[Curtisbwp]

I have NEVER had a contract for lawn care. I have a great lawn service. I do make it a habit of paying him 3 months in advance.

[zuidemab]

And who is this new reliable service and contact info please?

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by kimgarwel12@gmail.com

As soon as we get this issue resolved, my husband is going to do our lawn himself from mowing/trimming to fertilizing and pest control. We had spent 2 mos up north after we bought our house trying to get estimates and lawn service set up before we returned to TV in May, but had no luck. Mostly I didn't get call backs or answers to my emails to these companies. I wanted a company that offered both services. When we returned in May, the yard was in deplorable shape, very long, etc. There was a Good Neighbor Service flier on the door (of course...) and with the headaches of getting moved in and settled, we just called them. The rep came to our house right away and had his crew out taking care of our lawn that afternoon. All seemed good.......until 2 weeks later and they hadn't returned. And so it goes. We'll take care of our lawn ourselves from now on!!

GOOD CHOICE ! I want to tell you a little funny my Dr. told me when I retired. Said, Keep doing what you've been doing when you retire. Oh, ? Yes, "you don't want to retire and then have all those unwanted guys coming around". Oh ? "yes, Arthur, Hy, and all the rest of them". What ? I'm thinking ? Then the smile from my doctor... yes, keep doing your own lawn work, gardening, mowing, and keep high blood pressure, arthritis, and all those other "unwanted guys" as my doctor said, away ! I broke into a smile when I "got it", bought a good mower, trimmer, and have never had a complaint about the "my yard people" not showing...LOL ! Then I discovered the WONDERFUL pest and weed application products that attach to a hose and in 10 to 20 minutes of NO effort or work, do a great job ! The tip I would offer is a self-propelled mower and change brands of the hose applications for weeds or insects every couple years (that tip came from the U/F gardening extension and it turned out to be very good advice, change up the brands occasionally). Another bonus, also tip from U/F extension, with MY lawn service, I NEVER have to suffer from having my grass cut while WET, or even in the RAIN (yes, they actually do that here). That practice simply encourages and spreads a variety of lawn diseases that run rapidly through neighborhoods and whole villages ! I found the FREE extension service a HUGE benefit of living here, even an amateur can do it and get some health benefits from the experience. Some are not able to of course, but, definitely the way to go if you possibly can ! Lot's of stories like yours, a LOT of them !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by kimgarwel12@gmail.com

Yeah, I know. Believe me, I know!! Lesson well learned. No excuses on my part, but that said, NO excuses for this kind of thing to go on, and yes, I know it does. Just want people to know how these scam artists get away with this stuff and no one does anything to stop them. The government agencies turn a blind eye and leave the unsuspecting public to deal with it.

Of the four we've lived in, Florida is by FAR the most lax on protecting their constituency ! BBB isn't much use anywhere, but the situation here is really something in all areas and categories ! Maybe we are not electing the right people to represent us ? That must be the answer ?

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Maybe we are not electing the right people to represent us ? That must be the answer ?

Or maybe we have too many people who expect the government to make the world perfect for us. That must be the answer.

[Catalina36]

I use Massey Service for all of my lawn care. Very reliable, pay as the service is completed. I may be paying a couple of dollars more a month but that’s ok I know the service is getting done.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by VApeople

Or maybe we have too many people who expect the government to make the world perfect for us. That must be the answer.

Also a viable point ! Not a big fan of government can solve all, but does seem our state is wide open season for fraud and scams. I do agree WE have an obligation to ourselves to go to the trouble to check out the actual license number of each and every person who trims trees in our yards, or works on our AC, etc. But I have found in my neighborhood many don't even KNOW how to check to see if the number clearly painted in large letters on a truck is ACTUALLY a valid insurance number...... I've shared with neighbors my own experience in checking this on the state website and finding out the very number painted ON a truck is, according to the state, "NO VALID"...... eye opener ! How many realize that flaunting of a state contractor number or insurance number is NOT PROOF the number is even legitimate ? Personally I found that when I tell a service person I am interested, but want to take a few days to check out their card, the license numbers, etc. they are not at all open to that, not really pleased or say " I am SO GLAD that you are going to check me out, my company and I WELCOME it"..... no, usually they just loose interest. Could that be a "sign" to us all ? I personally do not like it when a state spends taxpayer monies to establish an elaborate department of "consumer protection" and then does little to protect consumers; exactly why I am not a fan of growing government offices and departments ! Just personal opinion that bigger does not mean more efficient or effective !

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by kimgarwel12@gmail.com

As an update, while I haven't yet heard back from the investigative reporter for WFTV in Orlando or the Senior Vs Crimes program, I have gone ahead and filed a claim with the attorney general. We'll see what comes of all of this. I guess I've done as much as I can for now, but will continue to spread the word about these guys far and wide. Good Neighbor Service, despite being "out of business," is alive and well and operating under that name south of 44!!! "Bonnie," who answers the phone for these criminals, apparently is the grandmother of one of the guys on the crew, so it's a family thing and they're all in it together!! Buyer, definitely beware!!!

i really wish you luck in dealing with this. pls keep us posted

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Also a viable point ! Not a big fan of government can solve all, but does seem our state is wide open season for fraud and scams. I do agree WE have an obligation to ourselves to go to the trouble to check out the actual license number of each and every person who trims trees in our yards, or works on our AC, etc. But I have found in my neighborhood many don't even KNOW how to check to see if the number clearly painted in large letters on a truck is ACTUALLY a valid insurance number...... I've shared with neighbors my own experience in checking this on the state website and finding out the very number painted ON a truck is, according to the state, "NO VALID"...... eye opener ! How many realize that flaunting of a state contractor number or insurance number is NOT PROOF the number is even legitimate ? Personally I found that when I tell a service person I am interested, but want to take a few days to check out their card, the license numbers, etc. they are not at all open to that, not really pleased or say " I am SO GLAD that you are going to check me out, my company and I WELCOME it"..... no, usually they just loose interest. Could that be a "sign" to us all ? I personally do not like it when a state spends taxpayer monies to establish an elaborate department of "consumer protection" and then does little to protect consumers; exactly why I am not a fan of growing government offices and departments ! Just personal opinion that bigger does not mean more efficient or effective !

Some people think that, if a contractor has insurance, it will protect the customer. That is not true. The insurance will protect the contractor, not the customer. If a contractor screws up or skips out on a job, the customer can't file a claim against the contractor's insurance company. I don't know if this landscaper has insurance or not, but he is notorious for just disappearing after he is paid. I don't think any insurance he has would help those customers.