Rogue Tree Surgeons / Gardeners on Watchdog now

[pleasant]

I agree with lots of whats been said by many but probably NOT all that has been said by any!

 

Lets not mince our words here - basically the Smiths and those like them are Scum of the lowest order. Lying, cheating, bullying scum at that!

 

The problem is that programs like Watchdog sensationalise the whole issue and what makes me really angry is that 'Matt' and his goon of a sidekick try to make fun of the situation or poke fun at the guilty party!

There is nothing funny here, these lowlifes are bullying, conning and defrauding the un-informed, weak, naive and vulnerable, into paying for jobs that are either not done as agreed or unnecessary in the first place. Or they pressurise and cajolle, usually older people into agreeing to pay inflated prices for un-necessary work that they say/make up is needed done around the house garden - its makes no real difference whether we are talking Tree work, building/maintenance trades, roofing, etc, etc.

 

Getting Matt or his mate to correct the mistake between an Ash and Sorbus is petty and fairly irrelevant - I'm pretty damn sure they couldn't of named the trees themselves!

 

Just show these people up for what they are then get the HSE, Trading Standards, with Police in attendance to confront them. And if you are really the programmes expert why are you not willing to back up what you say.

Naming James or whatever as a tree expert is completely irrelevant to you, me and Joe public without some sort of info to back up the claims - Tree Surgeon/Arborist, Consultant, etc, etc - quoting their qualifications will also help, naming him as a Tree Expert is sh**e.

 

I could go on, but you would all get bored. The whole situation around this type of chancer/cheat should be shut down, but please don't say that pathetic operations like Trust a trader or checkachancer, or other 'independent authority that charges any mug a load of their hard earned (or not) to advertise is a joke. Its just a way of taking some of your money and most of the people who are on their are pretty dubious.

 

Unfortunately I have very little time for any trade body, they just seem to want your money with very little in return. But would welcome any proof to the contrary.

 

Rant over - for now!

 

Chris

 

Hmmmmm.......maybe it would be cheaper and quicker to cure that end of the scenario- wait a minute don't local authorities, the police and trading standard already spend shed loads of my money doing that already?? Maybe, just maybe there are some people that just can't help but be continuously ripped off. No demand- no supply. Simple.

[TreeNuts]

Having someone else oil the chain was hard to bare, although amusing to watch, I must admit.

[sasha.p]

I only caught the end of this on tv but just watched it on the i-player well what can you say they are everywhere and I think everyone else has voiced good opinions on it ,I cant understand how people like that can sleep at night knowing they are swindling the elderly and vunrable:thumbdown:

[Andy Collins]

To clarify, I do not condone the "Walters" of this world, nor their sharp practices. Nor am I trying protect them or this industry. I fail to see what is to be gained from this program though, how can we benefit? For one, people become even less trusting, wary of every "Tree Specialist" who turns up at their door. How do they check your credentials, as has been said checkatrader is hardly reliable, they still haven't heard of our trade representative the AA, in fact there is no real way of checking. A chap wearing a flat cap to price does not mean he is a rogue, no more than wearing all the gear makes you a pro, just makes you look like you are, somehow.

In a way, I think it's very nearly impossible to tell a pro from a con in this trade, and that is why the cons thrive so easily.

The sooner the likes of this programme are shelved, the better IMO, they contribute nothing to the industry, or the public, they just seem to cause even more confusion, and the gullible still get ripped off.

[Lee Winger]

I'm looking forward to the show ''customers from hell'' I'm sure we've all got a few of them we can send Matt Albright to.

[butler]

I'm looking forward to the show ''customers from hell'' I'm sure we've all got a few of them we can send Matt Albright to.

 

[Minotaur]

I'm looking forward to the show ''customers from hell'' I'm sure we've all got a few of them we can send Matt Albright to.

 

 

He probably turn up in a Devils outfit!

[born2trot]

Right come on fellas , how many of you checked your tree I.D book to tell the difference between a leyland cypress and a lawson cypress ???

[tree_kid_ni]

What can be done about it though??

People often don't care how a job is done so long as its cheap.

 

Thats the point that most of us have to battle with gypos and gardeners can put a low price in have it down with either the tree or garden or both wrecked with no h & s where we go plan it out do relevant risk assessments get the right tools and squad on site with chipper truck stumper etc all of which cost a fortune with insurance proper quals and training and put a price thats higher than theres and they get it, then a few months down the line they want you to come back to remove it or come and clear up after them. If only people would check for insurance quals and experience in my 5 years in arb my families companies insurance and quals has only ever been requested once on domestic sites although we always show it before we start anyway. sickens me:thumbdown:

[Pedroski]

Thats the point that most of us have to battle with gypos and gardeners can put a low price in have it down with either the tree or garden or both wrecked with no h & s where we go plan it out do relevant risk assessments get the right tools and squad on site with chipper truck stumper etc

 

Wouldn't slag off gardeners - there's many a fully fledged gardener/landscaper who have got a better idea of tree work and will do a better job than some of the fully qualified/insured spikey tree firms!