Homeowner contacts manager after tree trimmers leave softball-sized hole in their driveway

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  • Large tree beside car and driveway.
  • Duke Energy trimmers dropped a tree on my driveway

    Duke Energy sent people out to take down trees near power lines. I get that and they have been here before.
  • This time though I watched them drop a tree on my driveway and damage it. What's the normal way of getting this fixed?
  • This is just unexcusable!

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  • Here's an even larger crack

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  • Tree guy wants to go to Home Depot on Monday and fix it himself. I want a repair that will last, not look awful and not immediately fail.
  • This is in Ohio with terrible winters. How are these things normally handled? I imagine he's wanting to fix it so Duke doesn't get complaints?
  • EDIT #1: I have a feeling there will be multiple edits... I told to not do anything in a text message.
  • I come home and there is a cone from them and cold patch in the driveway.
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  • Alright, let's get into the (multiple) updates

    I call, no answer, leave a voicemail. I'm sure this will be a fantastic experience. EDIT #2: So I decided to go through Duke's online claim form to see what it is like...
  • They have a specific option for property damage from their tree trimming service that lists damage to a driveway, so I just filed a claim with Duke.
  • Things actually got really interesting here

    I guess we'll see how this plays out. EDIT #3: I got called REAL quick, like within an hour of filling out that form.
  • It was from the project manager over seeing this project in the area. While he was talking he explained how this should work, he comes out, does an eval, they call local asphalt companies (he specifically said a line someone else posted in here) that "They are a tree company, not an asphalt company." The asphalt company comes out and repairs the driveway.
  • He then set up a meeting with me tomorrow at 2:30pm. At that point I thanked him for the explanation and then told him, "But wait!
  • There's more!" I said I had talked to the foreman the day it happened. His plan to come back with Home Depot cold patch, how I texted him to not do that and how I came home to a tree service cone in the driveway and cold patch in my driveway.
  • Apparently, this is the new guy's doing!

    He let out a sigh and said the foreman is from another area and just started working this area two weeks ago.
  • Homeowner stands in front of large piece of fallen tree, staring at his phone as he contacts the project manager.
  • This isn't how they should operate and procedures weren't followed. But still said they would get this resolved the correct way.
  • I'll probably follow up after tomorrow. EDIT #4: I met with the project manager from the tree service today.
  • He again explained that what I initially experienced was not the expected procedure. Their offer is to replace the whole section where both spots are with a local asphalt company, which it more than fair.
  • He offered to also fill in some of the large spots in the yard and re-seed where the trees took out the grass.
  • He wanted to come out and check the area out and explain how it should have been done and also get my side of the story.
  • The crew's version of events and mine do not line up. He said this apparently wasn't the only thing this crew wasn't honest about.
  • He said he would keep me updated with getting a quote from a company and time frame.
  • Large tree fallen on lawn and road.

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