Bad work from Crossings Tree and Landscapes

[Tim Ward]

My garden ponds needed a new liner, and our horse chestnut tree had leaf miner. Crossings Tree and Landscapes, recently working in Camberwell Grove, seemed knowledgable and confident and had a professional looking van. Unfortunately they left both ponds leaking, and said the used "Murphy Mortegg" on the tree - which I see from the internet has been illegal since 2004. Looking at the tree, I see no evidence it has been sprayed. They said they would come back to do repair, but repeated phone calls to 020 8485 7232, and to 07733 270 216, have resulted in no reply and on one occasions I heard breathing at the other end ! Their address, "Bridge End Farm, Dartford" had no postcode. Over ?3000 down the pan !

[KidKruger]

mug

[a fish]

To be ever so slightly more sympathetic than KK above, I have to say that this reinforces that hard and fast rule; if you want building and/or maintenance work done, always get a recommendation, it's worth its weight in gold. If only there was some sort of local forum where one could ask for such a thing...

[Sue]

Over ?3000?!?!?!

[Tim Ward]

Thanks for the kind words.

Anyone got recommendations for people/companies who could do any of the following?

Rebuild a garden wall in 9" London stock brick, including being knowledgable about need for planning permission.

Repair a couple of well-designed but badly executed garden ponds

Build excellent quality trellis fencing, including arches.

Looking forward to some constructive replies !

[The Minkey]

Bad luck about the work, Tim. If you run a search on the ED businesses, restaurants & trades forum, you should find a lot of recommendations from people who've had this kind of work done. I've found it to be really useful.

[lbullen]

Dear Tim,I heard about the work conducted by Crosings at you property from Ed at Arborisics I understand that Crossings cut out theoccluded wounds on your tree, highly inadvisable and hen were contemplating spraying the stem? It is certainly a cowboy who knows nothing of treepathology or british standards for Treework. You should gt in touch with both the Arboricultural Association and BBC rogue traders. If you are instigating legal action.

I would be happy to provide an arboricultural report at no cost. We need to ensure standards in the industry and protect other residents from Crossings.

Kind regards,

Liam Bullen

Lead Surveyor and Managing Diector

NEuleaf

[jules b]

What is it with people who work on gardens, paving, fences etc? We've had so many people let us down that it is now nearly 18months since we hired someone to pave an area of our back yard... and it's still just an area of gravel and weeds. The latest person is still promising to turn up and finish it (6weeks after the proposed start date, - he says he's running late due to rain slowing down previous jobs, -really??? Have we had 6weeks worth of rain in the past 3months?) but we'll see.

Anyway, obviously I have no recommendations for that sort of work, but can highly recommend Hamish of Cut Above Tree Care for anything to do with trees. Search for him on here, you'll see lots of recommendations (including mine).

[ED - NAGAIUTB]

How did you pay for the work?

If you paid by either credit or debit card, you have redress through the card issuer. This includes a debit card, despite what your bank might tell you!

[edcam]

You should definitely heed Liam's advice above and report them. You may be able to get your money back and prevent them from operating in this way, or indeed at all.

[Tim Ward]

I have reported them, but not having a postcode makes it difficult. I paid them by bank transfer.

Some people have to scrounge a living whatever way they can.

Hey Ho.

[sheilarose]

Nick Keogh did a good job on our fences, trellis and decking. You can get in touch with him at nicholas@timbertask.co.uk

[lbullen]

Dear Tim,

I was not aware of anyprofessional arboricultural use of Murphy Mortagg, and the answer is simple. There isn't one. You are right it is a withdrawn product and was designed to treat aphid eggs on fruit trees, it has no effect on Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner (which has been downgraded to a cosmetic disorder, along with the leaf blight). It would not have been sprayed which is done when the tree is in full leaf as it is a Wash. Advice is merely to attempt to prevent the continuation of the life cycle of the beetle (Camerera ohridella) by collecting and disposing (burning) of all leaf material each Autumn/Winter.

In respect of this I think you have a very good case of Fraud and of Negligence by Crossings.

Speak soon,

Liam Bullen

NEUleaf

[Alan Medic]

Something about this thread stinks...........

[lbullen]

Constructive criticism?