Before You Hire a Tree Service, Check With the City First
With fall storms and winter weather on the way, many Holiday Island residents are thinking about trimming or removing trees. Before you hire anyone, please take a few minutes to protect yourself.
The City has recently received several complaints about a tree trimming and removal company working in Holiday Island without a City business license and possibly without proper insurance. Residents have reported:
Work started without the homeowner’s permission
Bills for more than the agreed price, or for work that was never done
Pressure and intimidation to pay for work that wasn’t authorized or completed
Protect yourself with these simple steps:
First, check the City website to verify if they have a Business License. Before any work begins, look online or call us at 479-379-8040 to confirm the company holds a current Holiday Island business license. It takes just a minute.
Ask for proof of insurance. A reputable tree service should provide a certificate of liability insurance (and workers’ compensation if they have employees). Tree work is dangerous. If an uninsured worker is injured or damages your home or a neighbor’s property, you could be held responsible.
Get it in writing. Insist on a written estimate and agreement that lists exactly which trees will be trimmed or removed, whether stumps and debris will be hauled away, the total price, and the payment terms.
Don’t pay in full up front. Pay when the work is finished to your satisfaction.
Say no to pressure. Be cautious of anyone who knocks on your door offering a deal “today only” or who starts work before you’ve agreed to it. You are never obligated to pay for work you didn’t authorize.
Get more than one estimate and ask neighbors for recommendations.
If you’ve had a problem with a tree service, please contact the Holiday Island Code Enforcement Officer 479-364-2180. You may also file a complaint online with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. If you feel threatened, contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at 870-423-2901, or call 911 in an emergency.
Thank you for helping keep Holiday Island residents safe.
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