Metro Snow & Ice Management

Snow Removal
Ottawa ON K2G 0B3
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Metro Snow & Ice Management
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Reviews for Metro Snow & Ice Management

Average customer rating:
5.2 10 (438 reviews)

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Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ottawa, ON
1/10

Tired of waiting

We like to give people the benefit of the doubt - we expect a little glitch in service around Christmas; everyone deserves to spend the holidays with their loved ones... but we are tired - tired of not knowing whether or not the tractor will come to clear our driveway and when. We don't need a cut and paste reason against the commentary, just a commitment that things will get better and evidence to the same. For the record, we're not first time customers - we even recommended the company based on our previous experience - but it will likely be our last.

Approximate cost of services:
$350.00
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Cathy in Barrhaven in Nepean
Cathy in Barrhaven in Nepean
1 review Ottawa, ON
1/10

Unacceptable service!

Like previous reviewers, we have been with Metro/ Appleseed for several years. Last years service did deteriorate, but with reassurances that service would improve because of equipment and route changes, we stayed with them. Now we are wishing we hadn’t! Christmas Day was a big disappointment. We had a lot of snow Christmas Eve, and like many of us, company coming for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately we received an email saying It might be hard to get his drivers out on Christmas Day! My husband had to clear our driveway to ensure a place to park for company. We will change next year! Our neighbour’s lane is always cleared, so we know it is doable for some companies.

Approximate cost of services:
$400.00
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ottawa, ON
0/10

BEWARE!!!

First let me start by saying I am NOT new to snow removal services. In fact I have been a customer of Metro(Appleseed) for several years. Last year service deteriorated, but I decided to give the company another chance this year seeing as how the owner sent out an early email to his renewal customers saying that he had hired more tractors and adjusted routes and service would be much improved this year. HA!!
ABSOLUTELY THE WORST SERVICE EVER!! AS oF Jan 1st, my laneway still had not been cleared once!!! Several emails to the company, excuses
excuses, excuses, blah blah blah. And this is how they treat long time customers! Do yourseles a favor people AVOID the aggravation of this company at all costs.
Submitted for a refund 18 days ago and still waiting! Exactly the kind of service you can expect from Metro!

Approximate cost of services:
$339.00
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Annoyed in Ottawa
Annoyed in Ottawa
1 review Ottawa, ON
0/10

Snow plowing

Metro Snow & Ice kept missing my driveway and seemed completely unable to address the situation. Just before Christmas I gave up and terminated service. I repeatedly requested the return of the first half payment and that they not cash the January 1st payment. On Jan. 17th they cashed the second cheque and have not reimbursed the first cheque. Since Christmas I have cleared my own driveway at least a dozen times. I was less effort and aggravation than dealing with this company.

Approximate cost of services:
$290.75
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Your refund has been sent as per tube terms of the agreement.
Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Mutasem in Ottawa
Mutasem in Ottawa
1 review Ottawa, ON
1/10

Poor Sevice !

Avoid at any cost.. poor service , all what you get is emails from their owner talking talking his drivers either going outside to clean or back for rest and in between.. i always got missed.
I should have honestly anticipated the poor service .. first, i paid the fees on September 2017 because i emailed the company and they confirmed charging credit cards will be in November.. i sent my credit card and it was charged immediately !! Called the company.. no body picks up phone.. no body returns calls.. no problem .. i am new customer , i will try the service .
As soon as snow started, they rarely showed up, and always late after i had to clean my drive way to leave home.. one day i waited till 10:45 am then started cleaning myself, then i saw the competitor cleaning for my neighbour!!.. I was frustrated , every time i call to complain it is always full answer machine .. i am sorry have chosen this company AVOID PLEASE GUYS.. i live in Dundonald Drive close to minto complex in barrhaven .. anyway, i paid for almost no service, lesson learned!.

Approximate cost of services:
$320.00
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ottawa, ON
0/10

Horrible Service, customer service.....just terrible!

We are still awaiting a refund for the horrible lack of service we have received. It's the middle of Jan and we have only had our driveway cleared once by Metro! Despite numerous emails, voicemails and visits to their office. They are awful and the customer service is even worse. Not holding our breath on the refund, but we gave up on them and hired another snow removal company and we could not be happier with their service. Stay far away from this company!

