[Mewatt2@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Laker14

I have no idea if this is accurate information or not, but I was told that if you contact the palm tree nurseries, they will actually pay you to remove your palm tree. Like I say, I don't know that's accurate, but it would be worth few phone calls.

Some places BUY palms!

[pattyadele]

Definitely Tree Frog!!

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by PJ_Smiley

I do not rely on a business card or a vehicle sign or take any information from the sales person or vendor at face value. As for insurance, I requested a "Certificate of Insurance" for liability and workers' comp. directly from the vendor/company's insurance provider. The certificates most likely come from two different insurance companies as most workers' comp insurance providers do not also provide liability insurance. The certificates should be original and mailed by the insurance company directly to the homeowner.

There are some very good and honest folks trying to make a living with a service business in TV. I respect their efforts. But they may not have insurance, and if something goes wrong, it is the homeowner who will pay.

How right you are ! And yes, many seem very "nice", even popular, yet we've found they are not properly insured and, by accepting this, Florida residents are actually encouraging it and not helping the state with this consumer danger. Let's face it, if it saves a few dollars on the bill, and "most" times nothing happens, no one is injured on your property, no one falls from your roof, most feel the risk is worth it, others do not, but it does give a big incentive to businesses to not renew, or even take out, the proper insurance. As a side note, we did have a couple contractors agree to provide copies of their insurance certificates but refuse to allow us to request actual copies direct from their insurer... that does make the alarm go off and what prompted us to contact the state through the number on the consumer web site. The state can only do so much, they have to have our cooperation to protect US !