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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To play cf neighbours at their own game

210 replies

Raspberryberetthekindyoufind · 27/08/2018 12:10

Nest door moved in about a year ago, an older couple and asked DH very nicely if he would mind mowing their lawn when he does ours as they really struggle. DH agreed and said no problem at all
Anyway fast forward to now DH has a bad back and has done for three weeks so our grass and their grass has got really long. I have physical disability so can’t do it myself.
I told neighbours when he did his back in and said hopefully he would be able to do it in a few weeks. The women seemed really put out but but I put it down to catching her at a bad moment.
Three weeks on DH is getting better but wants to leave the mowing for another week until he is properly better
Knock on the door last night and it was the man next door demanding to know when he lawn would be cut, I explained it would hopefully be in a week or so and he stormed off.
This morning I was in the garden and so were next door and she said loudly to her husband that we should pay for someone to do both lawns as they look awful and it’s down to us to sort them. Just then their son who is in his thirty’s arrives with his wife and son and comes in the back garden.
I pop my head over and say “Hi, can I ask you a favour since both lawns are looking awful and DH is laid up with his back could you give both of them a run over for us. Especially as DH has done your parents lawn for over a year, Thankyou soooooo much. I then went back inside with them stareing at me open mouthed.
The son is now mowing our lawn Grin

OP posts:
YippeeKayakOtherBuckets · 27/08/2018 12:57

Contract? WT actual F?

Breakfastofmilk · 27/08/2018 12:58

Brilliant, and leads you into telling them that their son has done such a good job on the lawns, there's no way your DH could possibly compete, so it's best you just stick with your respective lawns from now on

Yep, obviously you and DH feel absolutely DREADFUL, are completely DEVASTATED to have let them down so badly. Since you've shown yourselves to be so unreliable it's best they source a more reliable mowing service - either paid or their sons.

OliviaStabler · 27/08/2018 12:58

LOL, they are deluded!

wizzywig · 27/08/2018 12:58

The contract of cf'ery

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 27/08/2018 12:58

If CF neighbour thinks he has a verbal contract its for your DH to do their lawn when he does yours. As he hasn't done yours, then he's not required to do theirs. No theoretical contract broken Grin

Love you CFed them back.

Whatsthisbear · 27/08/2018 12:59

Solicitor Confused wth do they think it is your responsibility when you have been doing them a favour? Can’t wait to see how this plays out Grin

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 27/08/2018 13:00

This is so funnyGrin
I mean it has to be infuriating for you but 🤣🤣🤣

AcrossthePond55 · 27/08/2018 13:00

The son has done our lawn but not their lawn.

Whaaattt??!! That's crazy!

For CFN to stomp over and say 'you'll be hearing from my solicitor' means to me that, for whatever reason, his son refused to mow his lawn. I'd LOVE to hear the story behind that!

SteveMcGarrettsBudgieSmugglers · 27/08/2018 13:00

can you not go and sit in the garden, while commenting on how nice it is, lovely to have someone do it for you etc etc

or print up and invoice for the work your dh did for over a year minus the amount for the ds doing it today

PatchworkElmer · 27/08/2018 13:01

😂😂😂 well done OP! They are nuts!!

ApolloandDaphne · 27/08/2018 13:01

I cannot wait for you to report back on the contents of that solicitors letter! I fear i may be waiting a long time.

BMW6 · 27/08/2018 13:01

Fuck me Shock................

Cockapoomummy · 27/08/2018 13:02

For a contract to exist there needs to be consideration. Payment of some kind. Ask them what the consideration was.

DolorestheNewt · 27/08/2018 13:02

Although if this numpty gets solicitors involved (they should laugh him out but might write a letter since they'll be getting paid) you would end up with a dispute which could affect you if you were to sell the house.

I wouldn't be put off buying a house by this dispute, though. It's not like noisy neighbours or boundaries, it's just someone impotently fuming that I'm not mowing their lawn. And even this spectacularly unhinged CF presumably wouldn't imagine that the contract to mow their lawn transfers to the new owners... though the thread would get even better if he did...

BolleauxtoBankers · 27/08/2018 13:02

Ooh, yes, love the idea of an invoice - obviously in the terms of the same contract of which you are in breach!

kateandme · 27/08/2018 13:03

yes I think continuing to do it now would be almost too nice of you!fair enough if they had helped you out.but should you be the better people to this extent now and continue to help when they were buggers when your dh was ill.
you managed to do though what we all wish to do.when you come off that phone call or in the middle of an argument or here.when you only realise and think of the genious thing to say or do afterwards and go wishing you could have got there before.and you did it in the middle of it.perfect!

Gersemi · 27/08/2018 13:03

Point out to the neighbour that one of the fundamental requirements for a contract is that both sides provide what is known as consideration, i.e. something of value. Ask them precisely what consideration they have provided.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 27/08/2018 13:04

I’d go over and try to find out what it is that they’re thinking you have agreed to and set the straight.

YourHandInMyHand · 27/08/2018 13:04

They sound bonkers! Shock What sort of contract do they think they have exactly? A slave one?

Well done on putting them on the spot. It was lovely of your partner to offer to always do theirs when you moved in, and they've shot themselves in the foot being so rude and ungrateful.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 27/08/2018 13:05

Do not ever again do their gatden for them!

UpstartCrow · 27/08/2018 13:05

I wish I had half their cheek!

SoleBizzz · 27/08/2018 13:08

Are CF neighbours American? Shock

smartiecake · 27/08/2018 13:09

OP we need a diagram Grin
Is this front or back garden and are the two connected? If so I would be putting a fence up pronto!

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 27/08/2018 13:10

Well, they've done you a huge favour because there's no need to be nice or neighbourly after that little tantrum. Anytime they say anything to you at all you can stop them in their tracks and tell them that you have been advised (by MN obviously) not to enter into any discussions until their legal action has been resolved. You will wait to hear further from their solicitor.

Do they even have their own lawn mower or have you been using yours for both gardens?

I was going to kindly suggest that they get a robot mower, but now they can get lost in a lawn jungle for all any of us care. Grin

Fluffyears · 27/08/2018 13:10

so they will pay money for the solicitor to write to you demanding you do chores for them. I’m going round to my neighbour right now to demand she does my dishes whilst doing hers.