Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/11/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  HELP MY SMALL BUSINESS IS BEING TARGETED BY A DISGRUNTLED CONTRACTOR - WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? I already have enough struggles as a minority business but to then have to deal with this type of attempt at hurting my small business is just frustrating. My experience with Branching out Tree Service LLC has been a rare and tough one to say the least. I honestly am both shocked and disturbed by your retaliatory review, left in an attempt to hurt my business, especially as you never rented any of my units as a guest, so your negative review is really an attempt to retaliate for work cancelled. I would caution future customers to do their due diligence. I continue to wait for my $150 refund. 11/11/24: Sad that when ****** removes your retaliatory review for false claims and clear retaliation, you then go ahead and get your staff and friends to Troll my ****** business page and you yourself try to repost. I really hate when small businesses hurt yet you have pushed me to a point where I have to stand up for my source of income. What puts food on my table, keeps the lights and heat on through this winter. I have not slept much this weekend as the nightmare started late last week and continues into this week. ****************************************************************************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/14/2024

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

  1.  I still have not received my $150 Refund that the business claims to have issued.

  2.  He still has his retaliatory reviews up, clearly still targeting my small business.

  The levels that this man will go to is actually a little scary to me as it just shows a very off-putting and concerning behavior.  Please see my response to his reviews of my business on Yelp and ******, both flagged and under review by the platforms.  A cease and desist letter has been served, but I do still need my refund and need this harassment to STOP!  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *****

  Business Response

  Date: 11/18/2024

  At Branching Out Tree Service LLC, we take pride in our commitment to professionalism, transparency, and ethical business practices. We appreciate the opportunity to provide a detailed explanation regarding this situation and the steps weve taken to resolve it.
  Services Provided and Payment Details
  On 10/11/24, we completed a job for the client, who was satisfied with the work performed. The total cost for the job was $875, which included $150 for a future trimming of her pear tree. The pear tree trimming could only be performed once the tree went dormant, which we clearly communicated to the client. The client paid the full $875 on that day and agreed to allocate the $150 as a prepaid credit toward the pear tree trimming once it could be performed.
  Review Exchange Discussion and Project Cancellations
  During our discussions, the client introduced the idea of a mutual review for review practice to support both of our businesses. We initially agreed that this could be mutually beneficial.
  The arrangement became more complicated when, after further conversations, the client requested that we leave a review for her business, Kenyan Furnished Rentals, before she left one for ours. In the same message, she gave us an ultimatum, stating that if we did not trust her enough to leave a review first, she would cancel one of the jobs she had contracted with us (the Yosemite project).
  This ultimatum placed us in a difficult position. Up until that point, we had not expressed discomfort with the arrangement, but we felt the request to post a review first, coupled with the threat to cancel work, was unreasonable and ethically concerning. As a result, we made the decision to cancel all pending work except for the prepaid pear tree trimming.
  Request for Refund
  Shortly after the cancellation, the client requested a refund of the $150 prepaid for the pear tree trimming. We intended to honor this request but were delayed in responding within 2448 hours due to internal business demands. Following this delay, the client left negative reviews on various platforms and filed this BBB complaint.
  Actions Taken to Resolve the Issue
  First Refund Attempt: We promptly issued a refund check for $150 and mailed it to the client via standard mail.
  Follow-Up Action: On 11/17/24, the client informed us that the check had not arrived. To address this, we canceled the original check and issued a new one via certified mail, providing the client with the tracking information to ensure its delivery.
  Concerns About Retaliatory Behavior
  Following our decision to cancel the Yosemite project and the delayed response to her refund request, we observed what appeared to be retaliatory behavior. This included:
  Negative reviews from the client across multiple platforms.
  We believe these actions are unfair, given that:
  The original work was completed to the clients satisfaction.
  We have made every effort to issue a prompt and verified refund for the $150 prepaid for the pear tree trimming.
  Summary of Actions and Documentation
  We have handled this matter in good faith, prioritizing professionalism and transparency at every step. Detailed records of all agreements, payments, communications, and refund attempts are available upon request.
  We respectfully request that the BBB consider these details when reviewing this complaint. If additional information or documentation is needed, we are happy to provide it.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/21/2024

