This has to be one of the strangest professional interactions I've ever had with a company. Which is not to say I would recommend you not use them. When all was said and done, they were efficient and did a nice job removing the tree from my backyard.
But it became clear to me after reading other reviews, and speaking with the staff that the person answering the phone has absolutely no idea what the crew is doing at any given time. I called on the day my tree was removed at 9 a.m. to obtain a time window for when the crew may come. I was told between 10-11 a.m. I had my house-sitter arrive at 10 a.m. so she could be there when they finish and pay them for the job.
They weren't there at 11. They weren't there at 12. They weren't there at 1. The day went on and finally shortly after 2 p.m. I called again and was told they were running late on the previous job and they were in Hinsdale. I told the house sitter to leave because it sounded like they would still be working when I got home from work.
Then I got a call from Boris who told me the job was already done.
Huh?
I called the house sitter. She never saw them arrive or leave or anything.
A few minutes later, I got a call from Mike (the owner, I guess?). He told me they'd arrived at 8 o'clock and were finished by 9:30.
OMFG.
As you can see there's a clear lack of communication between the various components of this company.
Mike then asked me how I was going to pay. I told him I had cash and would bring it by the office. That was fine with him. I'd already made this arrangement with Boris, but clearly the two never actually speak to one another, so I don't expect Mike to know this.
So I went by the address Boris gave me this afternoon. It's a house. A nice house, but still a house. Apparently this company operates out of a house in Addison. And I was only sure of this because all the US Tree Service equipment was parked on the driveway.
Sadly, Mike, Boris and the gang were not available to accept my payment but Mike's mother, a lovely elderly lady who speaks exactly two words of English was more than willing to accept my payment. Except she didn't know what a receipt was. She ran into the house and got an elderly man who spoke more English than she does, and he signed off on the estimate that I was given, and took my payment. I guess that serves as my official documentation now.
If you're expecting organized, you won't find it with this company. But they do seem like a wholesome bunch, and they do good work so I would still recommend you use them. Just don't sit around waiting for an appointment time because they will not give you one, will be early, or late or something and you'll waste a day waiting for them. Just let them do their job.
Oh, and if you pay cash there's a discount. So there's that. read more
