Artistascape Landscaping owner Bradley Dodd

[Harley Riders]

BEWARE OF ARTISTASCAPE LANDSCAPING, If you are thinking about using this company for landscaping please don't, we hired him on 9/6/2015 to landscape our yard we paid him $6400.00 down for a $12800 job.Christmas came and gone and he still had not completed our yard. I got an estimate from other landscaping company as to how much a job like what he had done is our yard so far 6 palm trees some rock wall and 3 bushes would cost if they had done the job and not surprising the most expensive quote was $3000. This guy was working on my yard and several others it's just him and his brother they never finished my yard. He refuses to give us a refund, another neighbor came to our home to say he did the same thing to her Neighbors one paid him up front for a job that he have not completed as well. My neighbors are complaining because it is an eyesore we are having to contract someone else to do the job that we have paid him half of the money to do. He would come every now and then to do a little work just to say that he was working on the yard, in the mean time he left the palms above the ground and they went into shock and are now dead and another contactor told us that they can not be saved. If you see this Artistascape Landscaping coming take my advise and don't hire him he is dishonest and will take your money and run.

[jchase]

That's why you never give any money down, we used Jamie's Landscape, he took no money until the job was done. Did an excellent job.

[jane032657]

You need to check to see if it is the Dodd brothers where one was arrested. Do a google search on the on line newspaper for The Villages. I used the brothers in 2012 early. Had to chase them but I got the job done. If this is the same brothers, you need to find out as one may be on probation for doing this type of thing. Not saying they are the same, but google the name. There are parents that may be involved too in the business....FOLLOW UP. Devin Dodd is the one who was arrrested.

THIS IS THE ARTICLE BUT IT IS FROM AUGUST 2015. (And his brother had been on probation and that is part of the reason I got our work done in 2012 as Devin and his mother did not want me to report his brother, can't remember if it is your guy or not) So they did the work. But is was by threatening...

A story published earlier this week on a landscaper who had been sentenced in connection with ripping off Villagers failed to include his full sentence. Here is article. Don't know if you have the brother.

Devin Alvin Dodd, 23, was sentenced Aug. 13 in Sumter County Court to five years probation on a charge of grand theft. He was sentenced to 130 days in jail with credit for time already served. He was ordered to pay $32,942.50 in restitution. Dodd was also assessed $1,843.53 in fines and court costs.

Some of that information was not included in the original story because it was not originally posted in the online court documents. The original story has been updated.

Dodd had been accused of taking thousands of dollars from Villagers and not delivering promised work. In November, December and January, Dodd allegedly contacted five different Villagers about doing landscaping work. In each of the cases, he asked for half of the money up front. One of the Villagers wrote a check totaling $4,432. Dodd allegedly cashed the checks and never did the work.

When the Villagers called him to complain, he stopped answering his phone.

In July, Dodd was sentenced to 60 days in jail for driving on a suspended license. It was his second conviction for driving on a suspended license.

[Harley Riders]

Thank you for your reply, I do believe these guys are brothers because it was 3 of them one was name Bradley, Brandon and Delvin my jobs was suppose the take 3 weeks he kept making promises as to when they would be finished we had to keep calling and texting. Finally after 3 months going on the 4th month and several neighbor complaining we said enough is enough. We went and filed a complaint with the sheriff in The Villages they turn it over to senior against crime, they talked to the now owner Bradley he said we broke the contract so the guy said it is our word against his. My question is how long do you have to wait for a job to be completed and how do we go about getting our money back for a job that was never completed?

[Harley Riders]

Now we know, we are out $6400. for a job that is still not completed. We are
finding out these guys are a family of dishonest scammer praying on senior citizens.

[jane032657]

You need to share with the Sheriff the article I shared with you. There is a history here of scamming.

[John_W]

In 2013 I used McGowan for a $5300 job and paid no deposit, paid in full when job was done. In 2011 I had used Terrascape for $2600 job, no deposit, paid when job was done. In fact neither one asked for money in advance. With so many honest landscapers out there, it doesn't make sense to go with people that have no track record. Anytime you have a question about a contractor, do a search on this website and or contact Seniors vs Crime.

[CFrance]

Unfortunately, people new to Florida will often not find it unreasonable to put a down payment on big jobs like this. Up north, at least in PA, OH, and MI (our experiences), it was not unusual, but the landscapers were fewer in number and the majority of them did honest work. And paying up front for mowing/weeding/trimming was not an issue either. The work got done, and on time.

I wish there were some way to alert people just moving to Florida about the landscaping scammers that abound, especially in communities still being built.

[MNFlex]

I also had an issue with Artistascapes. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and did post a negative review on them in TOTV. I will also look to file a report with the Sheriff of The Villages. Any data on who to contact or a number would be helpful.

When we decided to use them, they were actually referred to us by some neighbors, and there was positive reports on them in TOTV. I am also from up North, and paying 50% in advance is not unusual. Unfortunately, Angie's List was not helpful in The Villages like it is in MN. The more information that can be shared about Artistascapes the better. It would be nice if there was a way to keep companies like this from doing business in The Villages.

[MNFlex]

Harley Riders:
are you interested in filing a group complaint against Artistascape with the Seniors vs. Crime department. If yes, please leave me an email that I can contact you about how we can coordinate.

Thanks