Not the Lawn I paid for

[mzbmer]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

Saturday Dec. 14th I saw a man working on my next door neighbors yard cutting down trees and removing them, so I went over and asked him would he be willing to cut down some trees in my yard of course he said yes and we shook hands and I gave him a 500 dollar check and he would begin the work the next day. Well the next day (Sunday) he left a signed agreement in my mail box stating that he couldnt start because it just so happened that I was getting a new roof put on and the yard was a mess which I understood. on the back of the agreement he stated this. He said he would start monday and be finished "clearing all leaves and dead trees and tree stubs from my yard by the end of the week". Well 2 months later and im out 4000.00 dollars and I actually fired him on the 8th of february because the leaves are still there and so are the tree stubs. He did do some work he cut down some trees and started clearing the dirt so that I could have a patio put in my back yard. he delivered mulch which is still in my driveway never layed down. I fired him because he never showed up when he promised he would, time after time. I have text messages of all of our conversations. My question is I am willing to give him 1000.00 for what he has done so far but can I sue for my 3000.00. I never signed a contract, and we never picked out pavers, or stone, I want to go with someone else and get my yard done.

Thanks in advance for all replys I will answer all questions

 

[mzbmer]

Oh I almost forgot, I asked him for my 3000 dollars back after I fired him, and he stated that the work that he and his team have done is worth 3000, all of this is in email. and I have photos of my yard. And he never told me how much this job would cost. At the begging I told him that I was willing to spend 5000

 

[mzbmer]

Oh I almost forgot, I asked him for my 3000 dollars back after I fired him, and he stated that the work that he and his team have done is worth 3000, all of this is in email. and I have photos of my yard. And he never told me how much this job would cost. At the begging I told him that I was willing to spend 5000

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

Saturday Dec. 14th I saw a man working on my next door neighbors yard cutting down trees and removing them, so I went over and asked him would he be willing to cut down some trees in my yard of course he said yes and we shook hands and I gave him a 500 dollar check and he would begin the work the next day. Well the next day (Sunday) he left a signed agreement in my mail box stating that he couldnt start because it just so happened that I was getting a new roof put on and the yard was a mess which I understood. on the back of the agreement he stated this. He said he would start monday and be finished "clearing all leaves and dead trees and tree stubs from my yard by the end of the week". Well 2 months later and im out 4000.00 dollars and I actually fired him on the 8th of february because the leaves are still there and so are the tree stubs. He did do some work he cut down some trees and started clearing the dirt so that I could have a patio put in my back yard. he delivered mulch which is still in my driveway never layed down. I fired him because he never showed up when he promised he would, time after time. I have text messages of all of our conversations. My question is I am willing to give him 1000.00 for what he has done so far but can I sue for my 3000.00. I never signed a contract, and we never picked out pavers, or stone, I want to go with someone else and get my yard done.

Thanks in advance for all replys I will answer all questions

A lot more went on after the first $500 deal.

We need to know what ?

 

[mzbmer]

He came over about a week later and we discussed some work, I wanted a patio in my back yard, he started spraying out the design and then had his two workers (not him) come over and dig out the dirt for it. that took all day. the next day or so they came back (not him) and cleaned out a bed for a vegtable garden I wanted. he came back over and I gave him 2500 I was delighted, they were cuting down trees and cleaning as they went. well the next week he doesnt show but his workers the same two guys come over and bring thier mother and brother, im like wtf, they did not work they just walked around the lake thats in my back yard (the relatives). I told him this and he asked me why was their family there and I said why are you asking me they work for you!, well then it took him a few more days to get different help because he fired those guys, and thats when I gave hime the last thousand .., and the next time I see him is 3 weeks ago when he dilivered the mulch.

 

[BL]

He came over about a week later and we discussed some work, I wanted a patio in my back yard, he started spraying out the design and then had his two workers (not him) come over and dig out the dirt for it. that took all day. the next day or so they came back (not him) and cleaned out a bed for a vegtable garden I wanted. he came back over and I gave him 2500 I was delighted, they were cuting down trees and cleaning as they went. well the next week he doesnt show but his workers the same two guys come over and bring thier mother and brother, im like wtf, they did not work they just walked around the lake thats in my back yard (the relatives). I told him this and he asked me why was their family there and I said why are you asking me they work for you!, well then it took him a few more days to get different help because he fired those guys, and thats when I gave hime the last thousand .., and the next time I see him is 3 weeks ago when he dilivered the mulch.

So you had a written time line for tree-brush-lawn clearing ,then negotiated beyond there .

In other words are you saying there was no written time line or written contract after that ?

Just a gentleman's shake and payments along the way ?

 

[mzbmer]

Their was never a written time line from the door, just his word this week we will be finished with all the work (via emails) it snowed 2 twice and rained once so the ground was too wet, but on clear above 40 days degrees he (they) never showed up or call as he would promise in text msg. I got tired of his promises, if this job was to big as I asked him he should have said so. Also once he called me when he didnt show to tell me that he found scrap metal worth 300k in his grandmothers back yard, and I said thats your money good for you it has nothing to do with my job I have that in email too, another reason why I fired him. I lost patients with his BS

 

[BL]

Then you might consider small claims.

 

[mzbmer]

Thank you so much for your advice..I will do just that!! I love this forum