hyperangel11
New Member
Dear SOMD Readers,
I am writing in hopes that you do not get taken advantage of from a "business man" who is coming around from door to door claiming to have a tree and landscaping business.
My husband and I just got back Monday afternoon (April 25th) from visiting out-of-state family for the holiday. Almost immediately from unpacking our car an unshaved, long-haired man with a cut-off t-shirt pulls up to our house in Lexington Park and asks if we would like some stumps removed in our front yard. We tell him we just got back from being out of town and would like to sit down and think about his offer. He gives us his card and leaves by saying, "Well, give me a call either way. I could even come out Saturday morning and do the job. Remember, if you don't call me, I can't come."
The next morning he shows up at our door. "Hey, I have the equipment with me. Do you want me to go ahead and take care of the stumps?" My first thought is "What is this guy doing here? Neither my husband nor I called him." I tell him that we are still thinking about the offer and that my husband will call him later today. I confirmed the price with him again and ask about how long will it take. He said it would only take a few hours. After he left, I called my husband at work to see if he called this Ted guy without my knowledge. No, he didn't call either.
Later that night my husband and I discussed whether we should have him come and grind down our stumps. We decided to call him back and see when he would be available. Maybe he was laid off and could really use the money to feed his family. He did seem a little desperate when he came back to the house, uninvited. My husband and I are a young couple (in our 20s) and we are just starting out, trying to make ends meet ourselves; but, we wanted to help this guy and his family out by giving him some work . Besides, our front yard has eight stumps, and we thought that was a fair price to get rid of all of them.
When my husband called him that evening, It was decided that he could no longer come later this week, but he could come early Wednesday morning at 7 am. Again, we confirmed the price, because we had to go to the bank and take the money from our savings.
He shows up this morning (Wednesday), slightly late, and immediately begins working. After he finishes three stumps, he comes to the door. I ask him why he was stopped, because there are still five stumps left. "No," he said. "I said I would do just these three. This is hard work, and I am giving you a deal. Besides, I have to return the equipment in half-an-hour." (Which I find odd because at first he told us he could come Saturday.)
I reply, "But that wasn't our deal. You said you would do all of the stumps in the front yard. And besides, when I asked you yesterday how long it would take, you said a few hours. It's only been 40 minutes."
Whenever I pointed that out, he just stood there for a few seconds and then responded, "Well, I can do the others, but it will cost you more."
Now, let me tell you what is going through my mind. Here, at my front door, there is an unkept man who I am making slightly angry. I notice that my neighbors across the street are not home, and my husband is at work.
To make this long story short, he leaves with our money and does not finish the job. I call my husband to inform him of the poor business we just received, and he calls the guy back. The guy tells him the same thing he told me, and then hangs up on my husband. I tried calling the police to see what I could do, but the on-duty deputy said I would have to take this matter to small claims court. Then, I try calling this man back, which of course he doesn't answer the phone. I leave a message calmly saying how disappointed I am that he did not do the job he promised and that I hoped he would change his mind to finish the job.
This man's name is Ted and his business card reads "Ted's Trees/Landscaping, 1-240-434-5707, Planting, Pruning, Stump Grinding and Removal 22 years Experience: Fully Insured; P.O. Box 330, Solomons, MD 20688." In the upper left corner of his card, there is a man cutting a tree.
Even though we were taken advantage of, I just want to make sure no one else in Southern Maryland falls for this scheme.
Yes, now that I look back at the situation, there are things we should have done differently. For instance, we should have gotten the agreement in writing. I just cannot believe that this man felt perfectly okay taking advantage of two people young enough to be his children - not to mention his lack of integrity.
If you see this man named Ted, please do not give him your business.
I am writing in hopes that you do not get taken advantage of from a "business man" who is coming around from door to door claiming to have a tree and landscaping business.
My husband and I just got back Monday afternoon (April 25th) from visiting out-of-state family for the holiday. Almost immediately from unpacking our car an unshaved, long-haired man with a cut-off t-shirt pulls up to our house in Lexington Park and asks if we would like some stumps removed in our front yard. We tell him we just got back from being out of town and would like to sit down and think about his offer. He gives us his card and leaves by saying, "Well, give me a call either way. I could even come out Saturday morning and do the job. Remember, if you don't call me, I can't come."
The next morning he shows up at our door. "Hey, I have the equipment with me. Do you want me to go ahead and take care of the stumps?" My first thought is "What is this guy doing here? Neither my husband nor I called him." I tell him that we are still thinking about the offer and that my husband will call him later today. I confirmed the price with him again and ask about how long will it take. He said it would only take a few hours. After he left, I called my husband at work to see if he called this Ted guy without my knowledge. No, he didn't call either.
Later that night my husband and I discussed whether we should have him come and grind down our stumps. We decided to call him back and see when he would be available. Maybe he was laid off and could really use the money to feed his family. He did seem a little desperate when he came back to the house, uninvited. My husband and I are a young couple (in our 20s) and we are just starting out, trying to make ends meet ourselves; but, we wanted to help this guy and his family out by giving him some work . Besides, our front yard has eight stumps, and we thought that was a fair price to get rid of all of them.
When my husband called him that evening, It was decided that he could no longer come later this week, but he could come early Wednesday morning at 7 am. Again, we confirmed the price, because we had to go to the bank and take the money from our savings.
He shows up this morning (Wednesday), slightly late, and immediately begins working. After he finishes three stumps, he comes to the door. I ask him why he was stopped, because there are still five stumps left. "No," he said. "I said I would do just these three. This is hard work, and I am giving you a deal. Besides, I have to return the equipment in half-an-hour." (Which I find odd because at first he told us he could come Saturday.)
I reply, "But that wasn't our deal. You said you would do all of the stumps in the front yard. And besides, when I asked you yesterday how long it would take, you said a few hours. It's only been 40 minutes."
Whenever I pointed that out, he just stood there for a few seconds and then responded, "Well, I can do the others, but it will cost you more."
Now, let me tell you what is going through my mind. Here, at my front door, there is an unkept man who I am making slightly angry. I notice that my neighbors across the street are not home, and my husband is at work.
To make this long story short, he leaves with our money and does not finish the job. I call my husband to inform him of the poor business we just received, and he calls the guy back. The guy tells him the same thing he told me, and then hangs up on my husband. I tried calling the police to see what I could do, but the on-duty deputy said I would have to take this matter to small claims court. Then, I try calling this man back, which of course he doesn't answer the phone. I leave a message calmly saying how disappointed I am that he did not do the job he promised and that I hoped he would change his mind to finish the job.
This man's name is Ted and his business card reads "Ted's Trees/Landscaping, 1-240-434-5707, Planting, Pruning, Stump Grinding and Removal 22 years Experience: Fully Insured; P.O. Box 330, Solomons, MD 20688." In the upper left corner of his card, there is a man cutting a tree.
Even though we were taken advantage of, I just want to make sure no one else in Southern Maryland falls for this scheme.
Yes, now that I look back at the situation, there are things we should have done differently. For instance, we should have gotten the agreement in writing. I just cannot believe that this man felt perfectly okay taking advantage of two people young enough to be his children - not to mention his lack of integrity.
If you see this man named Ted, please do not give him your business.
