advice for hiring a tree trimmer

[Simpler Times]

We just had a very negative experience with someone I was trying to hire to trim some damaged tree limbs overhanging a house we have in the city. The guy gave me a good price ($250 to put several overhanging limbs on the ground so we can deal with them) but he got really weird about the contract. He was supposed to do the cutting this Fri. He had told me he left the contract one place and actually left it another. After one semi-irate call from him wondering where the signed contract was, we found it and told him we would get it back to him by yesterday. Long story short, we didn't and this morning he actually came to the house (he said for the ninth time...since Sat when we first started negotiations) and *opened* our front door when we didn't respond quickly enough to his knock! My husband talked to him and said we would get the contract to him later today. He was somewhat irate then but only said he would have to reschedule to sometime next week. I then called him and left a message on his machine telling him we needed to see his proof of insurance but would bring the contract to him (he just lives down the street) today. He called back and was very haughty, said he would have to schedule us "sometime in the future". I told him that was fine but he continued to be pretty obnoxious because we hadn't snapped to attention as expected on signing the contract right away. Finally, I apologized again (reiterating that I had been sick) and asked him if he wanted the job or not. Once again, he was pretty obnoxious and told me again that he had been here nine times (since Sat?) and no he didn't want the job. I am kinda in disbelief. I wonder if this industry really expects a contract signed within hours of giving a quote for services? Was my asking for proof of insurance what set him off? Actually, although I really need the limbs cut, I am kinda relieved to be finished with him. Sometimes things that appear to good to be true (the price for the trimming) really are too good to be true. Never-the-less, I am left with bad feelings circling my head and a neighbor that will likely do everything he can now to cause problems for me...I just get the feeling he is that kind of guy.

[agmantoo]

Ditch the guy and start over elsewhere. Appears to me he was going to rip you off. Recently there has been a scamp in my area by roofers that want a contract "right now" then try to sue for lost wages if there is any delay.

[Common Tator]

I wouldn't do business with a flake like that, and I wouldn't do business unless he had a copy of his insurance for you to keep. You need to see that he is covered for liability in case he damages your house or injures someone, and you need to see what coverage he has for himself and employees in case they are injured on your property. Here, in California I see a certificate of insurance for the liability stuff, and paperwork showing that they are covered under Workers Comp if injured on my property.