After using Keane for our spring flowers (7 flats, $250.00) we contacted them to do additional work in the fall. Though we had a minor issue with them in the spring when a drip line was damaged during flower installation, we wanted to give them a second chance. We needed (2) new trees to replace (2) young trees that were not doing well in their current locations. Parker at Keane Landscaping said that it would be no problem to transplant the existing trees. We also needed routine tree trimming and fall seasonal color.
During the first week of September, (2) trees were planted, (2) trees were moved and fall color was added. While only pansies were requested, Keane had added snapdragons as well. When asked why the snapdragons were included without my prior authorization I was told that it “looked nicer”.
Finally, (2) months later I received a bill for over $4,300 and was immediately stunned to see charges that either I had not agreed to or I felt were excessive. I asked why it took two months for a bill and was told, “It slipped through the cracks.”
-$650.00 for fall color ($400.00 more than spring with same areas and flats planted)
-$480.00 for irrigation repair and adjustment (was never told of an issue nor approved a repair)
-$850.00 to transplant trees (no charge was mentioned in advance for this and acted like it was complimentary for purchasing two new trees)
This doesn’t include the $1,425 for installation of trees with bubblers and $525.00 for tree pruning.
I requested to speak with Parker Keane via text message on Friday November 19th, 2016 upon receiving this bill. He responded and said he would call me on Monday, November 21st, 2016 to discuss. I never got a call or text and after 2.5 weeks I decided to contact him again. I explained that (6) months ago spring color was billed at $250.00 and for fall color I’m being charged an additional $400 when it’s the same amount of flats in the same exact areas for $650.00. He first explained their prices increased and when I stated I never was told that, he then told me they planted (12) flats instead of (7) which was the reason for the increase. My flowerbeds do not accommodate that quantity and after counting what was planted I confirmed that only (7) were used. This is a huge discrepancy both on pricing for seasonal color and the amount that was actually planted in my yard. In addition, the fall color was planted too early in the season and the snapdragons never bloomed. Frankly, the flowers have never looked worse at our home. Keane agreed to replace the flowers and I told Parker we only wanted 2-3 colors of pansies. Instead of giving us advance notice and communicate what color pansies were available they showed up unannounced at our house and planted (7) colors of pansies, against my wishes. After making him aware of the quantity discrepancy, he refused to adjust the seasonal color portion of the bill. In complete frustration we have now requested all pansies to be removed by Keane, as this was the only way he agreed to remove the charge. Now we are left with no seasonal color in the middle of December.
Two guys came for 2-3 hours to plant the red bud and Japanese maple tree. I was charged $850.00 of labor to move the two baby trees, yet simultaneously face a bill for $1,425.00 for tree installation. Because trees were being moved, only 2 holes needed to be dug, yet with these huge charges one would think much more work was performed than was actually the case. $850 to move 2 baby trees equates to almost $425.00 an hour for the 2-3 hours it took for them to move the two trees. I’m not aware of any landscaping service charging $425/hr to move two trees.
Finally, the $480.00 charge for irrigation repairs and adjustments was never mentioned nor discussed. This item just simply appeared on my bill and I wasn’t aware of any work done to my irrigation system. I did not agree to this, was provided no evidence of any issue and will not pay it.
Additionally, we also had them do a bid for $40,000 for a backyard renovation and were planning on moving forward in the spring 2017. After all of these issues, we will definitely not be moving forward. They lost a $40,000 sale over the lack of communication, transparency, excessively and incorrect charging and honestly just bad service and work.
Clearly to Keane the customer is always wrong. I have never experienced such an excessive bill and been provided zero communication or warning about additional services or charges. Many of these charges seem excessive, with little correlation to the work performed. There was no communication or transparency on pricing with Keane Landscaping.
