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:10/18/2024

  Type:Order 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.

  This company is unethical and deceptive in their contract wording. We requested the tree removal service from this company. This included the trees that had already fallen from Hurricane Helene and trees identified as future risks cut down and removed. This included a total of 8 trees. None of the trees were large in terms of diameter and stature. It was clearly stated to the company during their assessment that we wanted any trees that were cut down and trees that had already fallen removed from my property. On October 13th, my partner agreed to South Fork’s quote for tree removal along with their addendum stating that debris from the removal (stray branches and leaves) would be placed on the curb for the county’s storm debris pickup. Only one quote was provided by the company based on the request made by myself and my partner. Once again, we wanted the trunks themselves removed from the property. After cutting down the trees, the company left everything curbside and in my front yard. South Fork claimed that their quote for “tree removal” didn’t include actually removing the trees - only cutting them down. And if you have a tree already down due to the storm, the company changes what the “removal” charge means. “Removing the tree” then means dragging it from the back and dumping it in the front. Though I paid an increased cost for removal off my property, the company also attempted to justify their actions by falsely stating that the landfill in our area didn’t allow contractors to use their services this soon after Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, my boyfriend provided them with the check I had written for payment because he believed the company had no choice due to landfill restrictions. Did we receive a partial refund or discount due to their incompletion of this job? No. The county landfill also confirmed that the company’s claim re: restrictions placed on contractors was a false statement.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/22/2024

  In response to your allegations, we affirm that our actions align with the contractual agreement and discussions held exclusively with your partner as shown on above attachment. The designated point of contact. We conducted a thorough walkthrough before and after removing the eight pine trees, leaving debris at the designated roadside location. As per standard county procedures for damage caused from hurricane Helene, organic debris is collected, and your situation qualifies. Your partners final inspection and payment confirm his satisfaction with our work. The contract specifies debris placement for county collection provided by FEMA. Regrettably, your review and neighborhood communications contain falsehoods and slander. Everything was agreed upon before services were preformed and payment was not given until the final walk thru was completed to ensure customer satisfaction with services provided. Please see signed attachment of services agreed upon.
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/23/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. 
  
  We requested that this company remove the trees from my property prior to any quote being sent. This was stated to the company multiple times, in person and on the phone, before they provided any quote.
  

   There’s nothing in the job description that would indicate that this cost was to include only cutting the trees down. Two trees (out of the 8) were already down and did not require cutting. They literally pulled the trees from the backyard to the front curb for their “removal” service.

  The quote’s addendum (included in small print and at the very bottom) states debris will be left at the curb. This gives the impression that any remaining stray branches/leaves after removal will be left at the curb - not the trees themselves!
  

  My partner was falsely told that this company had no way to remove the trees due to our local landfill being restricted to homeowners only (not for contractors to use) following Hurricane Helene.
  A landfill employee has since confirmed this to be false.
  This was deceptive and dishonest of the company to make that claim and their mentioning of FEMA’s service and saying “I qualified for them to remove the trees” is also a misleading statement.  The company is not associated with FEMA and it’s not our county’s responsibility to remove the trees that I had already paid a contractor to remove.
  

  My partner was given the impression that there was no other option available so he gave the contractor the check I had written prior for payment. 
  

  There was no discount or lowered cost given to us from the initial quote (which was supposed to be based upon our request to cut down AND remove the trees from our property).  
  

  Neither my partner or I are satisfied with this company, and we both feel that they were being intentionally deceptive by charging us for a service they did not complete. 
  

  If the amount we paid did not include the removal of the trees from the property, why use the term “removal” in the work description of the quote?  
  

  Why would the company later tell us they “couldn’t” remove the trees from the property?
  

  Wouldn’t they have said that I wasn’t charged a price that included having them taken off my property if that were the case?

  I regret hiring this company and do not recommend them. 
  
  
  ***** ********

  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/23/2024

  All of our correspondence from quote request to final walkthrough where customer stated satisfaction with work and then presented payment was done with your partner who was the designated contact from start to finish. The location for all debris to be left on site was agreed upon at time of quote being given before contract was signed. As stated on signed contract ALL debris will be left on site. Our position remains unchanged.