Since many trees around the Central Coast have been seriously damaged as a result of the recent storms, authorities say to watch out for scam artists posing as arborists. Officials say it’s common right now to see people going door-to-door offering their services as “tree specialists” to either remove or repair damaged trees. They warn most of these individuals have little or no training. Cal-fire officials say a legitimate tree specialist or arborist rarely goes door to door, and instead they should be an established business in the community with a listing in the phone book, under “tree service”. They should also have a California Contractor’s license or a Timber operator’s license. Ideally, they should be a member of a professional group such as the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Officials say try to get more than one estimate to ensure the price offered is competitive.
