Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On September 30, 2024, I received a delivery via ChipDrop at ********************************************** by **********************. The chip material was fantastic and I appreciate it. However, the driver damaged the front of my garage with the back of his truck as it tilted up, and then, as he drove off, his truck leaked out liquid onto my driveway and street which has not evaporated or otherwise become less unsightly in these following two months. Someone needs to clean up this toxic ****** have attempted to email ********************** over the course of the last month, with photos included, but they have never responded. ChipDrop has similarly stopped responding after they were made aware of **********************'s shucking of responsibility.

  Business response

  12/12/2024

  We were in contact with ***** and the last correspondence we have is an email from us to her giving her the info for the tree company. We state in our Expectations of Service that damages to property are to be facilitated between gardener and arborist (those who receive the chips and those who drop them). Given this, we can't offer any assistance to the homeowner more than what we've already given. We're extremely sorry for the trouble and damages here, but do hope they can get cleared and assuaged by the appropriate entity. 

  Customer response

  12/14/2024

  Complaint: 22591044
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  "Any damage to property, with the exception of the driveway, as a result of an arborist's truck, or the chips or logs they drop, is the responsibility of the arborist." - *************************************************

  The arborist refuses to communicate with me. Without ChipDrop rejecting the ability of the arborist to use ChipDrop's services any longer, the arborist is effectively free to cause any damage they would like, to anyone. Gardeners don't have money to sue arborists when they do the kind of thing they did to me. ChipDrop must either get the arborist to clean up the chemicals in the street in front of my house, or remove the arborist's ability to be a ChipDrop partner. All of the other arborists from my six other drops acted professionally. This one is a rotten egg.

  Sincerely,
  ***** Catterwaul

  Business response

  12/23/2024

  While ChipDrop has done all we can to provide the contact info to the gardener in this case and upheld the Expectations in the situation. We can look into this option and will do so. 

  Customer response

  12/24/2024

  Complaint: 22591044
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Elite Tree Experts obviously made themselves contactable via ChipDrop. They will respond to ChipDrop, but not the person whose property they ruinedme. I don't want to be the reason they get banned from ChipDrop. I want to be the reason someone teaches them how to act like human beings, so we can all live peacefully again, instead of me being infuriated looking outside every day. ChipDrop hasn't facilitated me being able to contact Elite Tree Experts, so ChipDrop is the only party who has the capability to set things right.
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** Catterwaul

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Gave clear instructions with pictures for drop location. They dropped in front of my garage and blocked that and my yard gate. Reached out to company and was given the run around for a month before they simply stopped responding.

  Business response

  11/21/2024

  We have been in communication with ******. The arborist dropped the mulch as close to the targeted area within their knowledge of the request and the drop description that he left. We are still in communication with ****** through email should he need us. 

  Customer response

  11/21/2024

   
  Complaint: 22585571
  
  I am rejecting this response because: they stopped responded to my emails 2 weeks ago. It was not close, they dumped it directly in front of my garage. Im a disabled veteran and cannot move all these chips at once. I need access to my vehicle to get to and from VA appts. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ******

  Business response

  12/04/2024

  Our last correspondence to ****** was on Nov 18th and since then he hasn't gotten back to us. Unfortunately, we won't be able to help facilitate the moving of the material even though we wish we could. We're very sorry about the trouble. 

  Customer response

  12/04/2024

   
  Complaint: 22585571
  
  I am rejecting this response because: another blatant lie. As the attached photo shows, I not only responded on the 18th but the 21st as well. They have yet to offer any solution. They said they reached out to the tree company and thats all they said. I reject their response because not only does it STILL not offer a solution, its an outright lie as shown. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ******

  Business response

  12/12/2024

  Thanks for the image showing the email was sent. 

  I can confirm that we don't have that email in our inbox. Is it possible that the email was sent to yourself or someone else? I notice that at the top it said "****** ******" To: ****** ******. I do not mean to demean, but we do no have that last correspondence in our system so the email must have gone somewhere else. 

  Nevertheless, we've explained in previous emails that the drop was made reasonably withing the bounds of what we'd expect when placing a request and with the details provided. We cannot be of further help moving or removing the material that was dropped and we're very sorry about that. 

  Customer response

  12/12/2024

   
  Complaint: 22585571
  
  I am rejecting this response because: nothing theyve said is new. They blocked me into my own home. In what world is that reasonable? Joke of A company run by clowns. Youll also see in the email yall were CCd so you did in fact get it. Yall lie, never return emails. Said you reached out to the arborist. Go ahead and give me their information and Ill grab yalls address online for small claims court. Thanks for nothing. Cya in court ????
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ******

  Business response

  12/23/2024

  We apologize for all of the trouble here. We never received any further correspondence from Mr. ****** and have triple checked our emails. Either way, we won't be able to assist in the picking up or moving of the material. We do hope it serves your yard/garden well. 

