This is amazing

allmark

allmark

Participating member
This is unbeleivable
This tree service has been coming in our area alot. Im glad he finally got caught.

http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/503...t/?ap=1&MP4

Updated 04/28/2010 06:07 AM
Tree service operator accused of overcharging elderly resident
By: Erin Connolly

A man is under arrest accused of scamming an elderly woman. Authorities say a tree service operator ripped her off while ripping out her shrubs. Our Erin Connolly has more on that story.



RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Sgt. Shane Holcomb of the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office said, ''There were four pine trees that were taken down, some other trees were trimmed and shrubs.''

According to Rensselaer County sheriff's investigators, David Barber, Sr. of Vermont charged an elderly woman $58,000 to cut and trim some of the trees at her Brunswick home. In fact, the work should have cost just $8,000.

Sgt. Holcomb said, ''Afterwards she realized she probably shouldn't have gone through with these jobs she had completed. She actually couldn't afford to have them done and she was very embarrassed by the situation.''

Barber works for Barber & Son Tree Service & General Contracting out of Vermont. Authorities say they were tipped off to his scheme after a local bank noticed some suspicious transactions. When they caught up with him, Barber was in the middle of allegedly trying to swindle another elderly couple.

Sgt. Holcomb said, ''Unfortunately these type of people seek out individuals they feel can be an easy target and may be reluctant to come forward for fear of retribution or embarrassment.''

Barber is charged with third-degree grand larceny, which is a felony. We spoke to him on the phone Tuesday. He said he's innocent but wouldn't comment further. Meanwhile, authorities believe Barber has ripped off more people than just this one woman.

Sgt. Holcomb said, ''It's very unfortunate. And she's heartbroken. And she's suffering financially because of this and hopefully we can come to a good resolution.''

Barber has been released from jail. His next court appearance is set for May 5. If you think you've been a victim of Barber or his tree service company, you're asked to call the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office at (518) 266-1981.
 
Well, if he needs $100 bucks, there is a thread on here with a craigslist add for a tree to be removed and hauled away. It could help with court cost..... what a sorry sob
 
Any half-assed forensic accountant working with a Consulting Arborist would be able to reconstruct a reasonable cost for a job like this. If CAs can establish the value of a tree loss when all that's left is a stump they surely could come up with a projected cost for this work.

Scum like this should be put in stocks in front of city hall where they can be the target of humiliation. Forcing them to wear a 'badge' like Hester Prynne, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Letter
had to wear.
 
Why is it that our industry seems to have an overabundance of these clowns? I know that other service industries have them too, but we just seem to have more. There are two of these clowns in my area that do this also. Usually they don't finish the job though. I have cited them before and they usually blow off the court appearance. In 2007, we caught them and one had 4 bench warrents out on him. He was escorted to jail, spent 2 days there, made bail and when he did appear, the judge just slapped his hand with a minor fine. The next week, he was back to his old tricks. Certainly makes a case for state licensing of tree contractors, but then, the reputable guys will seek the proper licensing and the goofs will still be illegal. Anyone have a better solution?
 
People that do things like that are filthy... the thing is, most people with that much sand are working for banks and insurance companies... and nobody is charging them with anything. "It's not personal, just business." Buyer beware and all that crap.

It's sad and I'm not minimizing how wrong his actions were, but $58K is smalltime. A lot bigger ripoffs happen every day in front of god and everybody with no repercussion at all.

I hope Barber and Son goes out of business and the victim gets restitution AND big damages.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Well, if he needs $100 bucks, there is a thread on here with a craigslist add for a tree to be removed and hauled away. It could help with court cost..... what a sorry sob

[/ QUOTE ]
laughabove.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why is it that our industry seems to have an overabundance of these clowns?

[/ QUOTE ]

It can only be theorized. But, I think public ignorance of our industry is one factor. So, with that ingnorance, I bet the man accused told her it would normally cost "$100,000 dollars, but since you're an elderly woman, I'll do it for $58,000 dollars."

Another guess is that many trades have a lot of cons. Literally, ex-cons who are not rehabilitated (don't attack me for calling a spade a spade. Trust me, I believe there may cons in many trades who are rehabilitated) who play the game. They don't carry insurance, they don't know squat about trees, etc... But, they are great manipulators and get someone to cave into their pressured tactics.

$58k!
mad.gif
 
It makes me glad that my elderly parents are tight wads and $100 is too much to spend on a good pair of shoes.

We had the same scam going on in this area during the 98 ice storm. The guy would actually escort the lady to the bank to get paid. For $800 - $1500 in work, he would charge over $10,000.
 
i had to help the cops guessimate a completed job once,
This scumbag did a maybe 4K job. charged the old lady 12k, he had alzhiemers creep came back and collected a second and third ck for the same job. Bank notifyed cops not sure whatever happened to the guy. Frs make us all look bad
 
[ QUOTE ]
People that do things like that are filthy... the thing is, most people with that much sand are working for banks and insurance companies... and nobody is charging them with anything. "It's not personal, just business." Buyer beware and all that crap.

It's sad and I'm not minimizing how wrong his actions were, but $58K is smalltime. A lot bigger ripoffs happen every day in front of god and everybody with no repercussion at all.

I hope Barber and Son goes out of business and the victim gets restitution AND big damages.

[/ QUOTE ]

I 2nd this. My health insurance co. just notified me that due to me moving they would have to raise my rates by $65 a month.

Thing is I havent moved in 6 years...... Coorperations lie and steal every day, just a mistake.....
 
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Did that guy get caught too?

[/ QUOTE ]

He did and they are currently filing charges.

Do you think this publicity will help news viewers to make better decisions when hiring a tree company or will it just pass them by?
 
Oh Ya, for sure they are every where! We got a few of them. One guy recently got out of prison, so I am waiting, to start hearing his name. Won't hesitate on turning him in. A few years back he had kicked me a couple of stumps. Great, here is my number, call me any time. A couple of months later I went past a place to see if they was ready to get there job done "right next to my buddies house" and so happens this guy was doing it. I stop and talk to him for a bit. Give him my num agian. He says that he has a job coming up with a couple of big stumps. OK, cool! A few days after this my friend call me up and tells me to get over and finish the job. Made a quick $250, all they was going to save was $50 and not get the stump done.

Within a week we get called by a good friend of my dad to go see an elder couple. We pull up and I see a maple trunk that someone could not cut, and two trees that was mutalated. She says they made them leave before they could touch any other trees. And the guy threatened them for all the money. She was litteraly scared of him still. She didn't even know the mane so I thew a name up in the air, SAME GUY. I gave her a direction to start in, about going after him, and offered to go to court or whatever. Never herd any thing else about it, but did finish the job, and tried to clean the trees up.

But these things are not misfortunate, they are just plain wrong! I am glad to hear of one story turning out for the good. I would tell about my own G-ma getting ripped of on a small stump that she did not think that I had time to do, but I think that I have said enough for now!

<u>Good Day!</u>
 
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