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Original poster

I don’t think he’s coming back!

29 replies

sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 12:04

We had a firm in to do some gardening for us yesterday. Clear a few shrubs and return the area to grass. Area approx 4m x 3 m. We got a detailed quote from them and were happy with the price and proceeded with the work.

approx an hour in the lead guy came and said he needed to hire a piece of equipment which was
going to cost £200 on top
of the quote. He came across a stump and he hadn’t seen it before so needed to grind it out.

Husband was pissed off as we had a quote for the work and felt we are already paying enough. He went out to speak to them and the lead guy got stroppy and
walked off the job. He came back after 10 mins and husband spoke to him again agreeing to pay (since otherwise we were gonna be left with a garden of waste!)

they finished the day and said they would return this morning to complete. they haven’t arrived. It’s 12 noon and I’ve heard nothing. I sent a message which isn’t delivering. We haven’t paid anything yet. I feel like they aren’t coming back. Any advice?

OP posts:
PsychoHotSauce · 16/08/2025 12:18

Getting a quote for 'the job' means exactly that - 'the job' didn't include unforeseen circumstances such as needing extra equipment/work involved for the stump. Your husband has likely pissed them off with his attitude about already paying enough.

On the other hand, the lead guy could have explained more clearly, 'We can leave the stump as is and finish the original quoted works, and do a separate quote for the extra job of the stump which you can go ahead with or not.'

In other words, both have handled this poorly, and don't be surprised if they don't come back.

Velvian · 16/08/2025 12:20

I think your H was being U to expect the worker to pay for additional equipment to get the stump out of the garden.

Original poster
sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 12:24

Ok. That’s interesting. I felt he should have put that into the quote of it was needed. Fair enough. I guess we chalk this up to experience if he doesn’t return then. Frustrating though.

OP posts:
MYBO · 16/08/2025 12:25

You said he came across a stump he hadn’t seen before? How could he have quoted for its removal if he didn’t know it was there?

TripTrapSnipSnap · 16/08/2025 12:26

It's completely obvious that he'll need to charge more if an unforeseen issue comes up that a) needs a hired piece of equipment and b) will take up more time.

TripTrapSnipSnap · 16/08/2025 12:27

Or do you think they should just quote a whole lot extra at the beginning just in case s whole list of unforeseen jobs come up??

Catpiece · 16/08/2025 12:27

They won’t be back.

LegleEagle · 16/08/2025 12:27

You and your DH are being CF.

TripTrapSnipSnap · 16/08/2025 12:28

Honestly I actually find it really annoying. Just do the job yourself then if you're going to be so difficult about it.

BeltaLodaLife · 16/08/2025 12:29

sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 12:24

Ok. That’s interesting. I felt he should have put that into the quote of it was needed. Fair enough. I guess we chalk this up to experience if he doesn’t return then. Frustrating though.

How can he quote for something that couldn’t be seen and you didn’t tell him about?

Quotes are legally binding. So he can’t just add on, but he only needs to complete the work he has actually quoted for. He can’t quote under and then pretend he didn’t see something to increase the price once he has you caught in, but that doesn’t sound like he tried to do that.

He should have given you the option; complete the work as quoted and just grass around the stump for the price paid. Or pay the extra £200 for the stump removal.

Sounds like he just doesn’t want to deal with your husband or risk doing the extra work and not being paid.

PsychoHotSauce · 16/08/2025 12:29

How can he quote for something he didn't know was needed? You'd moan if he charged you for equipment hire and the stump sorting 'just in case' without being sure whether it was even needed, and you'd insist on a partial refund if it turned out it wasn't. You can't insist on a 'job rate' only when it benefits you.

Mischance · 16/08/2025 12:34

He should have included all the work in the original quote including hire of necessary equipment - if he could not see what was needed he is probably not up to much. I understand your OH's frustration. They have got you over a barrel - stump up extra or be left with a mess. I think my review might be less than complementary.

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 16/08/2025 12:34

But you described it as clearing some shrubs and returning it to grass?

Were you unaware of the tree stump, or did you highlight it as part of the job?

PsychoHotSauce · 16/08/2025 12:40

Mischance · 16/08/2025 12:34

He should have included all the work in the original quote including hire of necessary equipment - if he could not see what was needed he is probably not up to much. I understand your OH's frustration. They have got you over a barrel - stump up extra or be left with a mess. I think my review might be less than complementary.

I would agree apart from the OP says she got a detailed itemised list of works. It will be clear whether or not the stump was included and that's on her to check at the time, not try and scope creep later.

OP hasn't paid a penny either.

TonTonMacoute · 16/08/2025 12:41

Why didn't you just say you didn't want to pay more and to just leave the stump? Was it essential to remove it?

However, he sounds very touchy too, and not very professional to just abandon the job. It doesn't seem like something worth falling out over.

