Talk of The Villages Florida - We Got TLC Tender Loving Care Scammed!!!

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- Landscape Talk (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/landscape-talk-129/)

- - We Got TLC Tender Loving Care Scammed!!! (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/landscape-talk-129/we-got-tlc-tender-loving-care-scammed-218491/)

We Got TLC Tender Loving Care Scammed!!!

Yikes, we've been here 4 years, and it still happened to us - TLC Tender Loving Care Flower Bed Specialist SCAM! We should've checked here first! Nice folks, worked hard, but unbeknown to us, up front estimate only covered part of the labor ("have to see how much we need") - then dropping the BOMB at the end that: "standard landscape practice to double the price of the item to cover labor" - so "industrial grade bark" (ugly) at $7. a bucket is now $14. a bucket and they needed 92 buckets for our tiny designer yard! So after initial shock, we called and are getting half the bark cost back, but if we knew huge price up front, we won't have gone this route at all!
You hate to have this lesson facing you in your driveway every time you pull up - so reframing: good will come out of it... Gratitude for all you out there watching out for each other!

Please report your experience to Seniors vs Crime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jean528 (Post 1320678)

Yikes, we've been here 4 years, and it still happened to us - TLC Tender Loving Care Flower Bed Specialist SCAM! We should've checked here first! Nice folks, worked hard, but unbeknown to us, up front estimate only covered part of the labor ("have to see how much we need") - then dropping the BOMB at the end that: "standard landscape practice to double the price of the item to cover labor" - so "industrial grade bark" (ugly) at $7. a bucket is now $14. a bucket and they needed 92 buckets for our tiny designer yard! So after initial shock, we called and are getting half the bark cost back, but if we knew huge price up front, we won't have gone this route at all!

You hate to have this lesson facing you in your driveway every time you pull up - so reframing: good will come out of it... Gratitude for all you out there watching out for each other!

Purposely or inept or both all they had to do was take a quick measurement of your bed/beds so as to calculate the cubic feet needed, add 10% to come up with a very accurate estimate up front. Sounds like they played stupid at your expense. Thanks for the heads up !

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryP (Post 1320695)

Please report your experience to Seniors vs Crime.

Yes, I stopped at Seniors Vs. Crime this morning and talk to Bryan. They have 5 reports on TLC and yes, he said "everybody sits in that chair and says - "they were so nice!" Yes, in hind sight we know what we should have done differently, including getting it in writing. But what we thought was a small job, turned into HUGE! Bryan called this typical scam "Upscaling". Ironic I've been doing my "forgiveness practice." Every time I think of them, I say: "I forgive you, I bless you, I release you! 5X! So help me God!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickeyD (Post 1320710)

Yes, Thanks, Rickey - that would have been the proper thing to do. We called Village Palms, where we got the plants, and no they don't do business the way TLC said was "typical". So, thanks for your response!

Definitely not typical. I know the landscapers (five of them to date) I've worked with for clients and myself have stuck to their estimates unless more work was specifically asked for by the homeowner. I even know of one landscaper who put in more plants than was originally discussed because he didn't like the look at no additional charge to the homeowner.

Sorry you got ripped off like this.

Good to know - TLC's style is smooth, partial information, and BANG at the end - when it's done! Even small jobs - put it in WRITING! Thanks for your response.

Thanks for posting this valuable information. Helps the rest of us make better informed decisions.