Not paying for garden work

He doesn’t need to be. The people who arranged the work should pay 100% of the invoice. If they won’t, gardener can take them to the small claims court so he’s not out of pocket.

It's not the gardener's fault, however, it's not hers either.

The OP hasn't had the benefit of a service they either asked for or wanted. It like me running up to your car at the traffic lights, washing your windscreen and then demanding £5 for it. You benefited from a clean windscreen, would you pay me?

Agree the service provider should not be out of pocket, the person who contracted him to provide the service (the previous house owner) needs to pay him.

I am just thinking that this could also be a scam. That there never was a contract and the gardener is trying to get the job b forcing OP into it. I mean it's pretty weird to just show up six months after having been last to the property. Doesn't gardening start a lot earlier in the year?

Something smells off about this.

You’ve had the benefit of the service for 50% of the cost - why should the service provider be out of pocket, pay up and be decent about it

That's easy to say, as it didn't happen to you.

The previous owners are at fault. They should have canceled the contract. Work was carried out on their standing orders, therefore they should pay. It's not fair for OP to pay half for work she did not agree to and did not want done.

Image if a painter showed up to your house and started painting it, but they actually had the wrong house. Should you pay for half the paint job? Of course not. You never asked nor wanted that work to be done.

But it’s not the OP’s fault, and she did not agree to the work, that doesn’t make the OP selfish. If anyone is being selfish, it’s the previous owner’s in them expecting OP to contribute to anything at all considering they didn’t agree to a gardener.

You have no responsibility to pay him but to avoid any hassle, I would pay up. You never know who you are dealing with and some people will exact their revenge - which could be much costlier in the long run. You just never know.

Your being cruel to him he’s done work you could at least pay half unless you’re happy being selfish to the poor guy

I simply asked you a question based on your post. It’s how these forums work. I’m presuming you don’t have an answer as to why there should be any bad feeling towards op 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was replying to original poster with my opinion as per post. My answer and opinion was clear. You just look like u want an argument and I'm not interested in corresponding or justifying anything with u.

No, I didn’t ask why you’d pay half. I asked why there would be bad feeling towards op? Genuine mistake or not (and I’ve made the same mistake and paid the window cleaner, in full, because it was my mistake, not the new owners) why would anyone have bad feelings towards op? Who would? Why is there no bad feeling towards the previous owner who won’t pay for their own mistake?

Looks like it was a genuine mistake. Just what I would do that all

Why would there be bad feelings? This has nothing to do with op so why would anyone think badly of her? Why is there no bad feeling towards the ones at fault - the previous owners?

Whilst I agree that you can be kind and pay your half, I wouldn't. I'm a retired landscaper who used to do maintenance work as well as landscaping and these things do occur. However it would be the previous owners that I would be chasing up for the total cost. They opened the contract, they should close it. Cheeky beggar's saying they'll pay half. They should be paying total. It's their obligation.
The gardener doing the work will be out of pocket yes, but he'll make it up otherwise. And really he should be talking to the previous people, not yourself.
You could demand that he put the garden back to the state it was before he did it. Oh that would be amusing wouldn't it. I'm only joking ofc. But it does happen sometimes. You know what people are like! 😂

YANBU. It is the previous owner’s responsibility. They ought to have informed the gardener that they moved house, and ended the contract.

In this situation I'd suck it up and pay the half. You are not paying for nothing and no bad feelings for anyone.

And she can continue to do nothing.

Blimey
They didn’t leave when you told them to?
What is wrong with people !

Their fault, their bill. We had a window cleaner mistake our house for the neighbours who wanted him to do their windows. I refused to pay as it was nothing to do with me.

I had a very similar experience. I hadn't long been in my house. My 8 and 1yr old were in the garden (locked gate). I'd popped upstairs and in those 2 minutes this elderly couple, gardening duo, had unlocked the gate and let themselves into my garden. Moved my children's toys so that they could cut the hedges with their electric trimmers, whilst my children were in the garden. And they had left the gate open!

I was absolutely fuming, demanded that they gave the key back immediately and got off my property. I got the children inside as possible but had to call the police as they carried on cutting, wouldn't leave, then wanted paying!

This, why is this even a discussion?

Outrageous! So I can rock up to the edge of your premises and play my guitar and sing a tune and you would feel obliged to pay because you've enjoyed the benefit of my lovely music?

Well yes, the OP can do nothing at all, and potentially receive future gardening bills, window cleaning bills, tree care bills...who knows what else these dippy people have forgotten to cancel?!

He’s only losing out because the people he had a contract with won’t pay the full price. He should be back knocking on their door.