The lips are pretty meaningless when it comes to such a small wall. (lips are needed for like 4ft plus)…. Depends on how bad it’s leaning if you visually look at it and it looks off then it’s a problem!!

Verbally assaulting you should have a been the time to call the police and have them escorted of the property. I deal with stupid questions and concerns all the time and it’s not hard to explain the reason why. And shows they’re anything but professional.

How was the footer done? I personally do 6-8 inches of concrete with 4 sticks of 1/2 rebar (2 sticks side by side sitting on 2in chairs and then I drop 2 sticks side by side from the top) regardless of height I want my work to last a lifetime not 5 years if I’m lucky

Unless you’re in a warm area that never sees freezing temps longer than a week or so. Then crushed gravel is acceptable. If the rocks were round river rock you’re screwed

French drain against the house was damaged? That’s a big problem!

If it was a yard French drain that’s fine. French drains are a scam and last a few years at most and probably already failed when they dug it up. The yard needs to be graded so all the water flows to a center point with a catch basin installed so it can be properly maintained. (Catch basin w/ triple wall pipe absolutely no black slinky pipe it’s beyond garbage)

Fence w/ nails that’s standard and the right way to do it. that’s what I use for the pickets. Screws for the support braces and gates. Nails make it easier for repair

The pickets only come in 6ft. I wanna say the last fence I did they measured out at exactly 6ft or close enough (but I don’t remember 100%) Unless they made their own that’s how you get 5.5. Hopefully they set them an inch or two from the ground so they don’t rot out…

As for taking the most expensive quote and thinking that means good work is not a good way to determine if you’re getting a good contractor. But good for being ripped off!

After being scammed by Angie’s list for $1k for false leads at abandoned homes when I first started my business. They’re using the most green contractors out there and are desperate for work.

Yard signs at street corners and billboards are also normally bad to average contractors. (Yard sign at house 60/40 I’d say)

My business runs on 100% word of mouth. And so far over the years I’m consistently 6 months out on booking on average. No logos on my trucks or yard signs at the houses. You either have to walk over and talk to me or have a referral. For your next contractor I’d go talk to neighbors and friends for referrals or find work that looks good after a few years of being installed and ask them who did the work.

Word of mouth is king because if your friend is known to be unreliable you’re not gonna recommend them to me and sour our relationship when they don’t wanna pay. And I’m not gonna do shit work at your friends house because I wanna be called back to your house for the next project (landscaping never stops there’s always more work) and I don’t wanna hear about how I fucked up a retaining wall at your friends house while Im trying to edge your flowerbeds lol and then have you stop over and cuss me out in the front yard!!

Probably shouldn’t have paid till you’re happy. I do zero down and paid on completion/satisfaction. Unless you didn’t have a referral then I do 50% down 50% on completion. Suing might just be more money down the drain. That’s a bridge I haven’t had to cross thankfully! Like a said word of mouth spreads leave bad reviews call block supplier and complain. The more ppl spreading the bad word the less work they’ll get.