ComplaintsforSherdec Tree Service, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  07/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Sherdec came out to clean up a tree in my driveway after a big storm (late May). While they did fine cleaning up the tree, they backed their wood chipper into a decorative brick wall in front of my house, severing the electrical and cracking a significant part of the wall. When I noticed the damage and called them, they initially said they would cover the damage and asked me to get a quote on fixing the masonry. After I'd done this, however, they didn't like my quote and said they'd like to get their own. This never happened, however, and they stopped returning my calls. I was forced to turn to my own insurance and might be stuck with a deductible for damage they caused. I would not recommend this company.

  Business response

  07/20/2022

  We were contacted a couple days after working at the home by the customer indicating they thought we damage their wall.  The customer provided an estimate from a friend of theirs for nearly $5000. We requested pictures of the damage and the customer provided them. I went and checked the equipment that was on site to try and figure out how the wall was damaged.  NONE of our trucks or equipment has any sign of damage. When I went to the job site, there wasn’t any transfer of paint on the wall either.  To damage a large Masonary structure like this would take an incredible amount of force and would most definitely damage whatever struck it. While I do not doubt that someone damaged their wall, I believe it doesn’t appear to have been our company. We have tried to contact the homeowner multiple times and they have not returned our calls.

  Customer response

  07/23/2022

  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, reasons for rejection are included below.

  1. While I certainly can't prove that Sherdec was responsible (I have no video evidence), I did hear a large crash while they were on my property, the damage was discovered within 48 hours of their presence on my property, and their backing into my wall with their equipment is a reasonable assumption. A day or two after the incident, I called the business and was assured over the phone that they probably didn't hear the accident because of the noise of the machinery and that they would certainly take care of it. This was emphasized: "don't worry, we'll take care of it." I was assured of this verbally by the secretary I spoke to (she is the only person from the business who ever reached out to me). 

  2. No one from the business ever contacted me about coming to view the damage. Their response to my BBB complaint is the first I ever heard of this. If they did indeed come to look at my property, it was without my knowledge and I was never made aware.

  3. The masonary quote I sent them was not from a friend (the implication of Sherdec's response being that I'm somehow getting a friend to gouge them). I went with a masonry company that came highly recommended but with whom I've never worked before. Once Sherdec recieved this quote, I was told (again by the secretary) that they didn't like it and wanted to get a quote of their own. I said that would be fine, but I needed it to happen so I could get going with the repair. That was the last contact I had from them. I left several messages trying to reach out to them again, but never heard from them (weeks passed). If they did reach out to me, they did so without leaving text or voice messages (or email) that I could respond to. 
  
  Regards,
  
  **** **********
  

  Business response

  08/06/2022

  At no point prior to their recent response did the customer ever say they heard a crash or any sound. They told our office manager they personally knew the company that was providing their quote for the repair. Based on how the wall is damaged it would be nearly impossible to create by backing into the driveway. There is no transfer of paint on the wall or any visible damage to my vehicle‘s or equipment.  To break a concrete wall would take a significant amount of force. I do not see how this would be possible with a vehicle or a chipper and not sustain significant damage. The customer said they discovered it within 48 hours but that they heard a crash? Why would they not even come outside and ask questions or look if they heard a crash? None of this makes sense. Additionally, they offered for us to back into their driveway when we were working from the neighbors. To me it seems suspicious and opportunistic. 

*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. ↩