Will try to keep this as short as possible. I wanted a ditch on each side of our 600 foot drive so water run-off wouldn't cut across the dive and wash out what gravel is there. We just bought this place last fall and are still recovering from the purchase so money is pretty tight. Can't afford a tractor just yet so I called a guy whose number was on a sign stuck on a telephone pole.
Tractor Work 555-5555... Called, made an appointment for an estimate. Met him out at the end of the drive and explained I would like a wide shallow ditch on each side of the drive so a riding mower could navigate it and the drive leveled as best he could with the gravel that is there. I told him I plan to haul in more gravel but right now I mainly want the ditch to eliminate the several places that water runs across the drive. As a side job I would like about 1/2 acre tilled.
He said he could do the job, the drive would cost $300.00 and another $50.00 for the tilling. I said fine do-it.. Well it went down hill from there, every week I would not hear from him until I called, he would always say he was hung up on another job that took longer than he thought. After 3 weeks I called and threatened to find somebody else (should have). He finally shows up, runs the rippers from his box blade down each side of the drive and disappears for another week. He then shows up with his tiller and gets the tilling done and gone again. Another week, of phone calls and no shows, an he comes by at 5:00 on a Friday evening, just makes a total mess and leaves a bill for $300.00 in the mail box.
I called him to see if he thought he was done and explained that I felt we had a communications problem. All he had done was sorta dig a ditch in places leaving piles of dirt and gravel all over the place. I asked him to stop by so we could talk about what his idea of a ditch was. He then told me he didn't have the equipment to be able to continue the ditch all the way to the road ditch because there is a slight rise in the landscape just before it gets to the road. It's about a 2 foot rise before it drops off into a 4 foot deep ditch at the road. I felt I could rent a back hoe for a day to take care of the last 20 feet so I let it slide.
At this meeting I thought we had a meeting of the minds as to what a ditch is but all he did when he came back was spread the piles of gravel and dirt around so they weren't so obvious. Still didn't do anything as far as leveling the drive.
He thinks he is finished but I have not paid him yet. The wife says just send him $50.00 because the tilling is the only thing he did right. I am thinking maybe paying him 1/2 the 300 for a half A$$ job. What would you do?
Tractor Work 555-5555... Called, made an appointment for an estimate. Met him out at the end of the drive and explained I would like a wide shallow ditch on each side of the drive so a riding mower could navigate it and the drive leveled as best he could with the gravel that is there. I told him I plan to haul in more gravel but right now I mainly want the ditch to eliminate the several places that water runs across the drive. As a side job I would like about 1/2 acre tilled.
He said he could do the job, the drive would cost $300.00 and another $50.00 for the tilling. I said fine do-it.. Well it went down hill from there, every week I would not hear from him until I called, he would always say he was hung up on another job that took longer than he thought. After 3 weeks I called and threatened to find somebody else (should have). He finally shows up, runs the rippers from his box blade down each side of the drive and disappears for another week. He then shows up with his tiller and gets the tilling done and gone again. Another week, of phone calls and no shows, an he comes by at 5:00 on a Friday evening, just makes a total mess and leaves a bill for $300.00 in the mail box.
I called him to see if he thought he was done and explained that I felt we had a communications problem. All he had done was sorta dig a ditch in places leaving piles of dirt and gravel all over the place. I asked him to stop by so we could talk about what his idea of a ditch was. He then told me he didn't have the equipment to be able to continue the ditch all the way to the road ditch because there is a slight rise in the landscape just before it gets to the road. It's about a 2 foot rise before it drops off into a 4 foot deep ditch at the road. I felt I could rent a back hoe for a day to take care of the last 20 feet so I let it slide.
At this meeting I thought we had a meeting of the minds as to what a ditch is but all he did when he came back was spread the piles of gravel and dirt around so they weren't so obvious. Still didn't do anything as far as leveling the drive.
He thinks he is finished but I have not paid him yet. The wife says just send him $50.00 because the tilling is the only thing he did right. I am thinking maybe paying him 1/2 the 300 for a half A$$ job. What would you do?