I need some perspective on this. I don’t want to give too much info as it may be outing. My next door neighbour has not paid for her share of garden work. The gardener was in our garden and knocked on her door to see if she wanted her side doing too. She and I had previously said next time we would get the same person to do it as it made sense, so it was always on the cards. She said yes to the gardener and he was there hours and did a huge amount on her side. He left two invoices with my Dad (one for us, a lot more, one for her).
My dad arranged for our work while we were overseas and so paid the gardener for her invoice as well because he is a kind and generous man and thought it would make life easier for everyone. He went round to knock and give her the invoice but she was not there.
Neighbour has now disappeared off overseas and looks like her house is SSTC. No contact anymore on whatsapp. She, I thought, was a friend. We made contact with her family member (also a friend we thought) who keeps saying neighbour will get in touch but it has been 6 weeks. However she has form for doing things like this to others. When my dad told me he had paid my heart sank.
I have paid my dad back. It is “only” 190 pounds. Initially I was so cross I wanted to do a small claim but given my dad has paid the invoice it I am not sure whether there would be grounds. I think we just want to leave it and accept she is not a nice person but the sense of justice in me keeps coming back.
What would you do? I think I could probably come to terms with it more easily if she had had the decency to get in touch, knowing she has seen our messages via family member.