Landscaper Damaged Our Lawn. WWYD? - UPDATE

[mickeyboat]

Our neighbors had some landscapers do some work on their property this week. They finished yesterday, and while we were at work, they picked up their equipment. My neighbor saw them drive their dump truck on our front lawn and there are deep tire tracks in two places.

I called the landscaper last night and asked him to come take a look. He did, but refused to admit his people did the damage and refused to repair our lawn. He was actually a real jerk to me about it.

I plan to call him again today to see if he might reconsider. Now I am all fired up about it and I am trying to decide what to do next if he refuses. It isn't that big of a deal for us to fix it.

If he refuses again, WWYD? Poll Coming.

Update - DD8 just called me and said the landscaper is there and he is fixing the ruts in the lawn. I am not sure if he is doing a great job, but at least he is trying to do the right thing.

I have to say I am pretty surprised after he was so rude and defiant last night.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I would call my local police departments business line - not 911 - and report the damage. You have witnesses that saw it happen. You could take them to small claims court and force them to pay to repair your lawn.

 

[DrCavin]

I would tell him a neighbor saw his crew do it, so he has two choices. Come repair the damage in 7 days or the police will become involved. Remain calm when you tell him & if he still says he will not repair it, just say well im sorry for your decision, but you leave me no choice.

 

[KirstenB]

If he was such a jerk, honestly, I'd drop it and fix it myself. It wouldn't be worth the stress of dealing with him again, kwim?

Each year we get one decent snowstorm. The plows usually wind up digging up a good part of the edge of our lawn. Not on purpose, just the nature of trying to turn the plow around in a cul-de-sac. I just dig up some dirt to fill in the low spots, and plant grass seed over it.

 

[momof1princess]

i think Dr. Cavin's suggestion was great. call back, let him know there were witnesses, and give him an appropriate amount of time to fix your yard, or you're contacting the police. good luck

 

[JR6ooo4]

I would tell him a neighbor saw his crew do it, so he has two choices. Come repair the damage in 7 days or the police will become involved. Remain calm when you tell him & if he still says he will not repair it, just say well im sorry for your decision, but you leave me no choice.

He is a landscaper! How hard would it be to fix? It is not like he has to go buy special tools etc... Just dump some dirt in the ruts and toss some seed down!

I say give him one day or you will file the property damage complaint.

Mikeeee

 

[JPN4265]

I would tell him a neighbor saw his crew do it, so he has two choices. Come repair the damage in 7 days or the police will become involved. Remain calm when you tell him & if he still says he will not repair it, just say well im sorry for your decision, but you leave me no choice.

What you said..... I would also get the neighbor that the landscaper work for involved. If he had not paid for the work done, maybe he could hold the money until the repairs were completed.

 

[HGD24]

Each year we get one decent snowstorm. The plows usually wind up digging up a good part of the edge of our lawn. Not on purpose, just the nature of trying to turn the plow around in a cul-de-sac. I just dig up some dirt to fill in the low spots, and plant grass seed over it.

I think everyone who lives on a road or street without sidewalks expects some slight damage at the edge of their lawns from snowplows. This is a different situation. This company purposely drove onto her lawn while working on the house next door.

He is a landscaper! How hard would it be to fix? It is not like he has to go buy special tools etc... Just dump some dirt in the ruts and toss some seed down!

I say give him one day or you will file the property damage complaint.

Mikeeee

I agree with this

My brother owned a landscaping company for a few years and my other brother is a mason. If they damage(d) anything in the process of doing their jobs, it's their responsibility to fix it and they know that.

Call today and tell the company owner that you have witnesses. Also, take pictures TODAY so that you have proof of what the damage looks like now.

 

[mickeyboat]

Our neighbors had some landscapers do some work on their property this week. They finished yesterday, and while we were at work, they picked up their equipment. My neighbor saw them drive their dump truck on our front lawn and there are deep tire tracks in two places.

I called the landscaper last night and asked him to come take a look. He did, but refused to admit his people did the damage and refused to repair our lawn. He was actually a real jerk to me about it.

I plan to call him again today to see if he might reconsider. Now I am all fired up about it and I am trying to decide what to do next if he refuses. It isn't that big of a deal for us to fix it.

If he refuses again, WWYD? Poll Coming.

Update #1 - DD8 just called me and said the landscaper is there and he is fixing the ruts in the lawn. I am not sure if he is doing a great job, but at least he is trying to do the right thing.

I have to say I am pretty surprised after he was so rude and defiant last night.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Update #2 - DDs just brought me a letter from the landscaper, and now I am furious. Here's what it says:

From the request of your neighbor ***** ****** I repaired the area of your lawn you claim we did damage to. I just want to note that the wheel base on my truck is 76" apart the marks on your lawn are 66" apart, meaning it was another vehicle that did this, most likely a compact pickup truck.

If you wanted some work done on your property for no charge all you had to do is ask, Being that I'm always willing to help someone if they need assistance. By yelling and accusing someone of doing something without proper knowledge of the circumstances, is a very inappropriate way of handling your issues. Honesty is the best policy.

Thank You,
******* *****
Owner

How's that for bravado? I am drafing a response, but I am not sure I will bother sending it. What a jerk!

Anyone know the axle length of a one ton truck?

 

[mickeyboat]

Bump for updates.

