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Original poster

Neighbour issues - hedge problems!

209 replies

ijustdontknowanymore · 22/09/2016 23:11

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
SoupDragon · 23/09/2016 20:06

Is it too late to do this?

Neighbour issues - hedge problems!
Naicehamshop · 23/09/2016 20:10

DH has just cut a 15 foot conifer hedge with electric clippers and it took him less than an hour! Admittedly it was reasonably well maintained but even so - 12 HOURS!!!
Don't pay it.

Tarrarra · 23/09/2016 20:26

NDN arranged the work and is therefore responsible for the invoice. If they gave you a quote then they should have stuck to it or asked you before any further money was owed. I think in this case they are really taking the piss. If the gardener was there for 12 hours then surely you would have seen them at some point? I would go round and say that you were really shocked and disappointed to be presented with an invoice that is £130 more than was agreed, particularly as the work didn't really need to be done. As they arranged the work they are liable for the cost as you had no contact with the gardener and you trusted them. However, you will honour the original cost of £60 and leave it there rather than souring relations.

NoSquirrels · 23/09/2016 21:58

Hmmm.

The next door neighbour's gardener had also quoted for the work, and was over £200 more expensive which I really couldn't afford.

So... originally NDN's gardener quoted you £200 more for the job than the people you hired to do it (which you couldn't afford so you turned her down). And then, mysteriously, she's turned up with a bill for almost £200 for a job that she quoted should have cost less than £60... Hmmm. Bloody dodgy I say.

Please don't pay. Be polite but firm.

"I was very surprised to get your bill for the hedge-tidy. As you quoted 4 hours work at £15 per hour, your final bill is more than 12 hours' of labour, so that's 3 times as much as your estimate. I would never have authorised this amount of time being spent had you checked with me when you realised the job may be bigger than you'd quoted, as I have already paid for the bulk of the work on the hedge being cut back earlier in the year. I'm happy to honour our original agreement of 4 hours at £15 per hour/will compromise on 50% of your final bill as a gesture of goodwill* as I appreciate you did spend time on it, and have enclosed a cheque accordingly.
Best wishes, blah blah"

*[up to you, I would do this but YMMV]

AgathaF · 24/09/2016 07:39

If you do give the money directly to the neighbour, give them a cheque and not cash so that they can't deny receiving it a few days later.

wowfudge · 24/09/2016 08:17

Oh my god - no no no to a 'goodwill gesture' of paying more than the agreed £60. Doing things like that is a charter for robbing bastards and you may as well write them a blank cheque. I don't care if she spent 12 hours carving a topiary version of Mount Rushmore into the bloody hedge: the additional work wasn't agreed or authorised, therefore it does not get paid for.

george1020 · 24/09/2016 09:40

Do not pay!
They sound awful and the problem is the more you let them dictate to you they more they will.
NDN gardener obviously had no intention of charging less and they came up with this cock and bull story expecting to make you pay.
I would pay the agreed amount and tell them they should have cleared it with you first.
Please don't spend your life being bossed about by your neighbors it will make you hate living in your home.

Hissy · 24/09/2016 10:13

Pay the £60 and not a penny more.

Get the line drawn in the sand right now and show the ndn that you won't tolerate this interference or attempts to con you.

MintyChops · 24/09/2016 18:00

Have you spoken to the gardener or NDN yet OP?

Original poster
ijustdontknowanymore · 24/09/2016 18:35

So - I haven't spoken to either yet, or decided exactly what to do. I know that I'm being completely screwed over, but am considering posting a post-dated cheque and including a letter to explain that I couldn't afford the unexpected cost this month. The positive to come out of this is that I have booked myself a counselling session for next week, as yet another situation has arisen today in which I've effectively been walked all over, and I've realised that I need to work on being able to assert myself without feeling awful/guilty. Don't flame me, I know I'm being pathetic!

OP posts:
QueenLizIII · 24/09/2016 18:57

Yes you are.

if you had any balls, you would have not done it in the first place and said I am not trimming my hedge to suit you, it isnt your property, and why dont you get your hedges done the way your darling previous neighbour used to do it if it matters so much.

