After receiving more than 700 complaints about price gouging overall during Hurricane Florence, North Carolina officials have temporarily shut down a tree removal business in the wake of the storm following a complaint about over-charging for services, authorities say.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein announced a temporary restraining order against Alva Wilson Lewis, doing business as A1 Tree & Storm Relief, A1 Tree and Storm Damage Relief, and Big Al & Sons Tree Service.
Stein said Friday the business was “charging a Wilmington homeowner an excessive amount for tree removal during the state of emergency declared for Hurricane Florence.”
The business also falsely claimed it was insured and bonded and was a “certified arborist,” the news release said.
“A1 Tree & Storm Relief initially estimated a $4,000 cost to remove three trees. The price then jumped to $7,000, and a final invoice charged the customer $12,000,” Stein said in a news release.
The companies are based out of Lexington.
According to the news release, the Better Business Bureau listed the companies among its “Dirty Dozen” in 2015.