 

[HGD24]

Good Lord! What an a**!!!!!! Was it the neighbor who had the work done who saw the truck or another neighbor? Is this guy saying that he only owns one type of truck for his entire landscaping business? Most I know of have at least one or two pick-up type trucks in addition to at least one larger dumptruck style truck. UGH!!! I'm sorry you're having to deal with this!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

What a jerk! You know, many websites now allow you to rate businesses. I would totally be going onto various websites that has this business on them and posting the situation and the letter. If I was doing yardwork, I would never want an ******* like that to do my yard and would be appreciative of any negative reviews.

 

[RitaZ.]

Update #2 - DDs just brought me a letter from the landscaper, and now I am furious. Here's what it says:

From the request of your neighbor **** ****** I repaird the area of your lawn you claim we did damage to. I jsut want to note that the wheel base on my truck is 76" apart the marks on your lawn are 66" apart, meaning it was another vehicle that did this, most likely a compact pickup truck.

If you wanted some work done on your property for no charge all you had to do is ask, Being that I'm always willing to help someone if they need assistance. By yelling and accuding someone of doing something without proper knowledge of the circumstances, is a very inappropriate way of handling your issues. Honesty is the best policy.

Thank You,
******* *****
Owner

How's that for bravado? I am drafing a response, but I am not sure I will bother sending it. What a jerk!

Anyone know the axle length of a one ton truck?

If you really want to send a response, just focus on the fact that your neighbor saw his crew drive the truck over your lawn. I don't believe that it's worth more of your time and energy though. The repair was done. He can think whatever he wants now. The guy sounds like a jerk that has to have the last word.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Can't help you with the wheel base but I would definitely show it to the neighbor. I can't remember but isn't the neighbor the one that told you they drove over your lawn?

He sounds like a real loser. Sorry you're having to deal with this crap.

 

[mickeyboat]

Can't help you with the wheel base but I would definitely show it to the neighbor. I can't remember but isn't the neighbor the one that told you they drove over your lawn?

He sounds like a real loser. Sorry you're having to deal with this crap.

The neigbors who had the work done called the guy and asked him to fix it. It was another neighbor who saw the truck on our lawn.

 

[sbell111]

What a jerk.

However, now that the yard has been repaired, I would laugh it off. Alternatively, you could take him up on his offer of free work.

 

[mickeyboat]

What a jerk.

However, now that the yard has been repaired, I would laugh it off. Alternatively, you could take him up on his offer of free work.

Well, he only repaired half the damage, but I don't think I am going to press him to do the rest. Looking at the work he did across the street, I don't know that I would want him to do much in my yard.

LOL about taking him up on his free offer!

 

[momrek06]

Well I guess it is settled, OP.

This happened to us....but a bit different. There was a horrible car accident in front of our home. Two cars smashed into each other. Ambulances, fire, police all came. They took all the people involved in the accident quickly out of the cars as one was about to catch on fire....they brought everyone on to our lawn, ambulance, stretchers, many officers, rescue personnel. In a matter of minutes everyone was whisked off to the hospital. Rescue stayed (until the Tow Truck arrived) to sweep the street of all the metal and broken glass. DH & I were there watching all this...very sad. Everyone was ok and no one hurt badly.

We glanced at the lawn when they left and it was completely dug up and destroyed. We just shrugged our shoulders and proceeded to fix it ourselves.

Oh well. It grew back IN TIME.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Well I guess it is settled, OP.

This happened to us....but a bit different. There was a horrible car accident in front of our home. Two cars smashed into each other. Ambulances, fire, police all came. They took all the people involved in the accident quickly out of the cars as one was about to catch on fire....they brought everyone on to our lawn, ambulance, stretchers, many officers, rescue personnel. In a matter of minutes everyone was whisked off to the hospital. Rescue stayed (until the Tow Truck arrived) to sweep the street of all the metal and broken glass. DH & I were there watching all this...very sad. Everyone was ok and no one hurt badly.

We glanced at the lawn when they left and it was completely dug up and destroyed. We just shrugged our shoulders and proceeded to fix it ourselves.

Oh well. It grew back IN TIME.

Your situation is totally different and I would do the same thing.



To the OP- write back and simply say that another neighbor saw his company ruin your lawn and have a nice day!

 

[mom of 3G's]

Well I guess it is settled, OP.

This happened to us....but a bit different. There was a horrible car accident in front of our home. Two cars smashed into each other. Ambulances, fire, police all came. They took all the people involved in the accident quickly out of the cars as one was about to catch on fire....they brought everyone on to our lawn, ambulance, stretchers, many officers, rescue personnel. In a matter of minutes everyone was whisked off to the hospital. Rescue stayed (until the Tow Truck arrived) to sweep the street of all the metal and broken glass. DH & I were there watching all this...very sad. Everyone was ok and no one hurt badly.

We glanced at the lawn when they left and it was completely dug up and destroyed. We just shrugged our shoulders and proceeded to fix it ourselves.

Oh well. It grew back IN TIME.

A little OT here, but wanted to share a situation that happened to our good friends. They live out in the country and there had been a one-vehicle rollover close to their driveway. One occupant of the vehicle walked to the house, of which the owners were away, and went into the house and called 911. Our friends were not upset about him coming in, but what he left behind was blood all over their newly remodeled kitchen... blood on the floor, blood in the sink, blood on the cupboards... and not a note to boot from any law enforcement officer. How would you like to walk into your house and find that?

Back on topic... I would agree with a PP who said to send a letter clarifying that a neighbor did in fact see the truck parked on the lawn, thank him for fixing the ruts that were left due to this incident, and to leave it at that. Of course I would never be able to leave it that, I would have to stew, and stew, and stew...