I apologise in advance for what will probably be the most boring post of all time! Soo, long story short ..... Moved into our new house around 6 months ago, next door neighbours are very friendly and welcoming, and will often stop to chat over the fence etc. We hear a lot about the older gentleman who owned the house before us, and how the garden used to be immaculate and the pride of the street etc. To start with this was fine, but eventually it seemed that every time we spoke the fact that the garden used to be so wonderful was brought up, and by implication was no longer up to standard. I'm not a keen gardener by any means, but it's been kept (relatively) tidy, grass mown, occasionally weeds pulled, patio brushed etc, since we moved in. We're renovating so everything inside the house is very much the priority at the moment but the outside is fine by most standards.
So, the crux of the issue. At the bottom of our garden is a conifer hedge, which had grown to well over 8 feet by the time we'd moved in. I arranged for someone to come and cut it, and while it wasn't a pristine job, it was far better with 3ft off the height. The next door neighbour's gardener had also quoted for the work, and was over £200 more expensive which I really couldn't afford.
Following the hedge cut, NDN complained every time I was in the garden about what an 'awful' job had been done, how it was a real bodge, etc. He caught me off guard one day and asked if I wanted his gardener to sort it out - I was rushing and non-committedly said 'yes,maybe'. So she comes over that day and says it will take around four hours at £15 an hour, which I agreed to thinking it would help neighbourly relations given that NDN is obviously quite put out by the newly trimmed hedge. (I really didn't think it was that bad, nor did my keen gardener parents). Fast forward to today and she comes over with an invoice for £190!!! Saying it took much longer than expected to rectify the previous hedge cutter's shoddy work! I was away when the work was carried out so can't verify how long it took, but basically feel like I've been shafted. I wouldn't mind an extra couple of hours but feel this is extortionate, but am also in a catch 22 because I don't want to sour relations with the NDNs by disputing it. So more of a WWYD really? Pay or say it's unreasonable?
AIBU?
Neighbour issues - hedge problems!
ijustdontknowanymore · 22/09/2016 23:11
15 feet ?!?! 
Cricky that's tiny! 12 hours? That's and hour per foot nearly! I echo the nail scissors question 
Agree with everyone else. But just one more thing - your ndn is a nosey bully! It doesn't matter what he thinks of your garden or how the previous owner kept it, it's yours now and you are right to focus on the house rather than the garden. Keep the ndn at arms length, stick to morning and hi if they try to chat say you're in a hurry, bye! Remember the Mumsnet motto - no is a complete sentence! If you are in charge of renovations learn to stand up yourself and speak your mind, quickly, otherwise you'll get walked all over and end up with a house that's not quite what you wanted. Good luck! 
I agree re always being busy in future when the NDN wants to rhapsodise about the previous owner. Cultivate a faraway look, and an air of vagueness. 
Do not be bullied into handing over that money, and don't get into long explanations. You agreed a price, if the gardener knew it was going to run over by over three times what was agreed, they should not have proceeded without contacting you.
All the best in your new home. (And garden 
)
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