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含羞草研究社檚 door last Tuesday and offered to power rake and aerate his yard for $80.
含羞草研究社淚 said, 含羞草研究社楧one, go for it, seriously,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 Girvan told Peace Arch News Wednesday.
含羞草研究社淗e came back to see the backyard and then said it was going to be $180. I said, 含羞草研究社榃ell, you know what, I know how much work it is. Do it, go for it.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
Girvan went on with his day until the job was complete.
含羞草研究社淚 went and looked at the front yard and nothing has been done. Absolutely nothing has been done,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淐lick on the website and it doesn含羞草研究社檛 connect. I phoned the number and it says the phone number no longer exists 含羞草研究社� I couldn含羞草研究社檛 get a hold of anybody,含羞草研究社� Girvan said, adding that the manager was also unable to connect with the 含羞草研究社渉ead office.含羞草研究社�
Attempts to reach the company made by PAN Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful. The company website doesn含羞草研究社檛 appear to be working.
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The manager reportedly told Girvan that the company subcontracts the work, and that he 含羞草研究社渃an含羞草研究社檛 blame our company on the poor job this guy did.含羞草研究社�
Girvan suggested to the manager that he contact the landscaper who did the work, but the manager said the subcontractor含羞草研究社檚 phone battery was dead.
Girvan drove around the neighbourhood until he found the landscaper who did the work, he said.
含羞草研究社淗e said he doesn含羞草研究社檛 own a phone. I phoned the (manager) back again and said 含羞草研究社榳hat含羞草研究社檚 going on? This is your company, you含羞草研究社檙e kicking some (butt) and making some money.含羞草研究社� I said 含羞草研究社榶ou含羞草研究社檝e got no idea who含羞草研究社檚 working for you, what含羞草研究社檚 going on? Wheres the quality control?含羞草研究社�
Girvan said the landscaper offered to return the $180, but Girvan refused to take it as he just wanted the job to be done.
含羞草研究社淢y yard is a mess, he含羞草研究社檚 got the money, I含羞草研究社檒l never see him again.含羞草研究社�
Girvan said his motivation for contacting PAN was so that readers could learn from his mistake.
含羞草研究社淭he public needs to be warned. I grew up here, I used to cut the grass for these people. They含羞草研究社檙e old, they含羞草研究社檙e retired, they don含羞草研究社檛 have time to go out there and do the weeding and stuff. And you含羞草研究社檙e coming in here, $200, wham-bam out the door. No phone number, no card, no receipt, nothing.
含羞草研究社淚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含羞草研究社檚 like a shell company that doesn含羞草研究社檛 exist.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� Wright said.
Wright said that if someone feels they含羞草研究社檝e been a victim of a scam, then they should 含羞草研究社渁bsolutely含羞草研究社� 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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