November 30, 2025

Attorney General
Consumer Complaints
G. Mennen Williams Bldg
P O Box 30212
Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Sirs (or Madams),

I am reaching out to you because the above letter starts "Your past due account has been placed with this office for payment," then after their various threats, continues to say "If however, you request in writing proof of the debt or the name and address of the original creditor within the 30 day period that begins when you receive this letter, the law requires us to stop collecting the debt until we mail the requested information to you." 

Well, that is all fine and good except the address shown in the letter is the exact same address I already have previously sent two signed letters disputing the charges. Apparently, those letters have fallen upon deaf ears, so why would I repeat the same process again? If you need an official complaint against Custom Personalized Lawn Care to intercede, then you may consider this letter to be so. This is being composed as a web page for my www.wsharing.com website, and a duplicate copy of it will be sent to both addresses I have for Custom Personalized Lawn Care. 

Synopsis

A personal friend recommended CPLC early in 2025. As the treasurer of the Friends of Joyce Park (501c3 non-profit), I called them to get pricing, and hired them to do five treatments at Joyce Park (115 East Lincoln Street in Grand Ledge). 

I was out of town when they did the first two treatments on 5/19/25 and 6/18/25. Chris Hughes, the tech who did the applications left a paper invoice each time (displayed below in documentation). The first shows a balance due, because the Friends of Joyce Park check prepaying for the whole year had not reached them yet. These are the only two hard copy items I have in our files from CPLC. I do not recall ever receiving any paper invoices, or letters, after that from them, even when I wrote them requesting all future communications be in writing. The above letter they sent 11/26/25 was the first time we received anything in writing as I had requested. 

In July, after the third treatment, when there was only two left for the year, I phoned CPLC to see if we (our property at 419 South Bridge Street and the Teaching & Sharing Center 501c3 non-profit property at 417 South Bridge Street) could get some sort of package price to do the 417 and 419 yards at the same time as the last two treatments for Joyce Park. The lots are very small, and both backyards of the Bridge Street properties butt up to Joyce Park, making applications to all relatively simple. I am guessing I probably spoke with Jack, since in two email confirmations shown as from Custom Lawn Care-Lansing to the Friends of Joyce Park email address <askjack@spraymylawn.com> was listed as the reply to email address. The emails are displayed below in documentation. 

I was told the other properties could not be bundled together with an existing account. I explained, considering their size, I could not justify paying their minimum rate on each, especially considering we had been using $10 bottles of Spectracide Weed & Feed. One was sufficient to cover both front yards, and one was sufficient to cover both backyards. He started talking about new customer and prepay discounts, then stated he could only bill one address, but considering the size (he looked them up online) he would tell the tech to go ahead and spray both. He said to send in $60.45 to get the prepay discount. Which I did (MSU Federal Credit Union check #5723 dated 8/6/25). 

I was out of town again in October when CPLC left a message we had a past due balance. When I returned home and looked at my records, I called them letting them know I had paid both bills by check in advance (as evidenced by the pre-payment discounts). She explained that every property address is charged and billed separately. That clarified why "Jack" spoke about sending a single bill to one address yet just doing the smaller non-profit lot while they were there. I said that if they were no longer honoring what I was told verbally, then simply apply the money I already paid to the one treatment (already done at the time), and we will call it quits. I was told by the woman I was speaking with she would look into the matter, and get back with me. Nobody ever got back with me. 

The first automated call I was able to answer in early October said we needed to pay the balance due, or press 1 to speak with someone from their company. I pressed 1. And I even tried twice again when nothing happened. Finally I just hung up in frustration. 

I started making notes for a written signed letter on October 8, 2024 which I did not complete and send until October 24, 2025. It asked for written communications only. The letter was sent to both the local and corporate addresses. 

Custom Personalized Lawn Care
PO Box 90079
Burton, MI 48509

Custom Personalized Lawn Care
4103 Grand Oak Suite B102
Lansing, MI 48911

Their generic automated system also called me on October 16, 2025 at 11:44 a.m.

It called me again October 24, 2025 at 12:20 p.m.

They showed up and did the final 2025 treatments on all three lawns about that time. I explained the whole thing to their employee beforehand. I told him that since I had heard nothing, I presume it had all been worked out, but it was up to him whether to proceed. As far as I was concerned they had been paid everything we owed per our conversations. I am not going to be bullied or harassed into paying a bill I never agreed to. I am not paying any bogus past due balances. I wrote a single check of $60.45 to pay my bill as directed, then divided it within my accounting system. If we were supposed to have been charged for each small property separately, I would have written one check from me, and another corporate check as treasurer of the non-profit. But I would never have agreed to that much expense for such small yards. I would have just said no, thanks anyway. 

Their automated phone system called again 10/31/25 at 11:44 a.m. threatening “collections.” Same as previous calls. Still not disclosing how much this supposed unpaid balance was. 

Their automated phone system called again 11/14/25 at 11:44 a.m. threatening “collections.” Same generic message as previous calls. 

