In April of Integrity Tree experts were going door to door soliciting customers for tree trimming in Plymouth, MN. They happened upon my elderly Mother's (87 years old) house, and stated that they were doing many houses in the neighborhood, and would give her great prices while they were in the area. Like many widows, my Mom is lonely, invited them in showed them her scrapbooks (she is proud of her fame as a figure skater many decades ago), and immediately like them. She told them what she thought would spruce up her yard and asked if it would be costly. They said it shouldn't be bad at all, being that they were already working on that street.
After removing a 9 inch tree, and spending approximately a day removing many branches, they asked if they could leave their truck in her driveway. She agreed, and they returned for a couple more days to the area. They then submitted a bill for over 3800 to my Mom. Shocked, she mentioned that it sounded high, but they said they would be returning the firewood, and there would be far more done.
I (her son) got involved when I could see that her yard was littered with branches and clippings a month later. I called integrity on several occasions, always promised that cleanup was coming. I wrote Adel, the owner's (Eric Chisolm) wife to complain. After looking at their work, I embarked on getting quotes for the work they had done, and found 3 firms that ranged from 900 to 1100 dollars. I then found out that even the bank would not cash my Mom's check when she wrote it, so they returned to pick her up, had her get in their truck and go to the bank with her. I called the Plymouth, MN police who suggested I call the State Attorney General's office. I also called Adel back and voiced how upset I was at how her firm had in essence, robbed my Mom.
She said she would make it right, but they had no money, and the person who cashed the check had not even given the money to her or her husband. She said she would try to return money as she could afford it. She had sent 200 back by the first week in June, but now claims that her husband attempted suicide and cannot she cannot even make the house payment. She emailed me a number to call if I did not believe her (I didn't) and the hospital had no record of her husband.
I was suspicious as to why she had not called the police on this mystery worker who ran off with my Mom's 3800, and eventually realized that like so many people who operate in this manner, they will try or do anything to return any money or to make things correct. I intend to prevent other old and feeble people to being victimized by these people, and intend to pursue a refund for my Mom with all means legally possible. She never even got an estimate before they commenced their shoddy work. Amazing how the company calls itself "Integrity" and distributes fliers guaranteeing "satisfaction". I have all documents, and correspondences to support this report.
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