ComplaintsforLos Arboles Tree and Landscapes

• Initial Complaint

  05/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Business falsely claims "5 star/ A+ rating with the BBB" in mass USPS mailings received as recently as this week at my residential address (attached). BBB needs to force business owner, Charles M*****, to cease his false advertising. BBB claims business is no longer in business but in reality it is active and continuing to do business. As result of receiving a similar flyer via USPS in late summer 2021 and believing the BBB rating claims by the owner/operator of the business, I agreed to pay $9K cash for work vaguely detailed in a contract which Mr. M***** described verbally as far more comprehensive than was actually specified and performed. I was overcharged based on my experience with other landscape maintenance firms by at least $5K for the 2 days work by two unskilled laborers and some insecticide and fertilizer for plants in my small yard. 

  Business response

  06/30/2022

  To whom it may concerne
   
  I did have a 5 star Rating. Im just about 70 years old “B” Day” *******, and I am stopping my business. You “***** ********” payed 9000.00 and are wanting 5000.00, because of the economy everything is doubled and tripled in price, and you could have done this years back at 4000.00 or 5000.00 but no more. My workers have 3 to 13 years experience. I would like to talk to you personally about price. And a possible small re-imbursement.
   
  Charlie A*****
  ************
  

  
  

  Customer response

  07/26/2022

  I have resolved the issue with Mr. A*****, Los Arboles.

  ***** ******** 

• Initial Complaint

  07/21/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I got a flyer in the mail from Los Arboles Tree and Landscapes on 6/12/2021 ***** ******** (owner Charles A*****) 7 days a week Gam-6pm, 5star/A+ rating with the BBB (CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED)!!! (NOT TRUE) He made me pay by check. 6/14 $11,000 and 6/24 $11,000 (copies enclosed) I called him only because I needed some holes filled up in back where our puppy had dug deep holes in the back in the gravel and I wanted them filled in but not until August when she will be 18 months old. I had already called several other landscapers and they were busy in August. 
  He came over on 6/12 the day I called and brought a young man with him (I think the only one that was bi-lingual (all of the rest of his workers only spoke Spanish which I don't speak) He came in with shoes on and told the other guy to go get him a chair (without asking me) Normally I don't let anyone in my house with shoes on because I have a disease called Reynauds and my toes are infected and I haven't worn shoes in 2 1/4 years (I wear these aloe infused socks from Earth Therapeutics which are not cheap but that's all I wear.) 
  When he came over he told me my plants in the front were all infected and would have to be cut back and fertilized and he would put down this "special gravel" that no weeds would ever grow on it in the front yard, side yards and lower third of back yard. There are huge holes in the back yard where the new gravel he put in which need to be filled. He said he would put down rail road ties to separate my yard from the neighbors on both sides. He ended up using these thick wooden logs that stick out of the ground instead without telling me. He said he would pull all weeds front and back which he didn't (he only sprayed them with weed killer and never pulled them. 
  I must have asked for the guy's phone number and when Charles found out he talked to me, he fired him on the spot, no notice and he had bills to pay ( I ended up putting an ad on Nextdoor and got lots of responses (4 with landscapers and several other jobs) He owned no tools so probably went with the landscapers first. He was extremely responsible and last time I spoke with him he was going to start with the first landscaper that said they could use him) 
  The day he came over and gave me that price I couldn't believe it, so I wanted to talk to my grandson who was in the shower and Charles got extremely agitated because he had to wait. When he got out **** told me he thought I should do it because he seemed to know what he was talking about. They started on June 14th and that was the beginning of the mess. They showed up very early, were extremely loud and made a mess. I didn't like talking to Charles because every time I talked to him he got extremely agitated at me and would say we already went over everything with me and to stop asking him. He never did any work but came by once a day to check on what was going on. One day they cut a power line and I lost my computer so I called him and he told me to go into the garage and fix the fuse box which I can't do so I asked him to send someone in to fix it for me (my grandson was at work) so they did. Another time My grandson had to leave for work and there was a huge rock in the middle of the driveway so I called him to tell them to move it and they said there wasn't one so I was to tell them where it was so I had to yell for them to hear me and he said I was so mean they were going to quit but decided to give me a second chance. First of all they didn’t show up Sunday when the flyer says they work 7 days a week. There are weeds everywhere. The gravel they put down is half dirt and there are weeds everywhere and he is the worst man I’ve ever met in my life. I’m terrified of him and never want to see him again. On the 25th, 2 days after they finished I was so sick I thought I was dying I woke up very early, was hyperventilating any my whole body was shaking like I was having a seizure. I had to wait until my grandson woke up and yelled at him to bring me a paper bag to breathe into and a glass of water. It took hours for me to feel better and I have had a migraine every day  since then.
  I was told that you would contact him and ask for a refund or do the job right and I wouldn’t have to talk to him. If he agrees to fix it, he will have to find at least oe worker that can speak English and he is never to come to my house or call me.
  I’m checking with my HOA to see if the logs are OK, I didn’t check before because it’s not what he told me he was putting in.
   
  Thank you!
  ******* *****
  
  

  Business response

  08/20/2021

  Re: Complaint ID # ******** (Los Arboles Tree and Landscapes Complaint from ******* *** *****) 
  
  To Whom It May Concern: 
  
  We are in receipt of (and have reviewed) the BBB Complaint by Ms. ******* *** *****, dated July 23rd, 2021, and Los Arboles Tree and Landscapes (hereinafter “Los Arboles”) has asked this law firm to respond since Ms. ***** has indicated she is filing a lawsuit. 
  
  We are sincerely sorry for Ms. ***** experiences, especially since Los Arboles has proudly served the Albuquerque and surrounding area for over 45 years, and has built a name on trust, quality and attractive, durable landscapes. 
  
  We do acknowledge some mistakes were made, and we are sorry for them. We can understand why these mistakes would bother her. 
  
  The first is walking into Ms. *****’ home with our shoes on. We weren’t aware of Ms. *****’ sensitivities, and certainly would not have done that had we known. The second relates to the crusher fine we ordered, which was delivered in the driveway (it wasn’t a large rock, but a pile of fine gravel). Such deliveries of materials do need to be staged somewhere, cannot go on the sidewalk or street, so the driveway is typically where placed. We do apologize for the inconvenience this caused Ms. *****’ grandson, and we did move it when requested. 
  Finally, we do show up in the morning, and it can get a little loud when we’re managing our crews. 
  
  We’re sorry for these mistakes. 
  
  We’re scratching our heads regarding just about all the other issues of the complaint, simply because they are not true. We do accept credit cards. We are available 7-days a week (except in rare occasions where we’re short staffed or there is a holiday). We did use railroad ties. Things can look messy until we’re finished. We didn’t cut any power lines. The crusher fine used doesn’t have dirt mixed in with it. 
  
  As it relates to weeds, note that weeds can come from surrounding properties during water drainage and bird droppings. Think of driveways with cracks-weeds can develop in those cracks. Therefore, it’s very difficult to prevent weeds altogether and forever. What we recommend to minimize weeds, is a strong weed barrier such as crusher fine. It is an excellent medium to keep weeds at a minimum – although weeds can still develop under the right circumstances. 
  
  In short, we delivered exactly what was requested, and we stand by and are proud of our work, although we’re sorry for the mistakes we made on this job as discussed above. 
  Sincerely, 
  
  Laurence *. D******, ***. 
  Managing Attorney 
  Slingshot, LLC, d/b/a Law 4 Small Business (L4SB) 
  on behalf of Los Arboles Tree and Landscapes 
  

  
  

*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. ↩