ComplaintsforFences Of Georgia LLC

• Initial Complaint

  02/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  I hired Fences of Georgia to extend my backyard by bringing in approximately 60 dump truck loads of fill dirt, grade the backyard, plant seed for grass to grow and to build a fence once that was done. This was all completed, however, the grass died because he didn't seed at the proper time so we were forced to spend more money for sod that another company laid for me because he was not willing to fix that issue. Now the back of the property is washing away because it was not properly compacted and the back yard was not graded properly. It has gotten to the point where several fence posts are about to fall because there is no more dirt to hold them in place and the concrete that they were set in is showing. He has sent a guy out to attempt to fix this problem and his attempt was did nothing to stop this erosion. I fear that in the next couple of months, our fence will completely fall over due to the erosion behind it. When the owner first came out for the estimate, he assured me that we would not need a retaining wall and that letting the dirt run downhill at 45 degrees would be fine and there would be no erosion. That is not the case and much of the hill has washed away into the dry creek bed at the back of the property. I have made several attempts to call and text the company to fix this problem, but they keep putting me off. This has been going on for several months. The project was completed in June of 2021 and since then, all of these issues have been occurring and the company does not seem to want to do anything further to mitigate the issues. The total cost of the project was approximately $26,000 including sod laid by another company. Fences of Georgia recieved approximately $22,000

  Business response

  03/01/2022

  Let me do this point by point... the "grass" died because it was rye and fescue, the rye will die and I told them that. We planted seed in the "wrong" time of year so there would be some rooted growth so the dirt would not wash away, we cannot help that the project was delayed quite a bit as the it rained and rained - however the rain was great because that's what packs the dirt!!!  What were we supposed to do, let the dirt wash away???  If he would have purchased sod from us during the project we would have covered at least the top of the hill with sod and NOT end it at the top where of course the water coming out of the sod will wash open dirt away!!!  

  One of the underlying problem here is that before the project started **** cut down trees on the side of the hill and did NOT clear them off of the hill.  This caused the dirt on the side of the hill to be unstable and no way were we going to try to "pack" it down with such instability, no grading company would do this.  Our decision as you can see from the timeline was to let the dirt settle on the hillside and make sure we packed top very well with our 10k lbs Bobcat T190.  **** was well aware we could not pack the dirt on the hillside!   At no time did I EVER tell **** there would be NO EROSION, especially with the trees that he had cut and would not remove and the backyard downspout that flowed straight into the backyard! 

  As you can see in the pictures we wanted to make sure rain water runoff would not be a problem coming down the side of the house so we installed 2 channel drains across the side yard and we tied his side yard roof down spout into the drain.  We were very conscious to eliminate as much water from the backyard as possible. However, even when the project was completed, the roof downspout was still not buried and **** said he would do so.  

  This was a very long project and there was erosion that was expected being new dirt and while the dirt settled.  During this period there was also substantial rain and lots of it!  Again we had expected erosion and actually added more loads of dirt because of the dirt normal settling and most likely because of the wet dirt settling around the trees.  Only when **** installed sod in the yard, and only to the top of the hill side did the real erosion start.  The "other" company he hired should have instructed **** (and common sense would dictate) that if you're putting down sod you include at least some portion of the hillside with sod as it of course is the best remedy for stopping erosion. Obviously this was not done and many months and nearly a year later **** wants to blame us for the problem.  
  

  DURING the initial call to review Brads complaint I did see and note that **** had still not buried a drain pipe from his house/roof downspout where substantial water flows. At that time I pointed out the amount of water that would come from the downspout and he said, as he did many times, he was going to bury the drain pipe.  This is no doubt the major cause of his erosion problem and he knew it as he pointed out several times he was going to take care of it and bury it!  Not sure to this day if it is buried. 

  As an effort to help **** we did offer to pay for all the labor to address the problem if he paid for the materials. The 2nd time we went to address the problem we even did purchase timbers and rock to address the erosion.  We invested time and money into the problem only to help resolve the problem that would not have existed had he buried the downspout drain pipe when we left the project as he said he would and had he laid sod appropriately. As a reminder, during the many months of the job and even after many more months after we left the job we did not hear a peep!  As such we strongly feel that this situation was caused by ****** negligence to bury the downspout pipe and put sod down with appropriate coverage.