  Customer response

  12/23/2024

   
  Complaint: 22585571
  
  I am rejecting this response because: more lies. I ccd them on emails. If they cant move the wood chips out in the wrong spot, as previously stated I will simply seek legal action. Im a disabled veteran and cant get my vehicle in and out of my garage and they blocked my gate to my yard. Bunch of clowns????????
  
  
  
  ****** ******

• Initial Complaint

  09/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Chip Drop allowed one of their contract vendors to drop off an unacceptable load of "chips" in my driveway. This is a load that should have gone to the landfill. it does not meet the criteria as posted on the Chip Drop website. I have contacted the **************, and they won't even come out to verify my complaint. I have contact Chip Drop and they seem to feel it is acceptable because of the pictures that I sent them. It is truly a load of garbage that I have in my driveway that is unacceptable to be used as mulch throughout my yard. Chip Drop needs to have their contract vendor come by and pick up this mess asap. This gives them a bad name as well as their contract vendor.

  Business response

  09/24/2024

  ******* reached out to us and we took a look at the drop he received and while it does have a large amount of greenery and unchipped brush it isn't more than we expect from a drop through our service. Every drop will roughly be 50% leafy material. A species he received in this drop (palm) isn't capable of being chipped into actual woodchips but the material itself makes great mulch and is allowed through our service. 

• Initial Complaint

  09/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Chipdrop does not verify there Contractors. Chipdrop allowed an arborist/landscaper to use my property and a landfill.I requested a delivery of logs. Based on their website I assumed the logs would be fresh cut trees with no insects. I was delivered a pile of rotting and decayed set of logs filled with termites. Species of tress cannot be determined based on deteriorating condition. Before the logs were dumped, I refused the order/shipment. However, the deliver had already opened the door and a few shifted. The driver said he had to drop the logs and get a claw in order to safely be back on the road. Of course, I said OK and believed the driver in saying he would come back. The company never did. Chipdrop says to work through them for customer service. They did absolutely nothing to resolve the issue and said it was my problem to have the logs removed. I got an estimate and it will cost 3.5k to have them taken to a landfill based on estimated size and weight of this load. The company that illegally dumped the logs contracted by chip drop was **************************** Phone: ************** Email: ************************************* The material delivered is considered debris garbage.

  Customer response

  09/20/2024

   

  To BBB,

   

  Thank you for what you do. The company had a crew come by and pick up the debris hours afters you pushed it to the business. 

   

  Much appreciated that businesses still respect the BBB and considered the situation closed and resolved because of our organization. 

   

  Sincerely,

   

  ********************;

• Initial Complaint

  08/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Bark chips were delivered to the curb in late June 2024 for a house across the street. The pile is still there, spreading with time, and accumulating spiderwebs and trash. It makes it difficult for cars to pass and for me and my guests to get into my driveway across the street. The pile is also very close to a fire hydrant, which could be a problem for a fire truck. The neighborhood was just newly renovated as an erosion and drainage project. When the rains come, it is going to cause that problem all over again with bark chips flooding the street. They are unsighly and annoying.Thank you!

  Business response

  09/03/2024

  We are only in charge of dropping the chips where the homeowner stated it was okay to drop them. If the pile has been there for a long time then it's on the homeowner who put in the request to use them before they become a hindrance to neighbors and others alike. We apologize for the trouble, but once the drop is on the ground it's out of ours and the arborists hands what happens to it. We hope it gets used soon! 

  Customer response

  09/03/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Is there a city resource I can contact to address the issue with the owner of the bark chips? Thank you!
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  06/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am writing to formally complain about the unauthorized delivery of wood chips to my residence at **************************************************************. This is the second time this incident has occurred, and it is causing significant inconvenience and damage.On June 7th at 730AM, a large amount of wood chips were dumped in front of my house without my order or consent. My address is ********************************. Our neighbors down the street are the ones who ordered the wood chips, but they were dumped at our address due to a lack of diligence in fulfilling other peoples delivery obligations. Leaving wood chips at a random house due to laziness or lack of effort is unacceptable. Our neighbors shared with us that they specifically explained that they live around the block in Unit B and sent photos of the home when they requested this order. This mistake has resulted in a huge mess that we are left to clean up and has caused damage to our lawn and plants.It is illegal to dump materials at a residence without permission or consent. I expect immediate action to rectify this situation. If your workers are unable to locate the exact delivery address, they legally cant dump wood chips in front of a random house. This practice is not acceptable and must be stopped immediately.Please arrange for the immediate removal of the wood chips from my property and take the necessary steps to prevent this mistake from happening again. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your swift resolution.Sincerely,************************* ************

  Business response

  06/10/2024

  We are currently in talks with ******* through email and are attempting to get to the bottom of this. It looks like an honest mistake by the arborist and we'll be working with both parties to get this resolved! 

