A South Surrey man says he learned a tough lesson after putting his faith in a door-to-door solicitor who offered landscaping work at an unbeatable price.
The landscaper knocked on Alasdair Girvan乌鸦传媒檚 door last Tuesday and offered to power rake and aerate his yard for $80.
乌鸦传媒淚 said, 乌鸦传媒楧one, go for it, seriously,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 Girvan told Peace Arch News Wednesday.
乌鸦传媒淗e came back to see the backyard and then said it was going to be $180. I said, 乌鸦传媒榃ell, you know what, I know how much work it is. Do it, go for it.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕
Girvan went on with his day until the job was complete.
乌鸦传媒淚 went and looked at the front yard and nothing has been done. Absolutely nothing has been done,乌鸦传媒� Girvan said, adding that his backyard was badly damaged because it was aerated when the ground was soaking wet.
Girvan said he had to leave for an appointment, and when he returned he drove around the neighbourhood searching for the landscaper.
He found the manager of the operation, who provided Girvan with contact information for the company, which is based out of Ontario.
乌鸦传媒淐lick on the website and it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 connect. I phoned the number and it says the phone number no longer exists 乌鸦传媒� I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 get a hold of anybody,乌鸦传媒� Girvan said, adding that the manager was also unable to connect with the 乌鸦传媒渉ead office.乌鸦传媒�
Attempts to reach the company made by PAN Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful. The company website doesn乌鸦传媒檛 appear to be working.
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The manager reportedly told Girvan that the company subcontracts the work, and that he 乌鸦传媒渃an乌鸦传媒檛 blame our company on the poor job this guy did.乌鸦传媒�
Girvan suggested to the manager that he contact the landscaper who did the work, but the manager said the subcontractor乌鸦传媒檚 phone battery was dead.
Girvan drove around the neighbourhood until he found the landscaper who did the work, he said.
乌鸦传媒淗e said he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 own a phone. I phoned the (manager) back again and said 乌鸦传媒榳hat乌鸦传媒檚 going on? This is your company, you乌鸦传媒檙e kicking some (butt) and making some money.乌鸦传媒� I said 乌鸦传媒榶ou乌鸦传媒檝e got no idea who乌鸦传媒檚 working for you, what乌鸦传媒檚 going on? Wheres the quality control?乌鸦传媒�
Girvan said the landscaper offered to return the $180, but Girvan refused to take it as he just wanted the job to be done.
乌鸦传媒淢y yard is a mess, he乌鸦传媒檚 got the money, I乌鸦传媒檒l never see him again.乌鸦传媒�
Girvan said his motivation for contacting PAN was so that readers could learn from his mistake.
乌鸦传媒淭he public needs to be warned. I grew up here, I used to cut the grass for these people. They乌鸦传媒檙e old, they乌鸦传媒檙e retired, they don乌鸦传媒檛 have time to go out there and do the weeding and stuff. And you乌鸦传媒檙e coming in here, $200, wham-bam out the door. No phone number, no card, no receipt, nothing.
乌鸦传媒淚t pissed me off. People need to know about it. This is something that happens time and time again. And this company came all the way from Ontario to canvas the neighbourhood? No, it乌鸦传媒檚 like a shell company that doesn乌鸦传媒檛 exist.乌鸦传媒�
Surrey RCMP Const. Richard Wright said, due to the privacy act, he cannot confirm nor deny any investigations that may or may not be ongoing.
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However, Wright did offer advice to residents if they receive a visit from a door-to-door solicitor.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 best not to sign up for the business right away. A legitimate business will have some sort of reference they can work with, a business card, a website. (Residents) can do their own research into the business before choosing whether or not to engage that business,乌鸦传媒� Wright said.
Wright said that if someone feels they乌鸦传媒檝e been a victim of a scam, then they should 乌鸦传媒渁bsolutely乌鸦传媒� make a police report.
Wright also offered a website link to provincial information on reporting consumer fraud with Consumer Protection BC and Better Business Bureau. That information can be .
aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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