Would You ever hire a tree trimmer/climber without insurance?

[Rabscuttle]

We have friends that sustained a lot of tree damage last month. Licensed tree trimmers are in demand and the job that they want done costs about $1500. These trimmers are most importantly insured. They found someone who has done work for their other friends and charged $500. He climbs the tree, trims, etc. They problem is, he doesn't have insurance but will sign a waiver that he won't sue if he gets hurt. To me, this isn't the same as raking leaves. This is climbing up high and cutting limbs that could easily kill you if they fell the wrong way. I pointed out to my friends that one cannot waive their rights to sue and if he were severely hurt, any agreement they have would be worthless. Consider also, if his health insurance had to pay for his injuries, the insurance company would seek to subrogate, and he can't waive their right to do so either. I would live with unkempt trees or wait until I could afford an insured tree trimmer. What would you do?

 

[sookie]

We have friends that sustained a lot of tree damage last month. Licensed tree trimmers are in demand and the job that they want done costs about $1500. These trimmers are most importantly insured. They found someone who has done work for their other friends and charged $500. He climbs the tree, trims, etc. They problem is, he doesn't have insurance but will sign a waiver that he won't sue if he gets hurt. To me, this isn't the same as raking leaves. This is climbing up high and cutting limbs that could easily kill you if they fell the wrong way. I pointed out to my friends that one cannot waive their rights to sue and if he were severely hurt, any agreement they have would be worthless. Consider also, if his health insurance had to pay for his injuries, the insurance company would seek to subrogate, and he can't waive their right to do so either. I would live with unkempt trees or wait until I could afford an insured tree trimmer. What would you do?

heck no.
my mom hired a tree trimmer last fall to trim her trees.
he fell and broke his back while he was working on her trees.
he had insurance. she did not get sued but it could have easily happened if he were not insured.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Never!

 

[mickeyboat]

Absolutely not. What happens if he drops a tree on your house?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No, the risk is too great. The trimmer could lose his life or crush your house.

 

[bigbabyblues]

No way, no how.

 

[Pakey]

Not in this lifetime. I'm not willing to gamble my home and other assets on a $1500 bet, regardless of the odds.

 

[tiggger1]

we did. I wasnt too happy about it but he took down about 10 good size trees for $500 and saved us about $5000 because the quote we got for 4 trees from insured guy was $2600. Thankfully everything went well but I was scared!

 

[Rabscuttle]

we did. I wasnt too happy about it but he took down about 10 good size trees for $500 and saved us about $5000 because the quote we got for 4 trees from insured guy was $2600. Thankfully everything went well but I was scared!

I am glad it worked out well for you. $5000 is a lot of money but it is such a huge risk. I wonder if one can offer to pay contractors insurance for them. I had some home improvements done a few years ago by a contractor who didn't have insurance. His price was terrific so I offered to pay his contractors' insurance if he would get it. He got it, sent me a copy of the binder and we were good to go.

 

[usnuzuloose]

How does someone have a business and no insurance? But I would not hire either.

 

[roxysmum123]

How does someone have a business and no insurance? But I would not hire either.

Chances are they don't have a business license either and can be charged with fraud. I would NOT be having any dealings with someone who has such a high risk job and doesn't carry insurance.

 

[mom2travel]

No way! I'd be a nervous wreck and definitely wouldn't want to live with the consequences if something happened

 

[Art 1]

Of course not.

 

[CurlyGirl]

Nope.

 

[tiggger1]

I am glad it worked out well for you. $5000 is a lot of money but it is such a huge risk. I wonder if one can offer to pay contractors insurance for them. I had some home improvements done a few years ago by a contractor who didn't have insurance. His price was terrific so I offered to pay his contractors' insurance if he would get it. He got it, sent me a copy of the binder and we were good to go.

He approached my husband and It wasnt till he started that I even thought about insurance. thankfully all but 3 trees were not near the house at all but those 3 dropped exactly were he wanted them. I am not 100% he wasnt insured but he took down all 10 trees in about 3 hours and that was including the time it took him to go home and change because he got into Poison Ivy..

We lost a huge oak tree during the hurricane and thankfully didnt kill anyone when it fell into the street. it wasnt even a dead tree, the wind just caught it right and down it went...it blocked the road for about 2 hours before the city came and cut it up.. ( we couldnt touch it because it was partly on the wires..)

 

[pumba]

The hurricane the last of August downed on tree onto our pool and the diving board.....ruined the diving board and the winter cover.....

OUR arborist took the rest down and then came back two weeks later and did our other pine trees that could of done the same thing if we have another storm...
YES it was expensive ...but four of the trees were to close to our neighbors house and to our house...He is insured and that to me gave me piece of mind...same with my hubby..

 

[indimom]

Hire, no. But I did let DH take down a large tree that was about 20 feet from the house. He only took the gutter off the house. Otherwise, it went uneventfully.

 

[luvmy3]

No way!
The last time we had trees taken down we went with the company that cost $1600 opposed to the man who only wanted $600. The reason was that he was not insured.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Absolutely nooo

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

heck no.

Last year my mom called to tell me the people across from her were having tress taken down and to bring my son over. He's a typical little boy and loves equipment, trucks, etc. So I took him and all day we were watching them work from her living room. All the sudden the guys started running around like crazy and we go hmm that's odd and my dad says if something happened you wouldn't hear the machines running. 2 seconds later the noises stopped and about 30 seconds later we hear sirens. Sure enough here comes the cops, EMTS, ambulance. The guy fell from the tree and what he was cutting landed on him. He was airlifted to a trauma unit and did survive (don't know the extent of his injuries). Thankfully the company was insured. So no, no way would I ever hire someone who is uninsured.