  As for the cost of 22K for this project that **** obliviously thinks is excessive is truly a steal!  We welcome him and anyone else to review and see what was done and provide a comparative price for 2 retaining walls, 60 loads of dirt with hundreds of grading hours, 6 foot fence down both sides of his house and a 4 ft across the full length of the backyard - easily a 50K+ project!!  

  Customer response

  03/02/2022

   
  Complaint: 16799645
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Customer response

  03/08/2022

  My yard was extended back from my previous fence about 20 feet.  The trees that were cut down prior to this project were laying in the area that is now flat and covered with dirt.  Also buried there, are my previous fence panels, posts, and concrete that were demolished by fences of georgia as a part of this project and he had no problem doing this. I was never told by this company that the downed trees would cause any problems and was never advised to remove them. We are not having any problems with this portion of the yard.  The only concerns that we have are on the hill on the back side of our fence which is washing away due to rain. In addition, I have zero downspouts that drain into my backyard. There are 3 downspouts in my backyard and are all connected to proper drainage.  One drain was connected to corrugated pipe by fences of georgia and runs well beyond the back fence line and does not cause any problems.
  The accusations by fences of georgia that I only had sod installed on top of the hill side is totally false.  All 5 pallets were installed in 1 day and completely covered my backyard on the inside of the fence.  There are no problems with the sod or under the sod. Again, the problem is that the hill behind my fence is washing away, and eventually the fence will fall down.  In the attached photos, you can see where the concrete from the fence posts are clearly visible as well as other issues.  The 2x6 lumber seen in the photos was the attempt by fences of georgia to remedy the problem.  I contacted them and told them several times that the remedy was not working and I kept getting put off because they were "busy".
  Again, every downspout in my yard has proper drainage.
  What fences of georgia may be referring to is an area that pools up with water.  This is a very small garden area.  This area pools up because of the grading done during the project that allows water from the yard to flow into it.  This is not a problem that causes erosion on the hill behind the fence which is 20 feet away.  I told them that I had planned on making a drain in order to get water out of that area, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the problem of the hill washing away.
  In summary, the three reasons provided by fences of georgia as to why this problem has occurred are: 
  1) Buried trees. My response to that is above.
  2) Improper placement of sod. My response is above
  3) Downspout from roof draining into the yard. My response is above.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  *******************
  Southern Woodworking
  

  
  

  Business response

  03/08/2022

  #1 the sod installed stops at the top of the hill that now has an erosion problem. Sod on the side of the hill would have allowed the water to run over the grass and not wash away the ground. The fact that no sod was placed there is a huge light that there was no erosion problem before the sod was put down. Before the sod water ran down the middle of the yard off to both side yards as it was graded, after the sod water ran over the edge and caused erosion. Again, had there been an erosion problem common sense would dictate that sod be placed on the hillside to STOP the erosion. And again, there was only expected slight erosion for months up until the sod was applied. 

  The trees are most definitely a cause of erosion and cause problems as they rot and as dirt settles around them. We waited many months to let the dirt settle around the trees and down the hill but to say This is no cause of the erosion is naive. 

   

  Customer response

  03/09/2022

   
  Complaint: 16799645
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  Im not entirely sure where fences of Georgia is talking about when it comes to sod not being laid in a certain place. My entire back yard is fully sodded all the way around and up to the fence. I did not have sod laid on the hill behind the fence. That is a very steep hill and fences of Georgia had already put grass seed on the entire hill. The only erosion is occurring on back side of my fence on the steep hill. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Customer response

  03/15/2022

  Better Business Bureau:

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID .********, , and find that Mediation is necessary.

  Regards,

  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  01/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On June 4, 2021, a Cashiers Check for $25,309.38 was issued to Fences Of Georgia, LLC as a deposit for fencing materials that were to be delivered in **** weeks. As of October 1, 2021, with no supplies, I requested a refund of my deposit. After several phone calls and emails, I still have not received the refund of my deposit. I am a senior citizen and I need this money to replace my fence so my dogs are safe. Their excuse is that their supplier has mailed the check but they havent received it.

  Business response

  01/18/2022

  Working on a resolution

   

  Customer response

  01/18/2022

   
  Complaint: 16387258
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  after being given the run around since October 1st, 2021 with the excuse that it was being worked on, this is not a satisfactory answer.  He is capable of taking out a personal loan within a few days and giving me back my material deposit of $25,309 +.  This is Theft by Conversion and if not settled by the end of the month will be prosecuted.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

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