Complaint Review: Bennett Environmental Associates Inc | Cape Cod - Brewster Massachusetts

I called Bennett Environmental to investigate an issue regarding my well water that may be contaminated by an Abutters runoff from their farm. The increased runoff from the fill has drastically changed the property and is flooding it. Bennett Environmental sent a template contract with an estimated cost. One of Mr. Bennett’s employees came over for a consultation and was informed that three positive tests for coliform were recently confirmed by the county and the local Board of Health had investigated the situation and one suggestion they gave us was to move the well. I provided copies of all this information. We then told him that we specifically needed to know the exact cause of the coliform and the abutter’s property thoroughly investigated. We made it quite clear that we did not need the water tested and that we knew we could move the well and considering it already. He was told that if that could not be done we would not need his services. He stayed for about 1 hour.

He then informed us soon after he had taken samples of water anyway, and that he would come back to investigate the well with cameras, and get permits, site plans and throughly investigate the abutters property and then send a letter of finding. He also said he would test and inspect our drinking water system that was set up to remove iron. Weeks later he called and informed me that he was too busy to take the job and he asked if I wanted a short report. I told him no and asked about the cost of his one hour visit and he told me "we were not in the ballpark of the estimate" because he was too busy to do the job. The estimate was $1412.00 and a few weeks later they sent a bill for $918.47 containing multiple fees for administrative support, field inspection and consultations. I called and asked to speak with the owner David Bennett.

About one month later his administrative assistant sent an email demanding payment. I called again to speak with Mr. Bennett, and when I did, I asked him for a breakdown of the bill. I told him that his employee sent an email titled "brief overview of findings" with water report and suggestion to move the well and mentioned a dog fence that was installed after the coliform was discovered and he QUIT. Mr. Bennett was verbally abusive to me, said horrible things about my well driller who is very reputable and refused to explain the costs and threatened me with collection service. I asked Mr. Bennett simply do the job we hired him for and I would gladly pay him, he refused. Mr. Bennett filed a small claims action against us that has not happened yet. I have obtained records that he has filed several small claims cases in Orleans district court using a local Attorney, the majority between 2016-2018. Additionally, there are several civil cases listed. It appears to me that Mr. Bennett does this frequently. He did suggest that I pay him $500.00 cash and he would not sue me. I then asked him to call my attorney and please discuss the work that still needed to be done and he refused. His employee quit the job and "breached the contract” never returned any of the paperwork that I provided from the Board of health and Barnstable County Lab.