Complaint Review: Blount County Tree Service

Runnnnn...don't walk....away from Blount County Tree Service.  After engaging this company to assist two elderly people, I feel so guilty for having done so.  I should have done my due diligence and looked at the yahoo.com reviews and talked to my contractor friends to see/hear all the complaints about the unethical and downright rip-off mode of operation of this company and its owner Jeff Nugent. 

First, the tree was over a garage with two vehicles inside.  The shifting building created a terrific need to move the tree.  Although Jeff promised to come on Afternoon 1, the crew did not show up.  A call to him determined he would be there by Early Evening 1.  No crew.  A another call implored the company to assist or say they could not.  A promise to be there on Morning 2 was made.  No crew.  By Mid-Morning 2, another call was placed.  A promise to be there within an hour was made.  No crew.  By Early Afternoon 2,  workers showed up, but the equipment they needed was at another work site.  It took an Evening and Day 3, to get the job done with a promise to later do stump work. 

With the job, mostly complete Jeff demanded payment for the work.  This is where it gets to the rip-off part.  Not only did he charge the couple almost $10,000 to remove a fallen tree, he dropped by to ensure they wrote a check to him, while promising to hold the check until the insurance check arrived.  He promised to give them $500 cash to cover the insurance deductible if they would write the check.  The 80-year wife wrote the check and Jeff promptly passed her the cash.  Guess what happen then?  You know, don't you?  The check was immediately cashed.

Once the adjusters arrived and reviewed pictures of the tree,  they said the removal should have been no more than $4000, with the average around $3200.  Tree removal on the insurance plan was limited to $1000, so their knowledgeable appraisal was not an attempt to limit insurance liability. 

Please do not let this company near your project.  Its value system is not one of goodness and fairness.  I am embarrassed this company operates in our beautiful Blount County.  The company states it was voted the #1 Tree Service in Blount County.  The newspaper accounts researched at the Blount County Library do not back that up, folks.