AIBU not to pay this? WWYD?

I had a guy calling wanting to wash my windows. He said my neighbour Rachel had got hers done.
My neighbour is Rachel.
I said no thanks.
Rang Rachel.
Yes he had called to her.
No she hadn’t got her windows washed by him.
But he asked her what her name was.
And she told him.
FFS 🙄
He didn’t even have a ladder with him

I think it's easy to underestimate how vulnerable single people with no support can feel in their own home. I live somewhere slightly dodgy and report anything potentially shifty. My doorbell catches passers by too, it got the burglars three doors down as they walked by.

This is a common scam!

Someone tried to get my disabled uncle (who lives in an old people bungalow area) they knocked on his door and told him that they had trimmed the rose bush in the garden for his neighbour and had trimmed the other half of the bush which was in his garden and he owed them £150! My uncle was very worried, he has barely two pennies to rub together after his expenses for the month as hes on benefits and the man apparently came into his house and was pointing out the back window to where he'd done the work and saying it should have been £250 but he'd knocked money off but it would go up if he didnt' get it within a month.
My uncle explained he didn't have the money and didn't get paid for 2 weeks anyway but still wouldn't have the full amount then, got very flustered and the bloke said he would be back in 2 weeks.
We contacted the police who said that he was to ring them if he came back. Well he spoke to his neighbour and they had done the exact same scam on them about the bush but they had instantly known that my uncle wouldn't have been able to afford it.

When they came back knocking literally 2 weeks later his neighbour went out whilst my uncle phoned the police and had stern words and they left but it left my uncle very unsettled and we were worried about him.

It does seem very strange. When my daughter lived on her own she would regularly come home and her hedges had been cut. They never asked for payment and we never found out who it was.

You presumably didnt employ them to do this? If so no contract so they dont have a leg. Ring police. Sounds well dodgy.

That’s a BRILLIANT idea! I was recently visited by police looking for security footage from my camera relating to a similar issue (which I was fortunately able to provide!) Someone had targeted my elderly neighbour and his vulnerable daughter with learning difficulties in a similar fashion. Unfortunately it had escalated and reached £100s /£1000s - not sure - and although they got some money back it’s going to court. The above is a perfect solution, I can understand it feeling scary xx

I think being afraid is very natural and appropriate. You should not pay for something you didn't ask for.. if they come back ask them not to return. If they make threats then phone the police with descriptions and reg numbers.

Don't pay for any work you didn't commission, unless it is part of a maintenance charge.

Photo of garden and photo of note and yes report to police. Then ignore.

Fuuuck no. What a chancer

Ignore .. if you didn't ask for the service they had no right going on your property.

I'd keep the note and show to police or a family member who could tell them to back off !!

If they contact you again be really patronising. Say they've clearly gone to the wrong address and that they should have checked before starting and regrettably you already have a gardener so are unable to see any work that may have been done.

If they press you for money just stay strong and reiterate you're not going to pay for someone else's mistake — especially as you can't see any evidence.

What type of idiot would work in a garden without checking unless it was a scam?

The work was unsolicited - you don’t have to pay. If he starts threatening call the police.

Yeah someone else answered that yesterday. Although generally trespass is a civil issue.

Trespass,invasion of privacy( going into back garden) and demanding money. All offences!

Absolutely do not pay. Call the number, with holding your number and see if he's made a mistake about the house number. If he hasn't tell him you won't be paying as you didn't agree anything with him and do not require his services. It may be a misunderstanding. If not, tell him you will call the police and any future attempts at contact will be deemed to be harassment.

Yes, because its sinister,he went to the BACK garden, which is an invasion of privacy as well as trespass and demanding money!

I am a bit concerned that they managed to go round the back, I had assumed it was front garden.Definitely sinister

You did not ask for this and you don't pay for unsolicited work. Tell police.

Why on earth are people saying not to report it to the police, no one is saying ring 999

my mum completed an online form about some threatening behaviour from a bloke. He didn’t actually do anything but she felt scared. Next day the police was at her door for more details

they said the were building up a case of incidents and every single report helped them and they wish more people would do it. Raising an online report or ringing 101 isn’t going to impact actual policing

as people have said a vulnerable person might pay £10 as it’s not a lot and not wpr5 the hassle complaining. This would then put them on a hit list of someone who could be scammed for a lot more

I would think this could be a possible case of something like trespass. A complete stranger has crossed the boundaries of your house and touched your property.

If this person does come back get a photo of the them.

Surely they were trespassing if in your garden without permission??
No obligation to pay for unsolicited goods or services.
Sounds like a computer chancer. I would not contact as then they’ll have your number. Just ignore.

If there's any contact details I'd reach out to 101 and discuss it with them. We had similar years ago. The previous owner hired a window cleaner. He moved out house was empty 6 month then I moved in. Next thing I know a 23 year old little scroat with his Pitbull was demanding money that the previous owner had owed as well as claiming he'd cleaned my windows weekly since then. He left a letter like you with demands and said "If put the windows in, that I cleaned if you don't pay" I rang 101 he was arrested. Supposedly police found out he's never cleaned a window didn't own ladder and he instead watched for empty properties and started on the new owners deliberately. Hoping they'd pay.

Being burgled does make you distrust everyone. I was burgled and met the b***d when I came downstairs thinking a cat had got in. A few days later a handyman came round to look at the house as it was in a grant improvement area. He was very offended when I asked if he would come back when my DH was there, even though he'd been told of the burglary.
I would definitely let the police know about the note. It's not on in any shape or form. Hope you can feel better soon.

It's a trespassing conmanthat's all you need to know. If he shows up to collect I'd snap a photo and tell him you have already alerted the police and now will be forwarding a photo to them. Tell him to get the hell off your propertyASAP. Be aggressive. They prey on vulnerable and hesitant women.