Does your area have a tree warden? Towns in New England typically have an appointed tree warden whose main responsibility is the health and safety of trees along public ways and on public lands. But, at least in small towns, they're also usually willing to show up and give advice in cases like yours. I've known the warden in our town since our 35 year old kids went to middle school together. If someone in your situation called he'd come over and either fix the problem or tell you who can fix it. He'd also likely know all the parties involved in the SNAFU.
Someone started cutting a tree down for us and hasn't finished the job
- Thread starter Kitkat1
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Forget it! He is in way over his head ask for your money back.
Stihl Learning
ArboristSite Member
I find it hard to believe that your neighbor/arborist does not know about the situation. If anything, you sold him out. In the mean time, I would try to get a few estimates and ask if they think that the tree presents imminent danger to the house/yard. If not, I would try to wait and let the guy that started the job finish it.
EchoShindaiwaMakitaDolmar
ArboristSite Operative
FIFY
(The guy made sure to get all his money before he was even half finished the job, AND won't return their polite texts/calls asking when he'll be back- but you think they sold him out?!)
Stihl Learning
ArboristSite Member
She sold out her neighbor by hiring his employee and not him.
I would definitely be on the phone with his employer. It is possible he's doing side work without their knowledge and if that's the case may even be using their equipment. It may even be their equipment he left behind.
For me, his disregard for the dangerous situation he put you in and all the unanswered calls/texts would be all I needed to take the gloves off and start hitting back. I'd be on the phone with his employer, today.
But don't wait long for them to get back to you. I'd probably hire the first insured outfit that is willing to touch it.
Stihl Learning
ArboristSite Member
I'll inject the oft over used phrase; "This is criminal".
It's a lethal situation created by a person that was left unattended, and seemingly uncaring of what they had done.
It's a lethal situation created by a person that was left unattended, and seemingly uncaring of what they had done.
I hope we get an update tonight
That's not how I understand it. At one point he said this guy "works with his neighbor "
Another post says "I should never have hired a "friend of a friend" - also referring to his neighbor. I took it as this guy had done work for his neighbor before.
Maybe KitKat1 will clarify it - or maybe I am misinterpreting something.
I too, am kind of curious of the arraingement. Though, this is what you get when you don't want to pay a legitimate price/estimate, and the workaround bites you.
I wish you luck getting any of your money back.
I wish you luck getting any of your money back.
EchoShindaiwaMakitaDolmar
ArboristSite Operative
The tree guy under discussion first did side work for the neighbor- that neighbor wasn't the owner of any tree service company.
BOTH neighbors, at different times, hired the same unlicensed, uninsured tree guy, to do side-work.
I still want to see a pic of the flip side of the tree 
You went ABOVE and beyond already paying half up front, followed by the rest.
Sounds sketchy at best.
I would call the police, Yes, it's a civil matter and there is nothing they can do, but there will be a report of some kind and if that tree falls and does significant damage or it hurts someone that report might come in handy
You're beyond friendship now. Time to let his employer know.
MEKinOL
ArboristSite Lurker
He may be in jail or otherwise offline.
Definitely not remotely close to 80 feet, but certainly not something you want going the wrong way.
Anyone else notice the double back cut and what appears to be a yellow rope in the second picture?
Even the OP said he had a picture of the rope in the tree. I had to look fairly close to see it, but we knew it was there.
I meant the fact that it was yellow. Doesn't automatically mean anything, but there is a particular type of yellow three strand that's real popular with hacks everywhere......
Apart from the fact that I was thinking of the same polyester twist rope, there are yellow arborist ropes.
Stable braid comes in yellow
Yalex comes in yellow.
That's why I requested a picture of the rope from the OP. If we knew how good a rope it was that got broken, we'd have a very good idea of how likely the tree is to fall in the near future.
Stable braid comes in yellow
Yalex comes in yellow.
That's why I requested a picture of the rope from the OP. If we knew how good a rope it was that got broken, we'd have a very good idea of how likely the tree is to fall in the near future.