  Customer response

  06/10/2024

   
  Complaint: 21820909
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  Despite several previous emails requesting the removal of this debris, I have yet to receive any response that the debris is getting cleaned up or see any action taken. It is important to reiterate that just because the correct house for dumping the debris could not be located does not mean it is acceptable to leave it in front of another property around the block.

  As previously communicated, this debris has not been picked up despite multiple requests. I must inform you that dumping debris in front of another property is illegal and constitutes a violation of Portlands city codes.
  
  I urge you to take immediate action to remove the debris and wood chips from our property. Failure to do so may result in us having to escalate this matter to the relevant city authorities.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business response

  06/26/2024

  We have email confirmation from the homeowner that the drop was moved correctly to the appropriate location as of the 12th of June. 

• Initial Complaint

  06/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Violated their terms of service. Dumped wood chips that are not properly chipped. Their own site states no more than 5 percent of the load will be non chipped stringy material. Most of my load is wood stumps. Stringy non chipped mulch. And they refuse to do anything. All I asked was for them to remove this trash and they refuse.

  Business response

  06/10/2024

  We've spoken with *** through email and received photos of the load he received. We've examined it and determined that it does meet our Expectations, and will make good mulch for his yard/garden. We apologize for the difference in expectations. 

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Chip drop had an arborist drop off a load of 100% brush and branches. Its not chips or logs or anything I signed up for. Its blocking my driveway and crushing my plants on the right side outside of the driveway. As well as blocking the sidewalk. Chip drop states it only will leave what can be moved with two hands. This load would take days and hours to move and I have no where to put branches like this. This is ridiculous it was ever dumped in my driveway in the first place. These branches need to be removed from my driveway The arborist texted me and I said I was not home. And he said he had mostly wood and brush and I texted back and said chips? What do you mean by brush? And he came and dropped it off any way?

  Business response

  05/16/2024

  ********* reached out to us recently through email, we are still working through that and are hoping to reach a resolution soon. The arborist delivered a load of branches and not logs.

• Initial Complaint

  04/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  they dropped diseased chips after we told the crew to leave our property and not drop them and not return. They purposely suffocated our expensive landscaping including flowers and trees we had just planted. The diseased chips infected the rest of our landscaping and we now have thousands of dollars worth of damage. They admitted it was wrong and then did nothing about it. They literally did this a few days before Christmas. The crew hid out and waited for a time that we would leave to sneak back on the property and dump it exactly where they knew not to dump it. We even had it displayed on the chip drop website to contact us first and only dump in another spot. We told them several times.

  Business response

  04/08/2024

  *********** reached out to us in regards to this drop back in 2022. The drop happened on the 19th of December and He (or his daughter) gave permission to the arborist to bring a second load of woodchips outside of our service (ChipDrop). He complained about this, but the arborist sent over the texts showing they gave permission to drop at their residence a second time as well as a picture of where to drop the mulch. Since this was outside of our service it doesn't fall under our banner or terms, but even thought it falls outside of our umbrella the drop was made where they requested it. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I signed up for Chip Drop and on 3-18-24 received a message that an arborist--Tippy Top Tree-- would be dropping off a load of wood chips at my house.Chip Drop partners with local arborists to drop off wood chips at residences free of charge. Their terms of service state that the **** load will be 20 cubic yds. I understood this and was willing to accept that amount. However, the load dropped off appeared to be double that amount--40 cubic yds. And, strangely, the arborist contacted Chip Drop saying they were unable to drop any load at all:"The arborist who was supposed to drop woodchips...reported that they could not drop for the following reason:'Our crew didn't need a drop site after all. Sorry for the trouble. Please add yourself back to the list if you'd still like to receive a delivery.'"I confirmed with Chip Drop that the load had been dropped and I didn't need any more, despite what the arborist said.On 3/31, having used what I calculated to be 20 cubic yds, I contacted Chip Drop with pictures asking if I had received a double load. They said I probably didn't understand how much 20 cubic yards is, said I should provide camera footage, and said that the arborist (whom they now named Axl and not Tippy Top Tree) has good standing with them.I don't have camera footage, so replied on 4/1/24 with pictures and videos measuring out the pile that was left (I had received two equal piles, which I initially provided photos of) and showing how it matched the space where I had used the other pile (which can be seen from the wood chips still on the ground). My measurements showed about 20' by 14' by 4' (~41 cubic yards) had been dropped.I am awaiting a reply from Chip Drop about the actual arborist involved/amount dropped.

  Business response

  04/04/2024

  ****** has reached out to us about this delivery, and it is with our internal team for review, so we can discuss the amount that was dropped. The asking of camera footage was in relation to the chance that two drops happened instead of just one and the mention of Axl is a part of our team who first took ******'s email. Axl was not the arborist/company who made the drop. 

  Customer response

  04/04/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