Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pay more than asked?

36 replies

TrixieBlue2016 · 10/03/2016 14:37

I am going to get my very small back garden tidied, getting rid of leaves and weeds so it is ready for planting.

Its not a big job but the digging required is too much for me and DH. I had a heart attack at 32 last year and DH has a broken leg.

I have had two quotes 1 for £300 and one for £20 total. The person who quoted just £20 came this morning to see the garden. I thought he ment £20 an hour which is reasonable, but no he ment £20 total. I double checked the price as his English wasn't very good (he was Polish).

I will be using the person from this morning as he was on time and seemed like a nice man but feel bad about just giving him £20 for what will be a few hours digging. I thought I would double it to £40 at least ( I had budgeted £100). I have mentioned the quotes to people at work who all think I should just pay £20 as the man asked. This seems a bit stingy to me.

Aibu to pay him more than asked? Do you think he would be offended?

OP posts:
Lanark2 · 10/03/2016 14:40

No, I think it's a great idea. He has clearly priced to be nice to you, and it will make his day if you can be nice back, and you will gain someone you can call on easily too. Its a win win.

lunar1 · 10/03/2016 14:40

I'd pay the extra too, at least minimum wage.

Katedotness1963 · 10/03/2016 14:40

I would pay more. The man who came to cut my grass charged £25 and that was for a tiny council house garden.

FauxFox · 10/03/2016 14:40

I would offer £40 if he does a good job & possibly ask him to come back once a month to help out with things regularly. (I would also ply him with tea and biscuits Grin)

You are nice.

nephrofox · 10/03/2016 14:44

I'd pay him £10 per hour plus drinks and cake.

Lweji · 10/03/2016 14:44

I'd work out something at about £10 or a bit less per hour.

The £300 quote seems like a rip off.

CurlyBlueberry · 10/03/2016 14:44

I've had a similar situation, I had someone come round to make some fitted shelving for me. He only wanted £20 for about three hours' work - I live in London, and this was covering materials too, and he'd done such a good job. I gave him £30 and insisted he took it, I would have felt too bad otherwise. I think he only really did it as a hobby, he seemed a bit lonely to be honest! But still, he deserved fair pay for his work.

leelu66 · 10/03/2016 14:45

Maybe pay £10ph or work he does?

YANBU.

Arfarfanarf · 10/03/2016 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sandalwearingdoglady · 10/03/2016 15:06

We had two guys help us move house. They worked their socks off from 9-3 and did 3 1 hour round trips. They charged us £120. They were so great we gave them £160. We used them again this morning yo shift some furniture for us and they refused any money so we paid them in cakeSmile it's nice to do nice things for nice people.

MissBeaHaving · 10/03/2016 15:25

I would round it up £10 an hour also,digging is hard work & I would feel like I was taking advantage giving him just £20.

I'm desperate for help in my garden,I'd love to find someone who didn't charge over the odds.

WhereYouLeftIt · 10/03/2016 15:26

I would definitely pay him more than £20. You thought £20/hour was reasonable, so I'd go with that. Plus tea and biscuits/cake, and a suggestion that the work he's doing is worth that.

Pinkheart5915 · 10/03/2016 15:29

Aren't you lovely.

I would certainly pay £15-£20 per hour I'm sure he wouldn't be offended. Also give him a few cups of tea and cake.

HanYOLO · 10/03/2016 15:37

How long will it take him?

I'd have to pay more than £20. It makes me think he must be desperate.

oldlaundbooth · 10/03/2016 15:43

He will not be offended.

As PP have said, tea and cake is standard issue.

ThomasRichard · 10/03/2016 15:45

Yes, I would do that too. I would hate to feel that I was taking advantage of someone.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 10/03/2016 15:50

assuming its a cash in hand job and he was not going to be penalised anywhere ie: benefits/ tax etc then I would certainly pay more according to how long he takes and satisfaction with the job done.

shovetheholly · 10/03/2016 15:56

I'm so sorry to hear about your health problems Flowers

Do feel free to join us in the gardening forum! Oh, and yes, I'd pay him more. Digging is back-breaking work.

scarlets · 10/03/2016 16:03

I'd wait until the job was finished and say something like, "great job - here's your money, with a tip" and hand over an extra tenner. Make sure that you recommend him to friends, too.

MrsPear · 10/03/2016 16:08

My brother charges £12 p/h but he has basic qualifications. I would see he does and then give him his wage with tip if he does a good job.
Oh and my brother has favourite clients who he works extra hard for and they offer the best cakes!

Ilovetorrentialrain · 10/03/2016 16:17

OP is there any chance he has massively underestimated the job?

I'd agree with c. £10 p.h. in any case.

Original poster
TrixieBlue2016 · 10/03/2016 16:19

The man has texted to say he would be bringing a friend to help but the price remains £20.Shock He said it should take them 2 hours. I just can't pay them so little Sad

I've texted DH that we'll pay each man £15 an hour plus £15 so for the 2 hours they will get £45 plus DH's manky tea and coffee

I got his number from a friend who apparently just paid him what he asked. I can only imagine how little that was as she had a massive and very overgrown garden.

OP posts:
TomHaverford · 10/03/2016 16:28

Sounds a great idea. It might be his first job of the type and is desperate to get his foot in?

8angle · 10/03/2016 16:33

I would wait to see what sort of a job he does before deciding what to pay! but if they do a good job in a short amount of time i would definitely give them a "tip" - as you suggested £25 sounds good

EweAreHere · 10/03/2016 16:51

I'm glad you're going to pay him approximately double what he asked for. It's the right thing to do under the circumstances.

Swipe left for the next trending thread