We work in and out of town, and rely on snow removal service to ensure that our sidewalks and driveway are cared for during winter. We had used Monster Plowing, and they were pretty good (see my 2011 review), but the last time we used them, they were awful - that is, IF they came at all, and often they did not. We fielded constant complaints from neighbours and locals regarding the state of our sidewalks. We had to do constant plowing ourselves. Please note that this was the case with even minor snowfalls, not just storms. They created a huge pile of snow (which turned to a solid block of ice), in our driveway, rendering the parking spot unusable for the rest of winter. They did not come for days after snowfalls to plow. They insisted our property had to be hand shoveled and charged us a premium for this, but used a truck - which, as they warned us, did a horrible job. They still charged the "by hand" premium. They charged us for a portion of our property that they NEVER plowed despite multiple reminders from us. The manager was near impossible to reach by phone, and when we finally heard back...he told us to just wait until the snow melted by itself. This is not what we paid for.
NOTE: This review was written Oct 2014, but actually published in Feb 2015, as Monster Snow Plowing company tried to block my negative review by claiming that we were not their clients at all. An obvious electronic money trail submitted to Homestars showed that we were clients, and thus the review was published. The next company tactic was to attempt to discredit the review by character assassination of the client, claiming that they were threatened and blackmailed. Not only does Monster get 0/10 for snow removal and service, they also get 0/10 for integrity. Consider this before you give these people your money. Multiple recent reviews clearly state that others experienced the same horrible service that I did. This company should spend more time improving their service and less time trying to evade honest reviews, even if they are negative. It is not clear to my why the company service declined after 2011. Perhaps they do not care much about their residential clients, and focus more on the commercial property contracts. They were an 8/10 back in 2011 (they were good, not great, but they tried hard...at least the owner Mikael did). They could be good again, or even great if they chose to be...they just have to care, and as numerous reviews state, they simply do not. Mikael, you had a good company once. Take charge and make it good again.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $2,000.00
- Company Response
This review was left in October 2014 - a year after we had last had a contract with this former client. If you look at her review history, she had actually left our company an 8/10 review a few years ago. This past season, she was not offered a renewal contract - hence the spiteful review left in October. In fact, this review was left about 3 hours after she called our office demanding the pricing she paid from 3 years ago, demanding service acceptance on her terms, and demanding for us to sign her up immediately for her former price. She informed our office that if we did not oblige, she would leave the worst review online that she could muster. Well, she wasn't joking, as 3 hours later this review was posted. We tried for Homestars to take it down (as she has already left us a review a couple years ago) but Homestars did not oblige.
As for her concerns, the "by hand" premium was charged to clear her two flights of about 40 steps each leading up to her front and side doors (she lives on a hilly street in high park). The snow piling was performed as requested on her property - off to the side of the garage doors. Her driveway is sloped up. We had never insisted her driveway be hand shovelled, and charged her for plowing of the driveway, and shovelling of the corner city sidewalk, flights of steps, porches, and walkways. Either way, I guess she was not happy primarily with the price, as if the service was so bad it is strange that she so desperately wanted us to continue servicing her property.