They called again 11/17/25 at 2:44 p.m. I received a voicemail 11/18/25 insisting I owe money for the 417 address. This was the first real person communication from them since early October when I explained what I understood I was paying for, and they said they would get back with me after checking things out. There was no mention of receiving the letter I sent to them October 24, 2025. 

Documentation
(shown online at https://wsharing.com/WS-NLE-251130-CPLC.htm)

Their automated phone system called again 11/26/25 at 11:44 a.m. threatening “collections.” This one said it was their final call before turning it over to collections. As of this point in time, I had never actually received a written invoice from them regarding the 417 South Bridge Street property in Grand Ledge. Nor had I ever received a single past due notice regarding the 417 address. I did not even know what their bogus past due amount was. Like some sort of attack dog, someone just gave the command, and their automated system started harassment attacks, apparently believing if they bullied me enough I would just pay something I never agreed to, because their “rules” say they should not have done it the way they they did. 

The above two documents are the only written documents we show from them until the opening letter at the beginning of this webpage. The second notice shows "Please Remit None" because the Friends of Joyce Park check had been received paying for the whole year. The documents misspell my name, and really should have shown the Friends of Joyce Park, which is a separate legal entity, as the customer, and me simply as their contact person. 

As a member of the boards of trustees, I monitor the email addresses for both non-profits. I do not know when I saw the above email they sent May 12, 2025. I do not have Internet at home, nor do the non-profits have it. After 30 years with Comcast, I got fed up with their games and bullying of customers who challenged them when they were wrong or misleading (info at Battling Comcast), and I terminated all of my connections with them. Now I get a wifi unit (I put my name on a list and wait) from our local library when I need to upload something onto my www.wsharing.com website. It is also when I check emails. I tell everyone that emailing me is not a good form of communicating with me. It can be months before I would see the email. I do not miss the Internet. 

The two pictures from about ten years ago give a perspective on the smallness of the 417 and 419 Bridge Street properties. The actual lawn area in the backyards is just as small since together they contain a garage, shed, concrete patio area, many flower beds, a fire pit, extensive log piles, three 6'x6' compost piles, and porches. I would never have agreed to have them treated separately at the amounts they now claim we owe them. Even I have difficulty delineating where a property ends and the other begins, they are so close together.

I eliminated all of the graphics and ads from the emails to avoid having excessively large files here. Plus, the originals were saved in PDF formats, and the graphics turned out quite dark. They were mostly unreadable, and contained no pertinent information. When I finally saw this email, I thought it was strange that the 417 property was mentioned at all. But there were no charges showing, and I did not yet have a full understanding of their system and rules. Plus this was the last mention of the 417 property until the voicemail I received 11/18/25 insisting I owed money for the 417 address. 

I included the above graphic in my first letter to CPLC on October 24, 2025. The reason was to point out that since I had been lead to believe the $60.45 was the total additional cost for the remaining treatments, in my Quicken program I had delineated that total between the two properties internally showing half accounted as an expense of my wife and I personally, and half as an expense we paid on behalf of the T&SC 501c3 non-profit (owner of the 417 South Bridge Street property). 

I also included the above July 22, 2025 email graphic in that letter along with my letterhead, and the Friends of Joyce Park letterhead to show I was writing on behalf of myself, and as treasurer of the non-profit. I did not include a letterhead for the Teaching & Sharing Centers because, at that point, I did not see the 417 property as being a part of our official contracts. Here is the text of that letter. 

_____________

October 24, 2025

This is to notify you, I will no longer speak with you by phone, since it gives me no written record, and either you do not stand behind what you verbally offer, or your left hand never knows what your right hand is doing. The below was written 

October 8, 2025

As per the phone conversation I had with Custom Lawn Care, when I set up what was supposed to be two treatments for 417 and 419 South Bridge Street at the same time as our last two treatments for Joyce Park (115 East Lincoln Street), the above payment represented both, after referral, new customer, prepayment and any other applicable discounts. It was explained to me there could only be one bill to one address, even though both properties would be treated because even together they amounted to much less than the square footage of Joyce Park. Buildings take up most of the area of both Bridge Street addresses. I would not have agreed to your minimum for each address separately, and would have simply said no thank you. All three properties butt up to one another, and are easily done at the same time. 

When you initially left a message we had a past due balance I was out of town. When I returned to look at my records, I called your office to let you know I had paid both bills by check in advance (as evidenced by the pre-payment discounts). I explained the above, and said that if you no longer were honoring what I was told verbally, then just apply the money paid to the one treatment (already done at the time), and we will call it quits. I was told you would look into the matter, and get back with me. Nobody ever got back with me. 

Yesterday, I received an annoying automated call saying I needed to pay my balance due, or press 1 to speak with someone from your company. I pressed 1. And I even tried again when nothing happened. Finally I just hung up, deleting your call.   

Today you showed up and did the final 2025 treatments on all three lawns. I explained the whole thing to your employee. I remarked that since I had heard nothing, I presume it had all been worked out. Your automated system also called me on October 16, 2025 at 11:44 a.m. Then it called me again today at 12:20 p.m. So, just because you cannot get your act together, and have rules contrary to what you agreed to, I am not going to be bullied or harassed into paying a bill I never agreed to.  I am not paying any bogus past due balances. On the above Quicken report, it shows I wrote a single check of $60.45 for both properties then divided it within my accounting system. If I were supposed to be charged for each small property separately, I would have written one check from me, and another corporate check as treasurer of the non-profit. 