Approximate cost of services:
$380.00
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ottawa, ON
0/10

Snow Removal

Not reliable at all.. Many examples... Today is a day of snow. Despite the fact that they guarantee that they are the first to show up, A Competitor has come around twice already for my neighbor's. Metro is nowhere in sight. We are stuck in our home as I can’t get my small car through the pile of snow the city dumped.
On a good note, the person who recommended this unreliable company has been apologizing to me since the beginning of winter and today she brought me a homemade chili. I have forgiven her.

Approximate cost of services:
$350.00
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Elena in Toronto
Elena in Toronto
1 review Toronto, ON
0/10

Missed driveway every snow storm - go with another company

I usually do not like to write negative reviews, however after another snow storm I'm sitting at home at 12 noon with my driveway covered.
This is my 2nd year with the company, last year it was ok; missed a few times, but got better, however this year it has been a disaster.
I get all the fun emails and alerts and I feel it is a joke, as everytime like an inocent kid I do believe they will clear the driveway, just to wake up and see NOTHING DONE. It is frustrating when you pay for a service and you get nothing.
The emails are not answered, the messages NEVER returned. I tried for the longest not complain, as this could be a particular driver, or an ocasional mishap, but now is getting ridiculous.
My neighbors right across from me had their driveway cleared, but mine was missed.
In conclusion, go to the competition, this company is too big now and does not care, but the starting ones, they do. I have been walking around the neighborhood and getting information, so my next winter season I can trust that the job will be doNE, even if it cost more. NOW I'M PAYING FOR NOTHING.
AVOID THIS COMPANY. I'm in the Barrhaven area near the Minto Place.
The emails get an

Approximate cost of services:
$300.00
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ottawa, ON
0/10

Worst snow removal company I've had in years

We noticed some of this companies signs go up in barrhaven and decided to try them out this year. What a bad decision! Emails sent by the owner the day before snowfalls are useless because his guys don't show up to remove the snow from your driveway. You have to shovel your driveway yourself and pile it up hoping they'll show up sometime...if I have to do half the job I dont know what Im paying him for. I was hoping my mother didn't have to do this herself when I'm not around this year but clearly she will need to.

This company is clearly understaffed and underequipped. If snow fall is starting overnight your guys should be out earlier than when people are waking up, not getting up the same time I do (6AM) to start clearing snow. Our previous company would pass earlier in the morning so our cars could make it out of the driveway and then again during the day when we weren't home if snow persisted to clean it up properly.

If you don't know how to serve your customers get out of the business.

Approximate cost of services:
$350.00
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ottawa, ON
2/10

No Responsive Customer Service and Poor Quality of Service

It is our first time using this company's service and it is for my parents' house. We purchased the double driveway cleaning service but it was not cleared and it was not done properly, only half was cleared. This had happened a couple couples time starting from snow season this year from mid-December 2017 to January 2018.

Due to my parents' language barrier, I helped them complain the situation to the company for numerous times in writing and phone calls. However, I've sent emails (to: info@metrosnowandice.ca, and barrhaven@metrosnowandice.ca, and also the online form through the link they provided in the company's email communications) and called (613- 221-5151) couple times, no one answered or even acknowledgement of receiving messages. The telephone voicebox is always full and no one answered. Even more, my husband went to the office (address: 4 Caesar Ave) on a weekday afternoon during business hours, no one was working there and the door was locked!!! OMG, this is Canada, I can't believe there is a business in the Capital would do business like this. They don't care about the business and the customers at all. They just care about you when you signed the contract, but nothing satisfied afterward!

I strongly not recommend this company, moreover, if service still cannot be provided as per contract, I will formally complain this service to Better Business Bureau and local media.

Approximate cost of services:
$200.00
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful?
Company Response

Every review on here good or bad is a chance for Metro, my staff and myself to learn and improve and I read and take each review very seriously.
I’ve seen a general thread of the same complaints in most ‘negative reviews’ so I’m going to give a ‘general response’ to these reviewers and those of the “public’ who read them. Some are constructive and polite, some are just downright mean and personal. I get peoples ‘frustrations when it snows’ and they wait, Ive been doing snow clearing for 25 years now. The business hasn’t really change, people have for the most part.
I believe some blunt honesty and perspective is required here and going forward.

* Let’s keep things in relative perspective here:
There’s a good reason we are by far the largest company out there with over 10,000 long time customers. We are in fact very reliable, efficient and customer oriented
After 25 years of reliable service this is the reason Metro became so large. We have more tractors, more Drivers and a great ‘snow clearing system’ that does in fact work for everybody.
When you see even 50 ‘poor reviews’ on here what you don’t see are the 9,950 ‘happy, satisfied customers’ who have used us for many,many years.
I’m not dismissing any negative review of course but the % of ‘unhappy clients’ is under .005 %. Thats incredibly good actually considering the many customers we serve reliably every storm without complaint .
All but a few are first time users to a snow clearing service.

