The Police Department has already seen reports of Tree Service Scammers in the area, including Billerica.  Here’s some helpful information to ensure you are not victimized by unsavory people looking to make a quick pay day.

• Don’t pay upfront.  Be very wary of any request to pay deposits or other fees for tree work in advance.  Out-of-state tree cutters have been known to collect deposits and then disappear without performing any work.  Only pay when the work is done and you are satisfied.

• Avoid fly-by-night companies and illegal solicitation.  Tree services that knock on your door or that just arrived in town from another state (often Maine) may not stick around to finish the job.  Or, even worse, may attempt to distract you outside so a partner can enter your home and steal property.  Choose local companies with good reputations for the best results.  Door to door solicitation is illegal in Billerica without a license. Call BPD if you are solicited and they don’t have a visible license. If they are not listed here then police should be called.

• Check out the company.  Contact the MA Attorney Generals Office and the Better Business Bureau to see if they have complaints against the company.  Ask the company for local references, and look online for reviews of its work.

• Make sure the company is insured.  If a tree removal service claims to have insurance, don’t just take their word for it. Contact the insurer directly and ask them to send you a copy of the tree removal service’s certificate of insurance.

• Find out a fair price. Be skeptical of any price that seems unusually high or low. To find out the going rate for tree removal, get written estimates from more than one company.  Check with friends who’ve had tree work done recently to see what they paid and who they would recommend.

• Don’t let anyone rush you. If an offer is only good “now or never,” find someone else to do the job.  And if the tree isn’t on your house or blocking your driveway, you may be better off waiting a few days or weeks to have it removed.

Please call the PD if you suspect your neighborhood is being canvassed by unlicensed solicitors.