Local snow removal company shovels up clients’ money — then shuts down

A snow removal and landscaping company in Sault Ste. Marie has drawn the ire of customers after closing its doors for good — but not before taking thousands of dollars from people for snow removal services that never materialized. 

Jocette Wilson paid $915.30 to Outdoors Done Right back in September to clear her driveway, steps and walkway of snow from November to April. Three snowfalls later, a series of knee-high drifts accumulated in her driveway. But Outdoors Done Right was nowhere to be found.   

Wilson sent the company messages via text and direct messaging through social media. She tried calling, but the mailbox for voice messages at the company phone number was full. 

“I was frustrated,” Wilson told SooToday Thursday. “I’m a single lady with my son — the two of us can’t get in our driveway because it’s not plowed for three days, and it’s just frustrating that I put out this money and nobody is calling me.

“They didn’t even show any professionalism to put any message out until everybody started complaining.”

Outdoors Done Right owner Shannon Krug has posted two notices to the company’s website following numerous complaints from others on social media who said they didn’t receive snow removal services after paying the company hundreds of dollars in advance.  

In the first notice, Krug advised clients the company was unable to provide snow removal services due to “brand new machinery breaking down, frames breaking on the snow blowers as well as two employees sick with the flu.”

Krug then proceeded to inform his clientele that Outdoors Done Right, a company registered as 2540871 Ontario Ltd., was closing for good, citing the repayment of funds to some of his clients as the source of the company's financial woes. 

Repayment was offered, but Krug warned customers that it could take up to two years to pay everyone back. There was also an offer on the table to provide summer landscaping services in lieu of the money paid to the company for snow removal.  

“I would like to share my deepest apologies and offer reassurance that we have every intention of paying everyone back,” Krug said in the notice. “If the company is met with too many people unwilling to cooperate and work with us we will be forced to file for bankruptcy. 

“This is not our intention or our wishes, we are choosing to work through this and show our community that we have integrity and respect, not to mention appreciation for each and every one of you.”

Krug didn’t respond to a request for an interview from SooToday Thursday. A few hours after that request was made, a new notice appeared on the Outdoors Done Right website, advising clients that the company intends on seeking bankruptcy protection.  

“We just need to let the clients know that although we’ve made attempts to organize, take care of the clients we are able and reimburse the rest, people have still insisted on making comments as well as making threats on our family,” Krug said in the second notice. “After seeking legal counsel we have decided that shutting down the business permanently and seeking bankruptcy protection is our only option.”  

Wilson was able to make arrangements to eventually get the money back through her credit card company. She’s had to pay for snow removal services from other providers twice so far.

But other customers she’s interacted with since taking to social media in order to out the company have not been as fortunate. 

“We’re not talking about a little bit of money — we’re talking up to almost a thousand dollars. That’s a lot of money, especially right at Christmas time,” said Wilson. “And then having to put money out to get somebody else, or having to do it themselves because they don’t have the money, an extra thousand dollars to hire a second company. 

“I think it’s awful.”