Lawn Service

I knew from the beginning that it was too good to be true. Now I have found out that it was. 6 weeks ago I found a lawn care service and had the owner come give me an estimate. They told me that if I lived in town it would be more than half the cost, but with my mountain and the travel distance it would be more. I agreed and they were to start the next week (coming on either Thursdays or Fridays.) The next week the workers came and I took them around the property and showed them what I wanted done. The first time would be more work removing bushes, etc. and not merely mowing. They got to work and when they were done they handed me a bill. I wrote a check and mailed it out the next day. I thought that things were now settled and that for the first time in over 7 years I wouldn't have to mow my yard (or take care of the leaves in the Fall.) I got my hopes up for nothing. In the 5 weeks since the first time they came the yard doesn't look like it has been mowed. Even when I see them working and then check the yard when they leave the grass is still pretty high. I mentioned it to the owner and asked that they lower the blades. There was one week (over the 4th of July weekend) where they didn't come that Thursday or Friday. My dad called the owner and they eventually came that Saturday. I was leaving for Colorado that Sunday and my dad for Iraq that Monday.  Then they didn't come at all this week. I waited until after business hours today just to make sure and then sent the owner an e-mail saying that because of the unreliability in the 6 weeks of using their company I was cancelling my service with them. I asked him to send me my bill for the work they had done (minus the first week which I already paid for.)  The owner then replied that his crew had come yesterday and saw that the yard didn't need to be mowed and that they should have left a note on my door saying that they had stopped by and that they didn't need to mow. I replied that I work from home and that no one had stopped by all week much less left a message. I then went outside and took a picture of the yard (where the grass is up to my ankle) and sent it to the owner. The owner replied that it clearly needed to be mowed - duh!  - and that if I wanted he would personally come do it himself tomorrow. Rather than keep "fighting" with them and getting more stress I will keep my cancellation with them and mow the yard myself. Hopefully, I can find another company to take care of the leaves this Fall. I just wish I could find one person in this state that actually does what they agree to do and not hide or make excuses. It is the one place I have lived around the US and the world that this has constantly happened.