Original poster
sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 12:51

The stump was alongside the shrubs. Clear for all to see and I didn’t realise when I showed him the job I had to specifically say they’d the stump had to go too. He has written “Clear area of shrubs and debris and remove green waste” maybe I should have been more pedantic about the quote before he got the job. Also I didn’t realise suggest leaving the stump but he told me he couldn’t get the routes of two of the larger shrubs without a grinder. I think he just has little experience. I’d expect someone to know the job to have foreseen this and included it.

OP posts:
Gunz · 16/08/2025 12:55

Getting a tree stump out can be a difficult job. We had one and took us many hours to get one out. If missed - the choice is to pay the extra or leave in situ. This time of year gardeners have no shortage of work - so no surprise if they left.

BeltaLodaLife · 16/08/2025 13:09

sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 12:51

The stump was alongside the shrubs. Clear for all to see and I didn’t realise when I showed him the job I had to specifically say they’d the stump had to go too. He has written “Clear area of shrubs and debris and remove green waste” maybe I should have been more pedantic about the quote before he got the job. Also I didn’t realise suggest leaving the stump but he told me he couldn’t get the routes of two of the larger shrubs without a grinder. I think he just has little experience. I’d expect someone to know the job to have foreseen this and included it.

If it was clearly visible rather than hidden away under shrubs, and he is also claiming to need the grinder to remove the shrubs which he 100% knew about then the quote which says “clear that area” is legally binding and you cannot be made to pay more. But that gets messy, and is probably much simpler for him to walk off the job and you to get someone else in with a full quote since you haven’t paid him anything anyway, you haven’t lost out.

Crinkle77 · 16/08/2025 13:44

Did the gardener give you a quote or an estimate? I think that makes all the difference. This may be useful https://www.disputeresolutionombudsman.org/blogs/q-what-is-the-difference-between-and-estimate-and-a-quotation-and-why-is-it-important

Original poster
sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 13:49

He gave us a quote. Detailed.

he’s come back arrived at 1:30. Has just come and said he needs more topsoil than he thought and that’s an extra £90. He has two ton bags on his van…….ive asked him to use it first see what we need then. I don’t know what to do about this. I just want him to go away now.

OP posts:
BeltaLodaLife · 16/08/2025 14:39

sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 13:49

He gave us a quote. Detailed.

he’s come back arrived at 1:30. Has just come and said he needs more topsoil than he thought and that’s an extra £90. He has two ton bags on his van…….ive asked him to use it first see what we need then. I don’t know what to do about this. I just want him to go away now.

Remind him that a quote is legally binding, and that he saw the full job with nothing hidden before he quoted and the quote says he will clear the whole area, and do the soil and grass so you won’t be paying anything more and if he can’t do the job for the quoted price then he can leave.

Original poster
sandwichsue · 16/08/2025 18:07

They finished the job but because they didn’t buy enough top soil the back corner isn’t right and hasn’t been leveled properly. There is a big root there from weeds in next door’s garden. I felt I couldn’t point it out as they have been very sharp since I asked them to use what they have. I asked them to send me an invoice and I wil pay. We choose this company because they were the mid range quote and a
local firm. I’m disappointed because I’m going to have to fix the areas they have skimped on. They were supposed to take rubbish away and I did point that out and they said they only remove rubble and green waste no rubbish. So I’ll have to take it to the skip myself. Again. You live and learn.

OP posts:
TripTrapSnipSnap · 16/08/2025 18:57

You told him not to buy more soil and then you didn't feel you could bring it up so that's on you. If you'd said go ahead now and get some more then he'd have done so and it would have been leveled off properly.

Why did you think they would take away household rubbish? They would have to pay to get rid of that. They're obviously only going to take the rubble and green waste.

Yes, you have to take your own rubbish to the tip.

Original poster
sandwichsue · 17/08/2025 03:15

@TripTrapSnipSnapi thought he would take it because when he came to quote I asked him to clear the area. That included the little pile of rubbish in it. Things like a broken skateboard, broken pots burst balls. He never said he wouldn’t take that. Also, the quote included topsoil to level the site. Not 2 ton and any more you have to pay extra. Anyway it’s done now I just have to get on and forget it.

OP posts:
TripTrapSnipSnap · 17/08/2025 08:16

I must sound really harsh! I promise I don't mean to, I think I was just annoyed yesterday, probably about something else all together. To be fair to you, I wouldn't necessarily have known these things either.

It's a certain type of language with builders/tradesmen, and communicating really clearly is very important because a lot of assumptions can be made on either side. I remember the first time we had people in to re-lay our front porch and I was so surprised that they just laid it and didn't really ask how I wanted it done, and I didn't think to specifically tell them before the job started.

He probably just assumed that you would know that they don't take actual rubbish.

It's not always possible to know exactly how much soil you might need to fill a space at the beginning of a job as it depends.

If you ever have anything else done you know to ask lots and lots of questions to be absolutely clear on everything.

Anyway. I hope you aren't too disappointed and that you can enjoy your garden.💐