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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU not to pay this? WWYD?

154 replies

InALonelyWorld · 27/03/2026 16:41

I just want to know if IABU here or what i should do.

I have come home from work today to a note from a gardener saying I owe them £10 for de-weeding my garden. To note my garden is mainly paving slabs/stones so there isnt much weeding that needs done in the first place so not sure how it would even be £10. However, this isnt a service i arranged, I do not know this person and I obviously was not around at home to speak to them or even give permission for them to do anything with my garden but they have gone and done it anyways.

I am a lone parent household and am now worried I will be pestered by this stranger for this money i apparently owe. I do admit I may be overreacting here, but i, like many people, am financially strained at the moment. I was recently burgled which added to my financial issues and has probably made me quite sensitive to receiving this note.

OP posts:
BeAzureRaven · 28/03/2026 19:16

ABSOLUTELY NO! Do not pay this scammer! It's outrageous.

Partickthistle · 28/03/2026 19:11

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this, but as soon as saw your post I wanted to reply. I saw on notices posted in Chelsea about a year ago that a group if scammers were doing this and then going back to houses if vulnerable people demadinding payment of much more than the original sum, up to around £100. Do not reply. Report it ASAP. Hope it all works out for you and they get caught!

jdb9803 · 28/03/2026 19:05

hcee19 · 28/03/2026 18:03

What can the police do? The note isn't threatening or demanding, there has been no crime....Are you one of the time wasters that call the police for nothing?

The note is demanding money for work she didn't ask for and it sounds they haven't done - if they have they have been trespassing.
Would you think the same if the note was put through your grandmother's door and she was worried and paying it, over and over
He's a conman - the police can certainly do something

Marieb19 · 28/03/2026 19:02

I would contact victim support and ask what they suggest. They may even contact the phantom gardener for you. Personally, I would text the phantom gardener to point out you had never asked them to provide any services and request they don't enter your premises again.

deeahgwitch · 28/03/2026 18:58

jdb9803 · 28/03/2026 18:57

For me it is important to report this to the police and make sure they have the phone number for the guy etc - next note for more money could be put through the door of an vulnerable/elderly person who ends up paying

I agree @jdb9803

jdb9803 · 28/03/2026 18:57

For me it is important to report this to the police and make sure they have the phone number for the guy etc - next note for more money could be put through the door of an vulnerable/elderly person who ends up paying

Calmdownfolks · 28/03/2026 18:54

Maybe check out the phone number online "who called me?" as it may be listed and show a similar story. Defo check with neighbours, who may know of similar or have an explanation. I wouldn't pay or call them.

JennyBG · 28/03/2026 18:33

InALonelyWorld · 27/03/2026 19:16

Thanks everyone for your advice. I dont think I will report it to the police yet unless someone starts knocking at the door. I am being supported by victim support due to the burglary so I will mention it to them just to get some advice. I wont lie and say it hasn't set me off on a spiral after recent events but I do realise this may be irrational feelings linked to the previous incident. Beforehand I likely would have just binned it.

To answer a couple of questions:
yes the note included a mobile number and a first name.
It was my front garden, which is visible to anyone passing due to a small gate & fence. I will make sure to buy an extra camera to cover the garden now, I was provided a dummy by the police and do have one the other way but seems the front way now needs covered too.
I will also keep the note just incase anything further comes of this, so I have evidence.

I do hope it's a wrong address like many are suggesting or a poorly worded advertisement for potential work wanting done. I think i am just still very fragile at the moment.

It’s possible that the neighbours mentioned to them that you live alone, and suggested that they do your garden too. Or, they have taken it upon themselves to do it for you, which is equally cheeky. Please always keep your doors locked for now at least. Have you tried ringing the phone number?

SarahAndQuack · 28/03/2026 18:25

Singlemomofthree · 28/03/2026 18:23

haven’t you heard of odd job men/women.. they do a bit of this.. a bit of that.. all on a the cheep, cash in hand forgetting to inform hmrc type

Show quote history

You said 'the gardener'.

I was pointing out that it wouldn't be a reputable gardener doing that.

It might well be some chancer trying to scam the OP; I agree with that!

Singlemomofthree · 28/03/2026 18:23

SarahAndQuack · 28/03/2026 16:52

No, not unless he is a child doing it for Cubs or something like that.

No one is charging ten pounds for weeding.

Show quote history

haven’t you heard of odd job men/women.. they do a bit of this.. a bit of that.. all on a the cheep, cash in hand forgetting to inform hmrc type

Single50something · 28/03/2026 18:21

Could rhey have meant to do someone else's in your road?

hcee19 · 28/03/2026 18:03

What can the police do? The note isn't threatening or demanding, there has been no crime....Are you one of the time wasters that call the police for nothing?

SparklyLeader · 28/03/2026 17:53

No contract, no agreement, no money. Contact your local police and let them know because it's a shakedown of sorts.

SarahAndQuack · 28/03/2026 16:52

Singlemomofthree · 27/03/2026 22:59

Why not?? He could have done £10 worth of work a neighbour garden

Show quote history

No, not unless he is a child doing it for Cubs or something like that.

No one is charging ten pounds for weeding.

Rokabe · 28/03/2026 06:40

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Basilmandy · 27/03/2026 23:13

Photograph the note so you have a record.

Then tear it up and put it in the bin. Do not call the number or engage on any level with this.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/03/2026 23:13

EmeraldShamrock000 · 27/03/2026 23:04

I would write him a note to say he owes me £30 for taking my weeds and I have reported him for trespassing.
Report him.

Brilliant

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/03/2026 23:12

Don’t let them near your drain or roof, I would get ring doorbell

EmeraldShamrock000 · 27/03/2026 23:04

I would write him a note to say he owes me £30 for taking my weeds and I have reported him for trespassing.
Report him.

Singlemomofthree · 27/03/2026 22:59

SarahAndQuack · 27/03/2026 21:50

For a tenner? Hmm

Show quote history

Why not?? He could have done £10 worth of work a neighbour garden

SarahAndQuack · 27/03/2026 22:37

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 27/03/2026 22:36

It really sounds as if a genuine gardener has weeded the wrong house!

No it doesn't.

No genuine gardener is charging a tenner, are they?

Come on.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 27/03/2026 22:36

It really sounds as if a genuine gardener has weeded the wrong house!

RogueFemale · 27/03/2026 22:35

Arlanymor · 27/03/2026 16:58

Call 101 and get a crime number - then text the crime number to the 'gardener's' phone number and tell them that unless they stop harassing you for services that you didn't ask for then you will take it further and that the police are aware.

This.

@InALonelyWorld It sounds like a scam, one that could escalate, so nip it in the bud now.

Friendlygingercat · 27/03/2026 22:08

Just to add you are not being needy feeling fragile after the burglary. This is especially true if you live alone. It takes a long time for that feeling of being invaded to diminish and some people never feel the same about living in their home. Im glad you have the victim support people to advise you.

PepsiBook · 27/03/2026 22:02

Probably kids trying their luck.
Or a neighbour that's fed up with your weeds.