Guide · Jonesboro, AR
Tree Removal Scams and Storm Chasers: Red Flags for Jonesboro Homeowners
After a big storm, the knock at the door comes fast. Some of those crews are honest and busy. Others take a deposit and disappear. Here is how to tell the difference before you pay anyone.
Requests go to independent local tree service providers. Tree Service Jonesboro is a free referral service.
The biggest red flags are pressure to decide on the spot, cash-only or full payment up front, no written quote, and no proof of insurance. The Arkansas Attorney General’s office advises getting more than one estimate, never signing a contract with blanks, and never paying a contractor in full until the work is finished.
Red flags after a storm
- Door-to-door or unexpected texts offering tree work right after a storm, from a company you can’t find any record of.
- Pressure to decide now: “we’re only in the area today” or “the price goes up tomorrow.”
- Cash only, or a request for full payment, or most of it, before any work starts.
- No written quote, or a contract with blanks “to be filled in later.”
- No certificate of insurance, or only a photo of one instead of a copy sent by their agent.
- Telling you not to call your insurer, or offering to handle your claim for you.
- A price that changes once the tree is half down.
What the Arkansas Attorney General advises
After storms, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office has repeatedly warned about post-storm repair scams. Its consumer alert advises homeowners to:
- Not be pressured into paying a quick deposit.
- Never pay a contractor in full until the work is finished.
- Get more than one estimate, and demand references and check them.
- Never sign a contract with blanks “to be filled in later.”
- Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company.
Source: Arkansas Attorney General, Post-Storm Scammers and Price Gouging consumer alert (March 15, 2025). To report price gouging: (800) 482-8982.
How to check a tree company in 10 minutes
- Ask for a certificate of insurance for general liability and workers’ compensation, sent to you directly by their insurance agent.
- Get a written, itemized quote that lists the trees, method, cleanup, stump and start date. Use the quote comparison checklist.
- Ask for local references from recent jobs and call one or two.
- Search the company name with “Jonesboro” and “reviews,” and check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General’s office.
- Call your insurer before you pay anything for storm damage.
If a tree is on your house right now
Safety comes first: if anyone is hurt or trapped, or a power line is down, call 911. Then photograph the damage, call your insurer, and get a written quote before work starts. Real emergencies sometimes need a crew the same day, and that’s fine, but even a fast job should come with a written price. Step-by-step help is on the emergency tree service page.
Is a high storm price always a scam?
No. Emergency work costs more: in Jonesboro, emergency tree removals average about $707, compared with about $474 for a typical removal (Today’s Homeowner). A crane, a night call-out or a tree lying on a roof all add cost. What separates an honest emergency price from a scam is a written quote, proof of insurance, and payment after the work is done.
Tree scam FAQ
Should I pay a tree service a deposit after a storm?
Call your insurer first. If you do pay a deposit, keep it small, get a written quote, avoid cash, and never pay in full until the work is finished, as the Arkansas Attorney General’s office advises.
How do I know if a tree company is legitimate?
Ask for a certificate of insurance sent by their agent, a written itemized quote, and local references. Check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General’s office.
Where do I report a storm repair scam in Arkansas?
Contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s office. Its post-storm alert lists (800) 482-8982 for price gouging reports.
Need a tree crew you can check out first?
Send a request to reach a local tree pro in Jonesboro. Ask for their insurance certificate and a written quote before any work starts.