* Last minute/late signups ‘just’ before storms.
Most complainants/bad reviews here stem from ‘late signups’, people who waiterd until the very last minute or during a storm to call us. No stakes were put in, they didn’t get on the ‘drivers list’ and subsequently were missed during snow events.
For this I do apologize. Lesson learned!
We will absolutely NOT accept clients after December 1st in future years or bother trying to assist those people late in looking fora service.
This now solves the issue of late signups and the problems (and bad reviews) that accompany ‘last minute’ sign up requests.

* Bullying about complaints:
I have never ‘bullied’ or discouraged ANY customer from complaining. This is simply unfair and untrue and spoken out of obvious frustration. I accept the frustration.
We have an effective, easy method on our website to address issues and it does work...if used.
I have however made it abundantly clear to all customers through emails, the contract signed and other methods that ‘if you are aggressive, rude, threatening or belligerent’ in any way to the staff or myself then your issue will simply be ignored.
If it continues, your contract will be cancelled and funds refunded.
I make absolutely no apologies for this policy. The business is stressful enough, my trusted staff work long hard hours to serve everyone professionally and by virtue of the fact you paid us a few hundred dollars for a service either you can’t do or choose not to do does NOT give one the right to treat others poorly.
Yes, I know its frustrating not getting cleared quickly but every snow company out there faces the same problems as Metro. I know this because snow operators discuss snow business almost weekly amongst us. I just choose to be less tolerant with rude customers then most but that’s my choice to support and protect my staff.
I relish complaints!.......It’s the approach taken to deliver these complaints we police.

* “I’m always the last or missed!
Yes, a few clients may be missed over the course of the winter for various reasons. Drivers are human, backups go in to help and miss a driveway. Cars are in the way, poor visibility of a house number, late graders go by after the driver has long ago left.
In almost ALL complaints we check the customer was NOT missed. We simply didn’t get there as fast as they wanted us there.
We hear from the people at the end of our lists, the completion hears from the clients at the end of their lists. Not everyone can be at ‘the front of the list”.

* People don’t actually read or understand their contracts:
Our contracts are very clear. Our ‘service delivery times’ are also very clear.
We have a 97% ‘service compliance’ rate within the ‘time service thresholds’ stated in the contract. Our GPS reports for each tractor justify these times are met.
THIS is why we have a 93% ‘renewal rate’ each year. This is why we are so large.

* They don’t respond.
To be clear, even with so many customers I still read every email that comes through. I personally respond to about half of these and the Customer Service Reps respond to the remainder. BUT, when you email us 10 times in an hour (many still do) of course we won’t continually respond. We’ve asked countless times to send ONE ‘issue ticket’ then the auto reply STATES ‘we have it’ and ‘will address it’.
Same with the phones....to those that state in there reviews “I called 10 times!” And their ‘voicemail is full”. Yes it is! And you’re the reason it is!

* Unrealistic Expectations
* Most reviews here are from 1st time snow company users having never used a clearing service. Some simply don’t understand how it works.
* Many simply enter with unrealistic expections on how ‘snow clearing works’ .
* People hear what they want to hear, read only what they want to read and I get it BUT this is not a small “man with plow’ company. We are a large corporate snow clearing operation with many staff and many moving parts.
* Graders go by continually on Bus Routes and Collector roads creating problems. We should be charging more for these streets and most likely will be in the future.

Anyway, I’m sorry of course that some customers don’t wish to understand or accept the ‘style and policies’ I use in dealing with customers, it’s not ‘rudeness’ lack of caring, or lack of empathy’. Being upfront and honest with people is just my style and for those many customers who read the many emails over the winters know, we are a fair and very hardworking company that cares.

After 25 years and still going strong with thousands of “long time customers” its simply the most prudent way to deal with impatient customers in order to deal with the many patient customers who understand the service we deliver.

Many thanks and blessings,
Ken

The reviews on this page are the subjective opinion of the Author and not of HomeStars Inc.

More about Metro Snow & Ice Management

WELCOME TO METRO SNOW & ICE MANAGEMENT! Ken Dale, owner of Metro Snow & Ice Management, has over 25 years of experience managing large snowstorms in Ottawa. Ken founded and is past Chairman of OSCA (Ottawa Snow Contractors Association), which is a self governing organization of credible, well established snow ...
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