Lightning Rod’s Tree Service

Maybe so but seems odd there isn’t enough work In Thomasville. Evidently they journey far and wide. I have to wonder what kind of person would give them a check with personal info.
Oddly enough not listed in the YP in Thomasville

Like Vind I usually don’t do business with bell ringers but in this case I was able to check them out on line and already had other estimates for the work needed so I had a feel for what the job might be worth. Unlike Vin’s experience with payment they wanted nothing up front and agreed to accept a check since my bank was just 5min away. Although their front man talked a little too much and seemed a little eager to get the job we negotiated a price and they went to work. They did exactly as we agreed including a nice job of cleaning up and went on their way. For me at least, they earned five stars and I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again.

A guy rang my doorbell at 3:45 this afternoon. He said he was with a tree service working in our neighborhood and asked if I had any work for them.
I generally don’t hire people who ring the doorbell, but there happened to be a pear tree in our front yard that had lost half its branches in ice and wind storms earlier this year. It wasn’t overhanging the house or any power lines, and was about 35′ tall so it didn’t seem to be a particularly challenging job. I thought since they’re standing here ready to go, why not?
We agreed on a price. The guy asked if I would pay them first. I told him no. He asked how I would pay and I said by check. He asked if I would run up to the bank and withdraw cash to pay them. I told him no.
The truck pulls up and several more guys get out and start cutting. The guy who gave me the price tells the «business manager» that I want to pay by check. She suggests I write the check now so she can go cash it before 5:00 while the guys work. I told her I wanted to pay by check when the work was complete, and if that didn’t work for them I would find someone else. No problem, she says.
The first guy comes back and tells me the guys can’t paid today if I don’t pay them before the bank closes. I remind him we agreed I would pay on completion. I go inside. Twenty minutes go by and I go out to check on them. They’re making progress. The guy tells me again the crew needs to get paid today and asks me to write a check so the business manager can run up to the bank while they finish up. The trunk’s still standing and there’s a brush pile in my yard. I reminded him I would pay on completion.
Twenty minutes go by and the doorbell rings again. He wants to show me their progress. I tell him it’s looking good. The trunk is down in pieces on my lawn. He tells me again they need to get paid today. I tell him to finish up and I’ll pay.
I go out when they are cleaning up. One of the guys is giving me the eye like he wants to kick my ass. I write the check on the hood of their truck. From their conversation, I gather they don’t know where they’re going to stay tonight. I didn’t catch why they weren’t going back to Thomasville. The guy who gave me the price is apologizing to the other three for not getting paid. The guy who was giving me the eye says they better remember my address in case there’s no money in my checking account.
They drive away. I remember again why I don’t like to work with people who ring my doorbell.