Complaint Review: Triple D Tree Expert Tree Service

Matthew Riddle appeared one day mid-July and stated he needed to get rid of several loads of good dirt--wanted to "sell" 20 yards black dirt for a bargain $350.  Could deliver within the hour.  Asked for local check; load of clods delivered an hour or so later with two other guys along.

Also remarked that ash beetles were on their way here from Colorado and that he was a licensed arborist.  Walked quickly to look at fruit trees and stated there were definitely borers!  Said he owned Triple D Tree Service and would spray all the trees on the property for $700 with Dominion (license required to purchase) and add a spectracide.  Left his card (no address on card, just cell phone number).

Riddle appeared again a few days later; stated he had a crew spraying at a business and had extra chemicals mixed up--so would spray all the trees on the property for $600.  Said he would be doing this spraying himself and would show up around 8 p.m. that evening after it was cooler.  He asked for $600 cash to be available.

Riddle and another guy began running water at an outside faucet about 7 p.m.  Checking to see what they were doing, found them at the outside faucet running water into a hand sprayer with no sign of any other containers around.

Other guy took off to do the spraying of tree trunks.  Riddle said the chemical would really smell about 24 hours. 

"Finished" spraying all the several trees on the property in less than an hour and Riddle showed up on deck with an "invoice" (no business name, address, phone, etc.)  "Invoice" just listed Description as "Treatment for all trees w/spectricide" and Price, $600, which was paid by check.

Later e-mailed Riddle that he would probably be laughing all the way to the bank because he had conned someone twice in the same week.  Also that the "chemical" did not smell--even with nose directly at tree trunks, there was only a very faint odor and it did not smell like a chemical.  Other sprays have been used around the property and have a very strong smell!

Riddle replied that trees had indeed been sprayed with Dominion and a spectricide (his spelling).