Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/04/2025

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Due to Hurricane ****** my property should not have been sprayed for the date of the invoice. I have tried calling and asking why anyone would service a lawn with debris strewn all over the area and furniture covering the sidewalk. Should have left a note unable to service but instead left me an invoice. I have been a customer of the company for several years and until now had had no problem, but I think that under circumstances it is ridiculous to service a yard with water backup still on it. ************************************* To date I been ignored and keep getting invoices. I do not have any type of signed contract with the company and pay when service is received. Very poor customer service.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/08/2025

  First and foremost, we sincerely apologize for any frustration and inconvenience this situation has caused you. We truly value you as a long-time customer and regret that your recent experience did not meet the standards we strive to uphold.

  
  We understand your concerns regarding the service completed following Hurricane ******. Our technicians assess properties before applying treatments, and we regret if your lawn was serviced under less-than-ideal conditions. Given the circumstances, we completely understand why this would be frustrating, and we apologize for any oversight.

  
  Regarding your attempts to contact us, we do have team members available in the office from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, so were unsure why you were unable to reach someone. We want to make this right and ensure your concerns are properly addressed.

  
  To resolve this issue, we would be happy to review your account, discuss any outstanding invoices, and ensure that you are only billed for services performed under appropriate conditions. Please feel free to reach out to us directly at *************) so we can assist you promptly.

  
  We appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to improve. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we hope to regain your trust moving forward.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/11/2025

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/13/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I hired them a few months ago to treat my lawn, they barely came out and when they did they killed half the front yard and some in the back. They tried to tell me it was a water issue but I had my landscaper out and sprinkler person out and they found nothing wrong so it had to be the company spraying. Barefoot Grass had a guy come by 11-11-24 and he tried to blame the damage on the roots of the Mango tree which is ridiculous!! My grass has been installed for over a year now and Only issue I had was in the back and never the front. They wont get a manger or owner to resolve. I want my grass replaced or money for the grass so I can replace myself

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/14/2024

  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We take all customer concerns seriously and strive to provide the highest level of service. We appreciate the opportunity to address this feedback and clarify the situation.
  
  The customer began service with ********************** in May 2024 after experiencing recurring lawn issues with his previous lawn company, as noted on file. Understanding the complexity of his situation, our team was committed to providing comprehensive support to improve his lawn's health.
  

  Contrary to the claim that our team "barely came out," our records indicate that we visited his property eight times over six months. This includes two additional service calls, provided free of charge, dedicated to addressing his lawn's specific needs and ensuring optimal results.
  
  On November 11, 2024, our Staff Agronomist, a ******** Tech graduate with a degree in Agronomy and Turfgrass Science, with over 30 years of experience in the lawn care industry, conducted a thorough evaluation of the lawn. As part of the evaluation, the agronomist probed the soil to investigate the underlying issues and discovered the presence of muck soil. This subterranean barrier, left by previous property owners, significantly impairs water management and leads to conditions mimicking water stress in the grass.
  

  Contrary to the assertion that the damage was attributed to the roots of a Mango tree, our professional assessment identified this soil issue as the main cause. It is important to note that this problem originates from beneath the surface and is unrelated to any of our lawn care activities or services provided. The persistent grass dying issues that the customer experienced were consistent across services from his previous company, further supporting the conclusion that the problem lies within the subsoil rather than our treatments.
  

  While we strive to maintain professional and respectful communication with all our customers, the customer's behavior was beyond unacceptable. He subjected our employees to extreme verbal abuse, including profanity, threats, and demeaning comments, during multiple interactions. During an in-person visit, he specifically yelled and cursed at our Staff Agronomist, refusing to listen to any explanations or suggestions provided. His aggressive and hostile tone created a toxic and unsafe environment for our team. Despite our repeated attempts to provide explanations and seek a resolution, he refused to listen, instead escalating the situation with further disrespect and intimidation.
  

  This behavior crossed all boundaries of professionalism and decency, and we have phone recordings that clearly document his abusive conduct. Our team remained professional under extreme duress, but it became impossible to engage in any meaningful dialogue with the customer due to his relentless hostility. Our employees also reported feeling threatened by his behavior, further emphasizing the severity of the situation.
  

