Snow Removal - More Like "No" Removal
Seale Deck and Fence is not a company I'd recommend to anyone. The only removal performed (other than a 1 x incomplete shovel job) for a residential service was the approx. $370 for each of the months of Dec and January that I removed from my account to give to them for poor service (and that's being generous).
Their business model (5 shovels per month with any unused portions refunded at the end of the season) is smoke and mirrors - they are focused on their commercial clients and have zero customer service sense.
After confirming with them that I didn't want removal service on a few occasions (I didn't need them to shovel 2 cm of snow), when I DID ask for the service the first time they told me "oh we book for the night previous - our time starts at 8 pm." Ok, that wasn't clarified in writing or verbally ahead of time. That was strike 1 - but I was willing to give them a chance as I wasn't aware of their operations model.
The second time I confirmed with them I wanted snow removal, I ensured it was scheduled for the night before and presumed I would wake up to a cleared driveway and cleared and salted sidewalks (esp. important as many children and their families walk by my house en route to school). Of course, I was shocked and disappointed that at 7:00 am nothing had been done. I picked up my phone to call them and saw they left a message at 4:30 am telling me they were cancelling the service I had confirmed the day before because they felt there wasn't enough snow - strike 2 - that's not their decision to make, it is the customer's decision and hiding behind the cloak of darkness and people's sleep to make a decision that cannot be countered is telling of their values (they should have waited to speak to me at 7:00 am - when most ppl have started their day).
So, I called them - of course there was no answer as they were likely in bed - and left a message asking when they would be by as I wanted the sidewalks cleared before the children had to navigate their way to school. They finally returned my call in the later morning/ early afternoon saying they'd be by after 4:00 pm. When no one appeared or called at 4:30, I called them back and they told me they wouldn't be able to clear until 9 pm! A full 24 hrs + after they started their "operations." They cited lame excuses like their truck was broken - I am certain they were attending to personal business instead of customer service. In addition to that when I told them not to bother coming, they threatened to have a lien put on my house by the city if I did not keep paying them the $370/ month that was listed in the faulty contract! I was incredulous - unbelievable!! Poor service and a threat of vindictive action if I didn't keep paying for their non-service. I'm certain my lawyer would have had a thing or two to say about their contract, non-service, and actions (all caught on text). I have attached 2 x photos - the afternoon after they failed to come and one of the evening after I removed the snow dam left by the snow plow.
In sum, Seale's approach is best described as amateur hour at best. Save your money, stay away from that company, and do not believe their "we treat our customers as family" marketing (I certainly would not want to be in that family if that's how they treat family).
If their deck and fencing operations are even twice as good as their snow removal, it would still be shoddy at best.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $750.00
- Company Response
As per our last conversation over a month ago, we mutually parted ways. We did void your last payment owed $325* as we understood that things could have been a bit different and we apologized for that.
We are a relatively new and upcoming business as you know and can only strive to move forward and grow.
We wish you the best of luck and apologize that we couldn't meet your expectations as our client.