You re setting yourself up to be taken for a fucking mug.

QueenLizIII · 24/09/2016 18:58

And by the way the bank will ignore the date on the cheque and cash it.

Original poster
ijustdontknowanymore · 24/09/2016 19:05

I know! I have learnt my lesson, and I feel fucking awful about it.

OP posts:
WittyPutDown · 24/09/2016 19:08

Blimey Queen there is no need to be so harsh. Hmm

OP, you will honestly feel better if you do the sensible thing and only pay them for the work you agreed to. I'm still curious as to what you said when you were handed the wildly inflated invoice.

If you give in to their bullying you will feel even worse and it will bug you every time you see your hedge or your neighbour. If you really can't deal with it then ask someone to do it for you.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 24/09/2016 19:09

Please don't do that.

Just give them the sixty quid. It's what you'd agreed.

Where do you live? Surely one of us lives near enough to come and give you backup...?

RunnyRattata · 24/09/2016 19:19

That's an angry sounding post there Queen You ok?

RunnyRattata · 24/09/2016 19:21

I'd also come round to back you up OP.

MiddleClassProblem · 24/09/2016 19:22

"Don't flame me"

Queen fashions a Molotov cocktail Grin

At least you know your issue and you're getting help op. But maybe at least inquire to how it took x3 longer in cynical tones. You might find that you have the confidence to call them out with the fluff answer they give you and say we agreed on 4hrs and she didn't contact you to say it would be more when she realised it would to sign it off

WeAllHaveWings · 24/09/2016 19:24

They shouldn't have continued the work more than tripling the price without approval. No way would I be paying £190.

I wouldn't fall out with the ndn but would have a laugh at why any trades person would think that was acceptable.

Original poster
ijustdontknowanymore · 24/09/2016 19:32

Thank you everyone - I know I am being pathetic. The gardener came over with the invoice, and before I opened it said that she 'wanted to explain what she'd done'. So took me to the bottom of the garden and vaguely pointed at bits of the hedge that she'd 'tidied' and said the majority of work had been at the back (which I hadn't asked for and have no access to). NDN does have access through his fence, which is how gardener got through. So after explaining this, she gives me the folded invoice and says 'so it was a little more than expected'. I looked at it and to be honest I was so taken aback I didn't really respond, just asked how she wanted to be paid :-(

OP posts:
TimeIhadaNameChange · 24/09/2016 19:37

Will you see the gardener again yourself? If so, hand her the sixty and tell her to get the rest from your neighbour who authorised the extra.

Stand strong!!!

RunnyRattata · 24/09/2016 19:39

You are allowed to take the decision that the invoice is unreasonable when you had chance to think it over. Get advice from Trading Standards and/or CAB. Neither will advise you to pay it. Then just send a lteer and a cheque for £60 to the address on the envelope detailing when you rang those and what advice you were given. It really does sound like sharp practice and I'm sure Tranding Standards wouldn't just dismiss your concerns. I'm guessing she won't come back at you if she thinks Trading Standards are involved.

TwigletsMakeMeViolent · 24/09/2016 19:41

PLEASE don't pay OP. Really, you are being shafted and the gardener knows this, what's why she came round to "explain". Did she actually say it took her 15 hours?? Because there is no justification. She and your neighbour are ripping you off.

Please, channel the assertive power of MN and just say NO. And make today the beginning of a new you!

Berthatydfil · 24/09/2016 19:50

If you don't want to speak to her out a note in an envelop with a cheque for the £60 you were originally quoted.
Say something like
Please find enclosed cheque for the work originally quoted £60.
Your invoice is more than 3 times the quote. You didn't contact me before doing the additional work and I would not have authorised it if you had and therefore I am not willing to pay the additional cost.

sailawaywithme · 24/09/2016 19:55

OP, if you pay the full invoice you are setting yourself up to be bullied by your neighbor for the rest of the time that you live there. Really - you're setting a precedent here. Choose how you want to be regarded. If you pay £190 you won't be considered a nice person, you'll be considered a mug.

Pay the amount that you agreed. Not a penny more.