Your confirmation email is too long to reproduce more than the essentials here, but a second account number 1064822 showed no additional charges. It did however show the 417 address. It reflected exactly what I agreed to in our phone conversation. One bill that I would have to delineate on my end as needed for our accounting records. 

God's peace.

(printed copy was signed by me)

William Edward Gibbons Jr

_____________

The second signed letter I sent November 18, 2025 contained no graphics except my letterhead.

November 18, 2025

Dear whomever at Custom Lawn Care,

I received a voicemail from an unnamed female voice who identified herself simply as Custom Lawn Care. She stated you set up two accounts. One for 419 South Bridge Street, and one for 417 South Bridge Street. She said I paid the bill for 419, but not the one for 417. This is not what I agreed to by phone with you when I arranged for the last two treatments for the Lincoln Street property to be done on all three. I only received one bill. Which is what I was expecting. I never received a second bill for just the 417 address. If I had, I would have called immediately and cancelled all of the treatments, because it is not what I understood I was agreeing to on the phone. Even now, as of the date above, I have never ever received a separate written invoice for the 417 address from you. As I explained in my letter dated October 24, 2025 . . . .

“When you initially left a message we had a past due balance I was out of town. When I returned to look at my records, I called your office to let you know I had paid both bills by check in advance (as evidenced by the pre-payment discounts). I explained the above, and said that if you no longer were honoring what I was told verbally, then just apply the money paid to the one treatment (already done at the time), and we will call it quits. I was told you would look into the matter, and get back with me. Nobody ever got back with me.” 

I have already played your game with Comcast back in 2021 when they tried to bill me for something I never agreed to because everything had been done by phone. After much bullying on their part, and much effort on my part, including filing a complaint with the Public Services Commission, they finally relented. You can read it all on my wsharing.com website. The link to the “Battling Comcast” pages appears on my “What Is New” page (top center on my home page). I no longer do business with Comcast/Xfinity. In your case, I would simply be sending my documentation to the Attorney General’s Consumer Complaint Department if you do not stop harassing me with your automated calls about a bogus past due balance. As also stated in my letter dated October 24, 2025 to you . . . .

“Put all of your offers, and communications, in writing from now on. I no longer trust you as a company. Do not email me if you expect a response. I discovered I did not miss having Internet at all, and do not see emails for several months.” I will not speak with you by phone because you have made it clear, like Comcast, your left hand apparently does not know what your right hand is doing, or promising, and you do not follow through with what you say on the phone.  

The fact that your rules do not coincide with what I understood I was paying for is not my problem. My written documentation confirms everything I have said to you over the phone. And now has been sent to you twice in signed written documents. And let me make it perfectly clear, you are not authorized to automatically renew any of our contacts with you. Now knowing your “rules,” it is unlikely you can offer me anything I would agree to regarding the 419 and 417 properties. Whatever accounts you set up can be closed.  As stated in my previous letter . . . .  

“Pertaining to Joyce Park, as treasurer of the non-profit, we need to keep your services as close to $200 for the year as possible. I suspect this will mean going with your four treatment plan instead of five since the only applicable discount will be your prepayment one.” Put your proposal in writing, and send it to me if you wish to continue doing business with us.

Respectfully,

(printed copy was signed by me)

William Edward Gibbons Jr

CLOSING THOUGHTS

The fact that they sent the opening letter on this page to me personally is one of many indicators that they are in the wrong here. If we had set up a third contact, it would have been in the name of the Teaching & Sharing Centers (the legal owner of the 417 South Bridge Street property, and the one who would be paying that bill). Any communications would be addressed to their legal address not mine. The communication could state Attn: William Gibbons Jr since in my role as treasurer, I would be the one writing and signing the corporate check for the non-profit. However, there is no real third contract, only what they arbitrarily set up on their own to stay within their rules, and even if there were, CPLC has no business threatening me personally (at my address). The 417 address is the legal address of the IRS approved 501c3 non-profit organization. It is also the legal address of the Friends of Joyce Park IRS approved 501c3 non-profit organization. The park has no mailbox. 

Recommendations that come out of dealing with a company like this one. I did two even before they started using questionable business practices to get me to pay for something we never agreed to: 

1. Always request a hard copy paper invoice. If none is forthcoming, send them a signed written letter, and keep a copy for your records. 

2. Never pay them with a debit, or credit, card where they can simply submit bogus charges, or automatically renew you according to the small print in their documents. Use a written check. 

Hard as it might be for some people to understand, this has never been about money. It has always been about the truth. I have believed now for many decades that the paramount goal in life is to learn, and live, the Truth. That journey can also be a daunting one. Especially when others do not. 

When I am not sure how to pray about something, I go to a book written by Charles F. Stanley titled When You Don't Know WHAT TO PRAY. Under the heading When You Are Attacked I read: