Beware of Insurance claims
I wanted to share my experience with R&A Tree Service and Ryland Popke regarding an insurance-related tree removal claim on my home. While the actual work they performed was done well, the business side of the experience was very disappointing and stressful.
If you are planning to use this company for an insurance claim, make sure you fully understand the payment expectations upfront and have cash available before agreeing to any work. In my case, I never received a clear price before the work was completed. After the fact, I was presented with an invoice totaling over $12,000. I later had another company provide a quote for the same work, and their estimate was only $5,200 — a huge difference.
The most frustrating part has been the payment process with insurance. My insurance company sent payment directly to R&A Tree Service, but the amount was about $500 less than the invoice they submitted. Instead of working cooperatively through the insurance process, they immediately began discussing liens, interest charges, and additional pressure tactics while still requesting breakdowns and documentation from the insurance company.
"I need this resolved immediately so we can avoid further escalation, additional costs, and continued lien enforcement proceedings."
Again, the workmanship itself was good, but I strongly recommend getting 2–3 bids before signing anything and making sure pricing is agreed to in writing beforehand. If your project involves an insurance claim, proceed carefully and make sure you understand exactly how payment timing and billing disputes will be handled.\
* Please note I had to open two separate Claims with American Modern to try to get R&A tree service Paid. The insurance company was not easy to deal with, and apparently it's not over yet!