  We will not engage with this customer any further, as it is impossible to reach a resolution with someone who consistently resorts to abusive, disrespectful, and irrational behavior. His inability to communicate without hostility or verbal attacks leaves no room for constructive dialogue, and we cannot allow this mistreatment to continue toward our employees.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/14/2024

   
  Complaint: 22544421
  
  I am rejecting this response because: this is false they did not come out that many times at all. I had to call on several occasions asking when they would be coming out since it started to look like my yard was starting to die and I was getting very concerned. I have never had any damage in that part of front yard from service. I had grass in the front for 4 yrs before I replaced the grass  to a shade tolerant grass and it was fine out front in that area until I hired this company. I did tell

  tjem my previous company ruined the back area, and I also have my landscape and sprinkler companies that can sign off and tell you this is a bunch of BS with the soil because  if I had issues I would have replaced the soil before spending 10K on new grass. The old man that came out was here for 4 minutes and stuck a rod in ground twice then asked if we had new soil and I told him no and we have never had issues. When he first arrived he was more interested in asking about Mango tree so I knew right away he was going to blame on that  and thats why I told him to get out of my yard and stop wasting my time .

  I definitely was rude and cussed some when I called and asked why **** was supposed to have a tech come out after the old guy who gave me the excuses but no one came out like the last couple of times when I asked several times for someone to take a look at grass and  was ignored.  The co owner was laughing at me on phone so thats when I lost it.

  Also, look through reviews and you will read how they ruined so many yards and this colony should not be in business!! I run my sprinklers 2-3 times a day at 20 minutes each zone  the new company I hired told me they are using poor quality chemical or not enough 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *****

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/14/2024

  Thank you for your additional comments. We value the opportunity to clarify inaccuracies in your statement and provide further details regarding the situation.

  
  Your claim that we did not visit your property as frequently as stated is incorrect. Our records clearly document eight visits to your property over the course of your program, including two complimentary service calls specifically scheduled to address concerns you raised. Each visit is thoroughly documented with dates, times, and service notes, all of which confirm our proactive approach to maintaining your lawn. These records directly counter your assertion that you had to repeatedly call us with no response, and we are more than willing to provide these details for verification.

  
  Regarding your behavior toward our staff, you mentioned being rude and cussed some, but this significantly downplays the nature of your interactions. Your verbal abuse included excessive profanity, personal insults, and threats aimed at multiple employees, both in person and over the phone. These interactions created a hostile and toxic environment for our team members, who remained professional under difficult circumstances. The extent of this behavior is documented, including phone recordings that capture the nature of these conversations. Constructive dialogue was rendered impossible due to this repeated hostility.

  
  Your reference to our Staff Agronomist as an old man is both disrespectful and unwarranted. This individual is a seasoned professional with a degree in Agronomy and Turfgrass Science from ************* and over 30 years of experience in the lawn care industry. His assessment of your lawn was based on established principles of lawn care and included findings about soil conditions and environmental stressors affecting the grass. By dismissing his expertise and prematurely demanding he leave the property, you hindered any further exploration of solutions to your concerns.

  
  Your stated irrigation schedule of running sprinklers two to three times daily for 20 minutes per zone not only exceeds best practices for lawn health but also violates Pinellas County watering restrictions. Per county regulations, residents are limited to watering once per week on designated days, and watering multiple times a day is prohibited to conserve water and protect local resources. Overwatering contributes to waterlogging, which mimics drought stress and exacerbates soil-related issues, such as those identified during our evaluation. Ignoring these restrictions not only ***** your lawn but also breaches local law, which is enforceable with fines. Claims that our products are of poor quality or applied inadequately are unfounded, as we use industry-standard treatments proven effective across numerous properties.

  
  Lastly, your reference to online reviews as evidence of wrongdoing is misleading. While no company is immune to occasional negative feedback, the majority of our reviews reflect the quality, professionalism, and success of our services. We stand by our reputation and the results we have delivered to countless satisfied customers.

  
  We believe we have acted professionally and responsibly throughout this matter, making multiple efforts to address your concerns within the scope of our services. At this time, we consider this matter resolved. Further engagement will only be possible if conducted in a respectful and constructive manner.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/17/2024

   
  Complaint: 22544421
  
  I never said it was daily it was one a day 3 x a week and I have a well so say whatever you want about what days I water my grass. Also you recorded me without my permission so that is against the law and I never threatened any employees. You can have notes of how many you times you have been out but I know for a fact no one from your company responded for months after the first service then my lawn started dying. The new company that will be treating my lawn is definitely way more professional and knowledgeable then the old guy you sent out  and they even stated they think that was crazy he thought the mango tree roots were  causing my lawn to die or create bad soil. He also said no way that watering my lawn for 20 -25 minutes each zone (3 X a week)  would be overwatering. He said you probably used cheap spray and that is what caused this. 
  

  You are a shady company that is going around buying up all these small companies so that you can corner the market and then destroy lawns of customers who spend tons of money only for you to take it away. Again look at *** reviews they dont lie!! I will now have to get new grass all because of this lousy company who  scams others. If BBB cant help me recoup my money for my grass which which will now cost me $2500 I will be taking Barefoot  to small claims court 

  
  ****** *****