Beware of Phony Tree Services with "Discount" Deals

Well wasn't that interesting? Moving along at a nice pace then all of a sudden Glenn Burns is flipping out on the green screen showing us something like two tubes of swirling stuff and it was sitting right over Sandy Springs! "That can't be good" I said to myself as Glenn began to show giant maps of really red things and purple things that apparently when they're too close together, cause some sort of horrible reaction. From what I can tell, red and purple mean swirling wind and debris or something, red and yellow means tornado-like winds and purple and red means Godzilla is back. it wasn't good because Glenn wasn't wearing his shirt anymore and his tie was wrapped around his head. Bad sign.

The fact is, regardless of what it means in colors, the earlier the warning the better. We've seen that before and it isn't pretty. 

Here Comes the Trees

They say that two tornadoes touched down. One in Cherokee County and the other in Fashionable East Cobb which, according to the weather dudes, carried over to Sandy Springs where no tree was safe. Down they came in dozens, each seeking a road to block. Trees on lines and trees on homes. Out went the traffic lights and power. They said 60,000 Georgia Power customers were out of service in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs alone. This was one screwed up Thursday night.

By daylight, the cops were manning the intersections and extra officers were fielding 911 calls and just trying to catch up. Power was out at headquarters which meant that we now all mobile so off we went in search of a cup of Latte something or other which I cannot pronounce and an all bran muffin or some other healthy thing that tastes like cardboard. (I remember the good old days when cops had a solid breakfast of bacon, eggs, grits, and biscuits. We'd eat and then take turns listening to our arteries clog.)

From Under the Rocks

Now we are at the recovery stage and this is the point of which I write. Trees are big and heavy. Drop one in the wrong place and you have an instant twenty-foot hole in your home which costs a lot of money. Cleaning up all this scattered botanical wonder isn't cheap. Hopefully your insurance will step up and make this as painless as possible. Storms and the damage they bring also bring the scammers who will pose as tree removal "experts" and they will offer up a great price. You think "How hard can it be? The tree is cut and the tree falls. They'll pull on the big rope and boom, it's down." Uh oh, it's down and down on what used to be your nice Florida Room overlooking the Kudzu garden you wife loves so much. Then your tree crew will disappear faster than Twinkies at a Weight Watchers meeting. Who needs that?  

Do Your Homework

Get your facts from good sources. the Internet ranks and reviews just about anything. Check reputable companies that are well established in this field. What you need to avoid includes the following:

Door to door solicitation. The better companies don't use this type of sales approach.

If the "sales associate" has "L-O-V-E tattooed on each of his four fingers, that should be a clue.

If the company truck has the sign "Tree Service" stuck to the side of the truck with duct tape, that should be a clue. Also, if either "Tree" or "Service" is misspelled, pass on it. 

If you ask the "associate" how he will take the tree down and he replies "Well, we'll think of something," you might want to pass on that one too. 

The fact is, misery brings out the parasites. there will be those who will test the neighborhood to see if they could make a few bucks. Don't fall for "huge discount" offers. You get what you pay for. If you get a scammer at the door, tell him no and then please contact SSPD so we can check it out. We would like to know for two good reasons:

1. We don't want these guys operating in Sandy Springs.

2. This scenario is also a good burglary front. They prey on senior residents. One man comes to the door and offers up a great deal. The victim accompanies him as he shows how he will clear the yard. The second suspect then enters the home and steals. 

Be politely skeptical and don't make quick decisions under pressure. Now, go out there and clean that mess up.