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:07/12/2024

  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.

  SouthEastern (SE) built a planned community at ************** (KF) and has retained controlof the *** board since the neighborhood's inception. SE makes all contractual decisions regardingKF and the homeowners (HO) have no voice or input. SE has contracted with ******* Farms (PF) to provide lawn care management to many of the homes and common areas of KF. Part of the management includes spraying herbicides and pesticides. Prior to spray days ******** will send an email to HO advising "homeowners, children and pets to remainoff the turf until it dries". ******** also attaches *** sheets for chemicals being used. All of them have considerable safety warnings. None of them have any long term safety data available. They are bathing our outdoor living space in chemicals and they don't know if they have any long termhealth effects. The *** sheets state to not inhale the mist-what does that mean? The whole area smells for days after-is this safe?As for staying off of the yards until they are dry after the sprinklers run are the chemicals reconstituted and now unsafe? What about morning dew? Rain?I have found that HO do not open the attached *** sheets. They read the part where ******** states to just stay off the lawns until it is dry and think that after that it's safe. But that is just not true.HO have been told by ******** to never approach PF employees, that if they have any concerns they are to contact ********. But if you ask PF employees they will tell you how dangerous these chemicals are. I have small children who cannot play in their own yard because of this.If HO want "turf builder" used on their lawns there are many "generally considered safe" options that are not as toxic and/or dangerous. There is no reason why HO should have commercial grade chemicals used on their lawns.I am asking that SE cancel the "turf management"portion of their contract with PF and allow HO to address their yards with productsthat they feel comfortable using.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/12/2024

  Good afternooon,

  In regard to the complaint we reached out to ******** and they informed us that they have been in contact with the homeowner and have placed her lot on the "NO SPRAY LIST" for the turf treatment. 

  Also, please inform the homeowner we are not the only members of the *** of Kennesaw Farms as there are 3 homeowners who sit on this board as well and all decisions are voted on by the board. The turf treatment was part of a contract agreement voted on and agreed upon at some point by the *** of ******************** previously and was not a Southeastern Building standalone decision as the homeowner insinuated which is why all matters of this nature should be directed to the neighborhood *** or property management company. 

  Moving forward any concerns over *** matters need to be filed with the Kennesaw Farms *** or ******************* properties.

   

  Thank you 

  *********************;

  Customer Care Manager 

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/17/2024

   
  Complaint: 21979931
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Southeastern has 4 votes on the *** board. Homeowners only have 3. Southeastern makes all decisions regarding service providers especially the big two being management (Ghertner) and landscaping (******* Farms). It is well known and established that the president of Southeastern (***********************) is good friends with the owners of ******* Farms. This response from Southeastern is yet another prime example of how Southeastern likes to gaslight homeowners. We all can do basic math and anytime one entity gets 4 votes (Southeastern) and the other gets 3 (homeowners), the one with only 3 votes (homeowners) never have an opportunity for equity or to win. 
  

  My address was placed on the no-spray list? That's laughable because I didn't provide my exact address. I simply put Kennesaw Farms so by your response you're placing all of Kennesaw Farms on a no-spray list?

  Would Southeastern prefer I start an education campaign around the neighborhood and blanket the neighborhood with fliers educating them on what they are forcing on us? Would Southestern prefer I let everyone know just how dangerous the chemicals are that you are bathing on our living space? Did the respondent take 5 minutes to educate themselves on what this complaint was even about? Maybe the respondent might want to reference the infamous ******************* story because I'm taking some inspiration and I'm not letting this go with one of their infamous gas lighting responses. 

  This neighborhood has had enough of being bullied and steamrolled by Southeastern. We put up with SO MUCH and this is the straw that broke the proverbial camels back.

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

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2024

  Thank you for your response. Since you had bought a home from us originally, we were able to look up your address in our ************************* We also reached out to ******** and they did have this complaint on file from a prior request to be removed from the spray list. We will pass this information along to the Kennesaw Farms HOA Board for them to discuss and respond to you after their next meeting.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/24/2024

   
  Complaint: 21979931
  
  I am rejecting this response because: This response makes no sense and is further proof of Southeastern's gaslighting of customers. How would you look my address up when I didn't provide it? I live here, but I did not purchase the home, my spouse did. You have my spouse's information in the system, not mine... So you had no way to look my home up and I do not in any way believe my concerns were passed on to Ghertner or the *** board because I'm not in any of your systems and know this was done deliberately because I do have to live here and I didn't want to deal with any reprisals. The insistence on lying on a BBB platform and gaslighting speaks volumes. 

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