Howdy, Cowboy

Originally posted Sept 2024.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Not a legitimate, reputable, arborist that's for sure.

As we are once again faced with reports of a "team" fraudulently claiming association with our business, knocking on doors and attempting to source work with the intention to rip people off - we have to ask, how in this day and age, people are still hiring anyone who operates in this manner?

First and foremost, sympathy is granted to the vulnerable and/or elderly who feel pressured to oblige with these men coming to their doors and offering to complete work for them. Often, areas where these people make up the majority of the residents will be the most frequently targeted - essentially the "weak" are preyed on. They will feel intimidated, even faced with aggression, once the "work" is completed and agree to satisfy the demands for payment - usually a significant sum considerably more than the realistic value of the labour. Once the con is complete, these individuals will often be too fearful or ashamed to flag these fraudsters and simply suffer with the results.

However, the aforementioned are not the only ones who fall "victim" to these unprofessional characters. Call it controversial or critical, yet we would hesitate to offer commiserations to many others who are fooled. To put it bluntly, they should know better. These swindlers only keep circulating because people keep giving them custom.

Surely, any reputable, legitimate, professional, business should have better methods to attain and build their workload than shamelessly pestering for it at your door? It's 2024, there are so many online platforms (multiple of which are free) to advertise their expertise and offer their services. If you have never seen or heard of this "company" and cannot trace them to any online presence, is this not a red flag? Is the convenience of having the work done there and then really worth it compared to the time of seeking out a reputable contractor? Is that quote you considered cheap (which they will often attempt to increase afterwards) really saving you more than what a local, recognised, business would charge? Are you that tight and lazy? Or just downright naive?

Yes, many of the undesirables will now put a bit of effort into the charade. They might go through the motions of having "tree services" scrawled on the side of their van. Or, as is the case with our dopplegangers, get uniform printed with a logo to keep up appearances. Yet still, the other question marks still stand and any concerns should always be acknowledged.

Then there are those who really step up their game to actually enable customers to pursue hiring them. Again, this is done by waving a flag of convenience - a leaflet through the door whilst they are cruising your area for opportunity.

Now, not to say all posted advertisements are tied to unprofessional or improper tradesmen, though there are usually telltale signs. They will often provide a vast list of services they may offer, alongside a usually vague business name and a mobile number for contact. Frequently missing; a web address, email address or references to social media accounts. If you cannot remotely confirm they are legitimate online, then should you really be trusting them?

As for the most foolish of the fools, there are those who see their neighbours have fallen for the deceptions acknowledged above and still recruit the same cowboys for their own arboricultural requirements. Once again, driven purely by convenience. They will overlook the absence of PPE, pretend not to notice the lack of ropes as one of them ascends the tree, ignore the waste piling up with no chipper in sight and refrain from watching the shaky chainsaw tearing at limbs. Looking up the business won't even come to mind, after all, the couple next door have trusted them. Who cares if they look more like Sports Direct ambassadors than actual tree surgeons?

The only silver lining? If you end up the lucky one who's trees don't look as bad as the neighbours' once all is said and done. Either way, you'll probably still be complaining you were ripped off.

Far less likely though also a cautionary tale, sites like "Bark" may be used by the unethical and illegitimate to claim jobs; as we discovered firsthand. The first time our imitators were reported to be in action, they were reportedly hired from advertising on "Bark" - though the website claimed to have no record of their account. So let it be known that one single post seeking employment from such site does not necessarily authenticate their existence, you should always look beyond for further corroboration.

Whether this should be deemed advice or just a prompt for common sense, we recommend you always verify any "professional" you are looking to hire for a service. From scouring online reviews to looking at examples of their work, confirming they are insured and even down to meeting them for a written quotation prior to making any arrangements to hire them. Ensure they are reputable, qualified and ideally come highly recommended.

Bonus suggestion for hiring a legitimate tree surgeon? Use the Arb Association's "Find an Arborist" search to locate accredited contractors near you.

Whoever you choose to trust with your trees, certainly think twice before hiring them off your doorstep.