Beware of M&M Landscaping

[piper]

I contracted M & M Landscaping to remove a 10-15 foot Queen Palm and replace it with a 10-15 foot Sable Palm in early November 2013. The crew arrived, cut the Queen Palm down, dug out the root ball, and replaced it with a Sable Palm. During the removal process, they cut through two irrigation lines. No problem, the crew fixed the lines and complete the planting of the new palm. Megan provided me with a receipt stating that the palm had a one year replacement guarantee. All is good!
Within three months the palm started to show signs that it was dying. The trunk developed a large soft, mushy spot on one side. I contacted Megan and her response was �she�ll take care of it.� She never showed up. I contacted her several more times and she gave me numerous excuses as to why the palm was not replaced. Excuses included; the nursery arborist said the palm was not dying and wanted to wait and see. After several more phone calls, Megan agreed to come out with the arborist to look at the palm. Neither Megan nor the arborist showed up.
I continued to call Megan - getting one excuse after another. On the phone, she said she would take care of the situation, but she never showed up. It�s been 8 months now, the palm is dead, in fact, on July 12, 2014, it broke in half by the wind. Calls to Megan go unanswered. When I call her, I find that her voice mailbox is full and I can�t even leave her a message. The last contact I had with Megan was made only because I called her from a phone that she didn�t recognize. I called her, couldn�t leave a message because her voicemail box was full, and she later called back on the phone number I called her on. I caught her off guard, and again, �I�ll take care of it� was her response.
I now have the trunk of a dead Sable Palm in my yard. Where are you Megan?
I have filed a claim with BBB, but I didn't want this to happen to anyone else.

[Bryan]

And you have not filed a complaint with either the Florida Division of Consumer Services nor Seniors Vs Crime because.....

[Bonanza]

Filing a complaint with the BBB is always the smart thing to do.

After pondering your problem, I can only come up with one solution. Take her to small claims court. You have your receipt and you can certainly take photos.

No one really wants to go to an extreme such as this, however, there is no way you could possibly lose this case. You might want to give them a head's up that if they don't replace the tree or pay you for what it cost (a better idea), you can expect to see them in small claims court. That should probably work.

[The20Percent]

Thanks for letting us know this. I was looking for a landscaper and M&M was on my list to call. Now I won't! Sorry for your problem with them and I hope you can get some recourse.

[buggyone]

Bryan is right about contacting Seniors vs Crime. They are a great group of mediators.

Also, if M&M Landscaping is in this area, I personally would have gone over there to speak to the person directly.

[villages07]

There is another firm called M&M Lawn Care, Maynard Saucier.... They do lawn care but also landscaping, tree trimming, Etc services. They are an honest, reputable, reliable business ... Just wanted to be sure their reputation doesn't get confused with or sullied by this other similarly named outfit. I have employed Maynard's M&M for 7 years ... Always been good to us.

I hope the OP gets some satisfaction on his problem.

[ivanhoe]

Thanks for letting us know this. I was looking for a landscaper and M&M was on my list to call. Now I won't! Sorry for your problem with them and I hope you can get some recourse.

Not so fast. This is but one report of a problem with a business that I believe has several satisfied customers in the Villages (ones who have recommended M&M to me). I am also one of them and can report with confidence that M&M has proved reliable, timely and fair priced in all the projects I have contracted for over the past year since we moved in April 1, 2013.

They are currently engaged in a project at my villa now and everything is progressing well.

My wife and I were extremely dismayed to read such a report directed at this business and can only hope that some degree of satisfaction will eventually resolve.

[The20Percent]

Not so fast. This is but one report of a problem with a business that I believe has several satisfied customers in the Villages (ones who have recommended M&M to me). I am also one of them and can report with confidence that M&M has proved reliable, timely and fair priced in all the projects I have contracted for over the past year since we moved in April 1, 2013.

They are currently engaged in a project at my villa now and everything is progressing well.

My wife and I were extremely dismayed to read such a report directed at this business and can only hope that some degree of satisfaction will eventually resolve.

I am not only concerned about getting a good job with the landscaper I choose but more importantly receiving their promised guarantee after the sale. Will M&M also do this to you if one of your trees dies within a year? Unfortunately you may never know this unless it happens. If this business is concerned about their reputation please let them know about this post. If they are a responsible company they will respond in their defense and they should also make good with the original poster if they are in fact negligent.

[ivanhoe]

I am not only concerned about getting a good job with the landscaper I choose but more importantly receiving their promised guarantee after the sale. Will M&M also do this to you if one of your trees dies within a year? Unfortunately you may never know this unless it happens. If this business is concerned about their reputation please let them know about this post. If they are a responsible company they will respond in their defense and they should also make good with the original poster if they are in fact negligent.

Of course you are seeking the mostly promising landscaper to contract that is only logical. However it "seemed" via your post that this one report would be enough to strike M&M off your list..(it's possible I misinterpreted your post).

I'm only seeking balance here and can safely report satisfaction with this company.

Any contract I would sign with M&M would clearly state their intent to stand behind the health of any things they planted (rather extreme when you consider that their product will be in the hands of the customer for a time).

Full disclosure: they have only planted a few small plants with most of the work being landscaping consisting of wall brick and general ground esthetics that I have found to be well done.

It is my understanding that Megan has a degree in this area of expertise. Her ideas proved helpful as I tried to explain my intent.

[duffysmom]

Please be beware of Megan and M&M. She can be deceptive as I found out. I've been on this forum for years and used many contractors who delivered, she was the one person who cost my family thousands of dollars. All of her work had to be redone by McGowan's who did a fantastic job. Please beware!!!!

[duffysmom]

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