Question - Help me work out if they are taking the piss please

[MenopausalMaud]

Hi,
We have gardeners every month to help us with our unruly garden.
I am usually at work when they come, am generally happy with their work but sometimes question just how much work they have managed to do in the time I pay them for.
Today I was at home when they came but because we have road works right outside our house at the moment, my car was parked away from the house and they did not see me in the house.
They came at 2.15pm and left at 3.45pm, so here for 1.5hrs.
Now for the maths........... if a 'visit' is 2 people for 2hrs (what I am meant to pay for), how much are they taking the piss to let me know that they have done 'a visit and a half' with 3 people present?
My brain will not work this out and I may be the one being unreasonable, but until I know for sure I will remain annoyed!!

I would reply and just ask "how many hours are you billing me for today please? Can you stipulate how many people were here? Eg 1 hour but two people were here so we are billing me for 2 hours. As it all seems a bit unclear. Many thanks."

See if they guess from the "here" that you were also there.

OP, you’re not being very clear at all! How many men were there? And are you being charged 1.5 visits?

I'm sorry for the confusion -
Yes they are charging me for 1 and a half visits not 1 and a half hours.
I only saw 2 men but as 3 do sometimes come I am willing to be generous.
I do think that they thought I wouldn't know how long they were here and are trying it on. I will message them and see what they say.

OP, you’re being far too nice! If you only saw 2 guys, there were only 2 guys, they are completely ripping you off!

I have messaged them and tey have replied:
'3 men there today for an hour and a half' - he doesn't seem to get that this is not the same as 1 and a half 'visits'.
I think that they have probably done this many times before but not being in, I have not been aware

Have they charged you for 1.5 visits in the past? If they have, I would message and ask them if they sent 3 men for 1.5 hours on the previous occasions they charged you for 1.5 visits. If they say yes, message back and point out that 2 men for 2 hours are 4 man hours and 3 men for 1.5 hours is 4.5 man hours and ask for a refund of 1.5 man hours for each visit you were overcharged.

Explain to him

"Three men for 1.5 hours is 4.5 hours. One and a half visits is six hours. You are charging me for 1.5 hours more than was worked, please amend".

And leave it there.

The only caution I would add op is how much work was done? Because if they worked fast, And did a lot, I'd be willing to accept it, because they can easily slow the work and make it last the full time and do the same amount.

My cleaner is the same, if she gets a rush on and does it well I'm happy to pay her for say two hours rather than the 1.5 she did, because I know she could have made the same work last two hours and she worked her arse off,

Are you being charged more for this visit than normal?

You said you were signed up for 4 hours, they shouldn't be doing 6 hours and charging it, at their discretion without clearing the increased cost with you

If they're charging you their normal weekly rate and there were 3 people then you haven't been bumped. If they are charging you more than the weekly amount then yeah you've been done