It's a NDN CF one....

[hopefullyhelpfully]

5 months ago we had some work done on our house which created dust. We told our NDN that we would pay to have their back windows and conservatory cleaned- asked them to book someone at their convenience and we'd pay.

They didn't do anything and after reminding them twice and volunteering our window cleaner we forgot about it.
They then started doing lots of work on their house which has created huge amounts of mess and dust- lots more than our work did, and which has left all their windows filthy. Our garden and windows are also now mucky with detritus from their work, but we didn't bother saying anything as we're about to start work on the garden and there didn't seem to be any point.

Anyway, they have just posted an invoice for £65 through our door for getting their windows cleaned! To add insult to injury the invoice indicates that it was more expensive due to the terrible state of the windows, caused by THEIR building work.

I'm fairly certain no one will tell me IABU to call them rude, BUT AIBU to still pay? I know it's wrong, but I don't want neighbour issues and CBA to start a row over £65. My mum (who is much much feistier than DH and me) is outraged with us (the word pushovers was used!) but we did tell them we'd pay and set no timescale or conditions....

Treguna has it nailed.

DM is wondering out loud where she went wrong in growing me a backbone. I think she's joking

I doubt she is joking. What's the going rate for your window cleaner to clean your windows? I'd only pay that amount and tell CF NDN that they had ample time to get the windows cleaned from your dust before their work started. Tell them you won't be paying the over inflated price due to their excess dirt.

I like Treguna’s approach. Cheeky fuckers!

Im also with Treguna, spot on perfect!

I'm really surprised by the number of people who are telling you to pay it. They sounds like neighbours who would keep taking advantage of your kindness in others ways too. It's cheeky. Defintiely go round and politely talk to them about how the situation is now equal and it would now make sense for both of you to cover your own cleaning costs.

Actually @TregunaMekoides is spot on - do as she suggests.

CStaff I'm 48. Is that to old to send my mum round? 😃 She's certainly combative- since retiring she's got quite stroppy. She's the only person I know who got the council to cancel a parking fine which makes her a bit of a local legend.

I'm going to pay and be cross about it. DH and I will mutter grumpily and perhaps pretend not to be in when their endless Amazon parcels get delivered to us.

That'll teach them.

There is nothing in writing so nothing they can fall back on.

It was a gentleman's agreement they didn't take you up on (how long ago did you last offer,)

I'm with your mum and treguna do not pay

Why would you pay?? They messed up their own windows with their building work so tell them to fuck off.

Or get your mum to

£65 is a lot for windows but in fairness the houses are tall Victorian 3 storey ones in London and special ladders are needed. It's extra because of the elbow grease needed to clean all the mess off their sills and windows.

Just read back the bit about it costing extra to clean up their mess and i am a bit ashamed of myself.

5 months later and you are going to pay? Why not pay half and tell them after 5 months and after them creating much of the dirt themselves that you are only doing that as a goodwill gesture. Don’t be a mug.

Treguna is spot on!

I agree with Tregunna, except I'd ask when they were getting the windows cleaned and suggest getting them done together and splitting the bill.

After you've finished with the garden

Why would you let someone walk all over you like that. You know they are being CF's and yet still say you are going to pay. They obviously don't care about neighbourly relations, so why should you.

It would bug me that they will probably be having a good laugh about what suckers you are.

Who cares about neighbourly relations with people who treat you like this? It's not like you'll ever be friends now knowing what they're like. I'd tell them since they had their own work done it's not happening.

Pay half. Attach a note saying you're only paying half because it's been 5 months and they've had their own building work done you think that's fair.

Do not be a pushover.

Seriously just do what @TregunaMekoides says. Nailed it. Assertive and sensible and no need to fall out with neighbours or forever harbour resentment.

OP paying it won’t make them like you. It shows them that you are a walkover. What’s next? Are you going to pay to get them a new fence? Or pay to get their gutters cleaned because the leaves from your trees blew in there?

CFers are CFers because people allow them to be.

Why would you just give in?

I know you don't want aggro but seriously ... being a doormat won't stop aggro, it'll probably give them a green light for more shenanigans.

I would just reply...

I don't know what this bill is for. I asked you countless times to get your windows cleaned and we would pay. You ignored that. You've now had a lot of dusty work done and our windows are filthy from this! Let's just leave it like that. Here is the invoice returned.

You sound ridiculous. Just don't pay it.

Say you will pay but that you will also send a bill for your windows .

Can't believe that people would actually pay the £65 to keep a good relationship.

No way. Do not do this OP. I would put half of the money through their door and just write a note saying something like 'Here's the money as promised to clean the dust created by our builders'. There.

Also very much like TregunaMekoides' approach too considering they've now trashed your windows. Yep, don't bother giving them any money.

I agree, do what @TregunaMekoides says. This is first class cf..ery

I'm very anti-confrontation but I still wouldn't pay, I'd say in a friendly way, "it looks like we've both messed up each other's windows so that seems like evens!". I don't see how they could reasonably push back on that.