Complaint Review: Fuller's Lawn Care & Pressure Washing

I contracted with Duane Fuller on April 2, 2015 to replace the sod in my yard.  He was to spray the yard with herbicide to kill weeds and grass; rake and prep the yard for new sod; install 16 pallets of Zoysia Empire sod. He was also supposed to deliver and install 20 yards of pine bark mulch.

I paid him a $2,360 deposit and the job was supposed to be finished by April 12, 2015.

On April 2, 2015, Duane had his employee, Daniel, mow my lawn down to the ground.  This is the opposite of the label instructions of Roundup instructions to skip a mowing.  "Reduced control may result when applications are made to weeds that have been mowed."

Approximately a week or so later, Daniel from Fuller's Landscape came back to respray the lawn as it was still almost completely green; almost nothing had been killed from the earlier spraying.  I refused to let Daniel spray Roundup again but when I was busy with planting shrubs, I caught him using a weed whacker on my lawn.  Again, Roundup label instructions state "When repeat treatments are necessary, sufficient regrowth must be attained prior to application".

Since we had several weeks to wait until "sufficient regrowth" of lawn, we decided to work on my flower beds as I had contracted for 20 yards of mulch.

When the driver of the dump truck arrived at my home, I asked to check his delivery receipt for amount and type of mulch.  He confirmed that he was hauling pine bark but the order was only for 15 yards.  Duane Fuller shorted me 5 yards of mulch!  He said it was a mistake of the mulch company and he would get the remaining 5 yards delivered.

On April 29, Duane Fuller had his employees drop of 50 bags of mulch.  Note - he purchased the bags of mulch and didn't have the original mulch The 2nd delivery of mulch was also short - delivered 3.5 yards not 5 yards.

I purchased separately purchased 20 yards of mulch for $559.69 and had arranged for someone to install it for $100 on April 28th.  Duane Fuller sent me an email on 4/28/15 at 7:57 am stating " my guys could put down the the other 20 yards of bark that way you wouldn't have to pay someone else".

This job has dragged on and on because Duane keeps cancelling service appointments - rain made him get behind; will be there tomorrow; people called in sick; bad storm so he let his guys go home.  Contract states job was to be completed by April 12, 2015.

Duane Fuller sent me an email on May 3, 2015 stating that he would no longer respond.  He also won't refund my deposit of $2,360.  Based upon my actual costs of 20 yards of mulch with installation - $659.69, Duane Fuller owes me $1,700.31 for work not completed.  He refuses to do so.

I am a legally disabled senior citizen.  It's shameful that Duane Fuller took advantage of me!