MOUNT PLYMOUTH, Fla. – A Lake County man said not doing his research could end up costing him.
Bill Rine had just paid thousands of dollar to have his roof replaced.
Months later, he hired a tree-trimming service that, he said, damaged the roof.
"I thought they were a legit company," Rine said.
When Rine wanted to have trees trimmed, he did what many others do. He hired a company that was doing work on a neighbor's home.
He said it was the worst thing he could have done. "I would not recommend anybody use them," he said.
Rine said he hired A Southern Style Tree Service.
While trimming the trees, Rine said, the company clipped a limb that fell and punctured his roof.
It was damage he didn't immediately notice.
"Late afternoon, it started to pour," he said "Next thing we know, we've got a stream of water coming down into our living room."
Rine said he patched the roof himself and has tried for weeks to get the company to pay for the damage.
He said the owner of the company has not returned his phone calls. "I just want the company to pay for the repair to our ceiling and our roof," he said.
The company's online reviews are less than stellar.
One customer wrote they "paid $2800 up front and the job was never finished," according to one review.
"They will take your money and disappear," another customer wrote.
The Better Business Bureau gave the company an F-rating.
The owner of A Southern Style Tree Service said he is not responsible for Rine's roof damage.
He said he doesn't know how it happened.
When hiring a company to do work on your property, make sure the company has personal and property damage liability insurance.
And verify it. You can have certificates of insurance issued directly to you from the company's insurance carrier.