I called them for a quote to trim three oaks on my property because I wanted my driveway, roof, and future fence cleared of potential falling limbs. Stevens quotes me $1800 and says they won't be able to start for three weeks due to being backed up. I tell them that's fine, as it gives me time to source other quotes and he assured me they would verify with me before confirming a date to complete the work. I DID sign the quote, unknowingly entering into a contract with an incredibly shady company that would take it upon themselves to do half-[censored] work and demand payment.
Unfortunately, I had to travel out of the country for a funeral and had to stay longer than expected due to contracting COVID. During this time period, they called me and left voicemails and sent letters, forms of communication I wasn't able to receive. When they didn't hear back from me, they took it upon themselves to just show up and half-[censored] the job.
I came back to an $1800 bill and look up over my driveway... Sure as [censored] there's a canopy of limbs threatening my cars. Above my roof? Mostly trimmed, but still some stragglers. Around the perimeter where the fence will go? Not a solitary cut.
I, understandably confused, call Stevens Tree Service. I'm essentially told, "deal with it or we'll put a lien on your property" in response to asking why they felt entitled to billing me for incomplete work that I never confirmed. When I asked why they would simply move forward, they stated, "we have your signature on the contract and that's all that matters."
I know I'm foolish for having signed anything without reviewing it first, but caveat emptor when dealing with this immoral company. They don't care what the customer wants. They just want their money and they'll half [censored] do an incomplete job.
Edit: a guy claiming to be the owner came by. I told him I had nothing to say to him until I consulted an attorney and he kept trying to coax me into a conversation. I reiterated that I wouldn't discuss anything with him and he called me a scam artist. I told him to get off of my property and he blocked my driveway for ten minutes until I called 911, at which point, he left.
They also explicitly refuse to provide me a copy of said contract, which I believed to be a quote.
Desired outcome: A realistic estimate of how much is owed for the little work they did complete, so I can pay that and be rid of this immoral company run by a thief.