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

  My experience with Branching Out Tree Service LLC has been tough. The owner ****** ****** is posting retaliatory reviews due to a failed business relationship where I was his client. The first job was great, so I gave him another and pre-paid for the third. When things went wrong, I canceled and requested a refund. He ignored my emails and calls, trying to push me past the 48-hour deadline to tie me into the contract. 
  I shared my frustrations, but my messages were ignored or delayed. I posted a review on his ****** page to warn others, prompting retaliation.
  It's frustrating that it took 11 days of repeated requests for my refund before ****** ******, the owner, informed me that the first check was canceled and reissued. On the 8th, his executive assistant claimed the check was sent, but by the 17th, it still hadn't arrived. ****** suggested the delay was due to the election and holidays, which didn't make sense. He couldnt provide a tracking number. On the 18th, I informed him that I wouldn't contact him again about the refund, as I had no tracking info and couldn't do anything further.
  Integrity,respect and customer focus are referenced as core values on this companys website.  Sadly, the unprofessional, vindictive actions coupled with gaslighting and projection were anything but.  It saddens me that a man that will attempt to act so professional in public will together with his staff go to such great lengths to do exactly what they are accusing me of, which is to purposefully attempt to defame a small business by leaving retaliatory reviews.  This is termed Projection and is in fact Harassment!
  The Consumer Review Fairness Act protects my right to share honest opinions about businesses. It's illegal for companies to threaten or penalize consumers for doing so, which is what ****** ****** and his Executive Assistant and other ****** known to them did.  I have flagged these reviews and I remain hopeful that justice will prevail as what I have had to endure from Branching out Tree Service LLC in *******, **, is not just and if anything is harassment and very much against the Consumer Review Fairness Act.  
  ****** ****** had the opportunity to respond to my review, which he did, with more gaslighting and projection.  But he did not stop there, instead he allowed himself to be guided by what I cannot call integrity.  So he went to my small businesss ****** page, a business he has never used before as a customer so as to leave a retaliatory review after a failed business relationship where I was a client to Branching out Tree Service LLC in ********, CO.  As if to add injury to insult, he then solicited his Executive Assistant and another ****** known to both of them and known to share a residence to also pile on the retaliation.  These kinds of acts by a business are exactly what the Consumer Review Fairness Act works to protect against.  The two reviews show up on my page as ***** ****** (who is ****** ******, the owner of Branching out Tree Service LLC) and ******** ******* who through communication I found out is listed as his executive assistant.  A 3rd ****** (****** ******) that is known to them had also initially left a review that was later taken down.  Screenshots of the reviews currently up can be provided. 
  The anxiety from the retaliation and attempts at defaming my small business has led to many sleepless nights.  No small business should have the success of their business and online prescence jeopardized. 
  Thank you, BBB, for following up my complaint because without it, I doubt I would have ever received word about my refund and/or my actual refund which I finally received a check (4118 in the amount of $150). I just did a mobile deposit and will wait to see if it clears.  Given what I have been through with Branching out Tree Service LLC in *******, **, I am constantly left in a state of anxiety unsure of what the business owner and/or his staff will do next.  His retaliatory reviews left on my ****** business page remain up.  He also tried to retaliate on Yelp, but Yelp removed the review within 24 hours.  Based on this, I find that only 50% of this complaint has been resolved at this time because the reviews were actively intended to defame my business and are actually in violation of ******s own policy as they were with yelp which is why Yelp took his review down within 24 hours.  I can provide a copy of my appeal letter to ****** about his and Allyicias reviews.
  At this time, part of my resolution request is still unmet.  I want him (showing as ***** ******) and his executive assistant (******** *******) to take down their clearly retaliatory reviews from my ****** business page as they are not legitimate.  These were left with the intent of defaming my business (while I hired them as an individual, not my business) because they did not like that I posted a review warning future customers about them, while still also holding onto my refund at the time, up until this complaint was filed and multiple requests made for my refund. I also want them to indicate that they will not be soliciting any more negative reviews as this is Harassment. I want them to Cease and Desist and leave me and my business alone.  If they do not do so, I will have no choice but to take further legal action against the company Branching out Tree Service LLC, the owner ****** ******, ******** *******, ****** ****** or any ******s known to them (family, friend or acquaintance). I have wanted nothing more than to part ways with this company and I honestly believe that the cancellation of follow-up work after I noticed some concerns, could have been received and handled differently by Branching out Tree Service LLC.  Instead they opted for malicious behavior that does not support their claim of integrity, respect or customer focus.
  Potential future customers should be made aware of this experience so that they can do their own due diligence before hiring this company.  They also need to be aware that the tactics this business uses to retaliate against honest reviews violate the Consumer Review Fairness act.  I will wait on word of the reviews being taken down with no intent to repost, confirmation that no other ******s known to them will be solicited to purposefully leave a negative review (I will investigate any future incidents, just as done)  and that they will cease and desist.  I just want my life back and this whole things has taken on a life of its own, distracting me from focusing on my business as well as other work and family priorities.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *****