ROCKFORD, Mich. — Some West Michigan residents say they are out of thousands of dollars after paying Choice One Lawn & Snow, LLC based in Rockford to plow for the 2023-2024 snow season when suddenly the company announced via email to customers the decision to close because of financial issues, with no means of refunding customers who paid for their snow to be plowed.
“I was sitting at my desk at work and I literally was like my heart sank because I’m like oh crap what are we going to do,” said Keri Kerr.
Kerr of Rockford says she hired the snow plowing company to remove the snow in their neighborhood on Tiffany Creek and paid the owner in full months in advance.
“We paid him in full $2,900 for our contract for our main road here on Tiffany Creek, and he literally left like there's nothing we could do,” Kerr said.
Contracts obtained by residents show the amount was paid for snow to be removed Nov. 15 through Mar. 15, 2024, but Kerr says the last time they saw a plow truck was on Jan. 15.
“Then when you email everybody back you say well yeah, I’m aware that I had a job to do but there's nothing I can do and the only way you're gonna get your money from us is if you sue us,” Kerr said.
Choice One’s owner sent an email to customers saying the company’s sudden closure comes after he maxed out credit cards and went penniless while maintaining the snow vehicles. The owner also says in the email sent that he doesn’t take the closure lightly and knows he has failed his paying customers and communities.
Dustin McIver of Rockford says he and his neighbors also paid Choice One $2,140 to plow for the snow season, but questioned if the business was legitimate after the owner first came out and did a subpar job plowing their snow.
“As time goes on and more people are having time to think about it and piece things together, a lot of people me included think that maybe this was kind of a scam from the get-go,” McIver said.
Residents were out of more money after having to find another company to pay at the last minute to plow snow on roads almost impossible to drive on. McIver says he hopes the owner doesn’t have another opportunity to do this to more people.
“I hope you are never allowed to own a business again because you don't deserve it.” McIver said.
Choice One owner said in a separate email sent to customers that he paid $10,000 to subcontractors to plow for him and is encouraging his clients to sue him in small courts to get their money back.
Grand Rapids attorney Michael Zamzow reviewed the contracts and said its best to pick a service provider who requires a deposit of 50% or less ahead of time and says general contractors have a specific statute regulating pre-payments which can protect a homeowner’s deposit even though bankruptcy.
The Better Business Bureau completed an investigation and found multiple unsolved complaints alleging the company is no longer in operation. The BBB says they do not post unresolved complaints on their website, and since the company is closed, they cannot accept any new complaints.
The BBB advises customers who wish to have a dispute with the company to seek legal counsel or consider small claims court.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.