Atlanta locksmith complaint

COMPLAINT: Joanne Wells, Acworth,  Ga.

"I hired A Team Locksmith to replace the locks. I had a new home and my husband’s keys had been stolen the night before. I asked their worker many times how much each lock was going to cost, and he kept avoiding my question.

"He did eventually tell me one lock would be $95. He did not tell me that each other door would be $45, plus another $35 for removal and installation. My total bill came to $850!

"When I got out the phone book to call them, I noticed their ad offers a 10 percent discount for new homes and theft victims, and I fit into both categories.

"Their worker never mentioned the discount, even though I told him about the theft. I was also told the new keys would be Schlege brand, but they’re not. 

"I’ve called many times and keep getting excuses about why the owner can’t talk to me."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I expect to be given the 10 percent discount. I would also like an explanation as to why I was given a different brand of key and why I haven’t received any response after many attempts."

STATUS: Penalty Box.

Atlanta landscaping complaint

COMPLAINT: Shawn Arnette, Lawrenceville, Ga.

"I hired Sod Sales Direct to build a bridge across a creek, plant bushes and install sod in my backyard. The bridge and bushes turned out fine. However, the sod is a very different story.

"Grass started dying almost immediately and continued through the summer. By late summer, more than half had died and will have to be replanted. Yet I paid for and was promised a beautiful yard for summer!

"I called owner Phil Polak numerous times to tell him what was going on, and he never came out and looked over his work. He told me he’d come back out and replant in the fall.

"Then, I received a letter from a third-party supplier I had neither met nor contracted with, stating that Polak hadn’t paid for the sod he bought. I was told to pay the bill or face a lien on my property.

"In effect, I will have paid twice for sod that is now mostly dead."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I want Sod Sales Direct to pay the supplier in full to get me off the hook. I also want them to come back to my property and aerate, fertilize and replant the sod."

RESPONSE: Phil Polak, owner, Sod Sales Direct

"I provided a very satisfactory job, on time and within his budget. I used fescue sod in the backyard. I was hesitant to do this, because of fescue’s intolerance to Georgia’s treacherous summer heat and the member did not have irrigation.

"The member promised to water every day. He did not, and that is probably why the fescue developed a fungus and died. I have paid the sod bill and will aerate and reseed his land at no additional cost."

STATUS: Resolved

Editor’s note: Polak paid the supplier. He also agreed to refund Arnette $200 to cover the cost of having someone else redo the work. Arnette accepted this resolution.