Complaint Review: Brian at Blackwelder Pump & Irrigation Service - DeLand Florida

On November 11,2017, I wrote a check for $4000.00 dollars and used a credit card to pay an additional $1775.00.  The job was never completed.  The reason for this transaction was that Brian from Blackwelders said he needed the funds to pay his people and to pay for supplies used on the job to clear my lot, install a sprinkler system and install sod.  The sod he said  was 8500 square feet, and when I measured it I came up with 6880 sq.ft. The area is 88X80 feet minus 2 feet for a hedge line. he charged me $3825.00 at $ .45 per sq.ft. and that is an overcharge of $729.00. It all started when I contacted Blackwelders and asked Brian if his company cleared lots in the Florida Shores area.

He said yes they did and he would come and look at the lot.  He came out and agreed to clear the lot of trees, overgrown weeds,vines and scrub trees for a price of $3500.00.  I showed him the three trees that I wanted removed and asked him to remove the broken glass on the lot in the rear right (south eastern) corner.  He started the job the first part of July 2017.  On July 18th, he came to me and requested money.  His reason was to pay his help and purchase supplies.  I gave him a check for $2000.00 dollars.   At this time I asked Brian to put down sod and add a sprinkler system zone using thick wall PVC.

He used thin wall PVC and never added a zone, he just taped into existing zones. Again on November 11th, a Saturday, Blackwelders came and installed a sprinkler system and laid the sod.  When they finished laying the sod, Brian asked if I could pay him the balance owed so he could pay his crew and pay for the supplies used.  He said he would bring a crew back on Tuesday, November 14th with saws and wheelbarrows to finish the job.  I told him I would not be there on Tuesday and was he sure that he would be back to finish removing the trees that were sticking up out of the ground 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet and to remove the debris of roots, branches and glass.  

He assured me that he and a crew would be back on Tuesday to finish the job.  He never showed up and I texted him a few times and requested him to respond regarding when he would be back to complete the job.  No response was received and he never returned to complete the job.  I had to hire another company to remove 2 of the 3 trees at an additional cost of $650.00. I have no idea what the cost will be to remove and replace the sod to remove the vines,branches and glass. My wife and I have been working to remove the vines, branches and glass from the rear of the property.  

We have partially removed the debris from 1/2 of the rear property and have removed approximately 320 cubic feet of roots, branches and broken glass.  I have pictures of the property that show what Blackwelders has done.  They installed the sod over vines, branches and broken glass that they were supposed to remove.  They have created a safety hazard that I now need to remedy.  They also pushed vines, pieces of glass, trash and branches to the rear of the property and covered it up with dirt that my wife and I are trying to remove and regrade the property.

To date, we have removed 6 five gallon buckets of glass and 320 cubic feet of roots, garbage and branches.  So I am saying that Blackwelders has not finished the job they said they would do. I originally told them I was developing a play area for my Grandchildren. I cannot subject my Grandchildren to the hazards created by Brian's company, Blackwelders. I was also contacted by the City of Edgewater 2 times for violations that Brian did not acquire permits to do the work and said fines would be enforced. This created unnecessary grief to myself and wife.

I had to contact Brian at least 4 times to get him to do what was necessary to stop this action by the City.     They installed the sod on top of roots, branches and broken glass that they were supposed to remove.  They have created a safety hazard that I now need to remedy.  They also pushed roots, pieces of glass, trash and branches to the rear of the property and covered it up with dirt that my wife and I are trying to remove and regrade the property. To date, we have removed 6 five gallon buckets of glass and 320 cubic feet of roots, garbage and branches.  So I am saying that Blackwelders has not finished the job they said they would do and I am not obligated to pay for a service that was not performed as discussed and agreed. 

They installed the sod on top of roots, branches and broken glass that they were supposed to remove.  They have created a safety hazard that I now need to remedy.  They also pushed roots, pieces of glass, trash and branches to the rear of the property and covered it up with dirt that my wife and I are trying to remove and regrade the property. To date, we have removed 6 five gallon buckets of glass and 320 cubic feet of roots, garbage and branches.  So I am saying that Blackwelders has not finished the job they said they would do and I am not obligated to pay for a service that was not performed as discussed and agreed.