I have utilized the local 1-800-GOT-JUNK? services once, and I plan never to do so again. I had some branches, gunk removed from my gutters, and other garden junk in my yard I needed removed, so I scheduled service for Tuesday evening, as rain was predicted for Wednesday and I wanted to avoid the trash being any heavier than necessary. My husband used some flex time at work in order to make it home in time to meet their window, and when Brandon, the manager, called to confirm, he told me I would get a phone call from them half an hour before they arrived.
However, I received a call around 11am the day of my pickup, with Brandon saying his group was in my area and asking to come early. I told him I was at work and needed to have my husband there to show him what to pick up, and declined. I received a call later, asking again if they could come early to get my things, as they were concerned about the weather since they didn't operate in the rain (it was bright and sunny at the time). I declined, repeating that I needed someone at home to show them what to pick up, saying I would reschedule if I had to but wanted my trash picked up that day. Then at around 3, I receive yet another call, this time from a giggling driver saying, "You're our last job of the day and we have nothing to do for two hours, so if you reschedule, I can go home early. Will you reschedule?" He kept insisting it was my decision, but out of frustration with what was supposed to be a simple trash pickup, I asked if they had any availability Thursday morning just so they would stop calling me to try to force me to reschedule. He said he would have his manager call me. Brandon calls again, and sounds confused at my wanting to reschedule. I repeated what his driver told me about wanting me to reschedule so that he could go home. He had the courtesy to at least sound upset and told me that his driver's actions were inappropriate, and that I would not need to reschedule, they would be at my house at 5.
I did not receive a call half an hour in advance letting me know the drivers were on their way. Instead, I receive a call from Brandon letting me know that their drivers were there already. My husband, who was supposed to be there to supervise, was on his way home, so I told Brandon he would be there in about 10 minutes. He said he would have his team look over the junk and give me an estimate. He called back a few minutes later with the estimate, I approved and told his guys to start with the branches. He called back a few minutes later and told me his team had already left, as they had been there half an hour. I checked the timestamps on my calls, and there was only a twelve-minute gap between the call letting me know the team had arrived and this one! He offered to reschedule for Thursday morning, LIKE HIS TEAM HAD WANTED ALL ALONG, and promised me he would extend an additional discount for the inconvenience.
He did not give me anything in writing, because that would actually call for some accountability.
A team did arrive Thursday morning, they called with an ETA, and they were perfectly polite and professional. When they gave the estimate, however, I reminded them about the discount for booking online, as well as the discount Brandon had promised me on the phone. They checked their file and found no notes from Brandon about the discount. Thanks, Brandon! Luckily, his team was polite enough to offer an additional discount anyway, but after the stress and aggravation they had caused me all throughout my work day on Tuesday, I had expected more than what I was offered.
My trash got removed in the end, but honestly, I did not feel like a customer to this company. I felt like an inconvenience. I do not plan to inconvenience them any further. read more