as soon as it was brought to our attention.  Client has not been charged a late fee, or interest, or brought to collections.  In fact, Forester Tree Service has never charged any delinquent clients with interest or late fees, as it is not our intention to gouge customers.  Those terms are there for our protection against clients with nefarious intent.

  Customer response

  10/11/2021

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below

  My proposal clearly stated I was requesting $300 for the damage to the driveway and $250 for the destruction of the shrub line.  The additional work requested did not involve the driveway.  The owner obviously has an excuse for all the damage his workers cause and short-comings of the work performed by his company.   I'm sure he has used these excuses many, many times considering the quality of work performed by Forester.  I have only myself to blame for not checking the prior negative reviews on this company. 

  As he refuses to accept responsibility, as he has with other customers, and having paid the bill, you may consider the matter closed.  His prevarication and refusal to compensate customers for the damages incurred can only hurt his business in the long run.  I do remain a very dissatisfied customer and am so sorry I chose Forester.

  Regards,
  
  ****** *******

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