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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

neighbour hasn’t coughed up

47 replies

discoinfernoooo · 31/12/2019 12:21

I live in a row of houses and my neighbour on one side is a gardener.

My neighbour on the other side and I had some work needing done that we agreed to split and half the costs between us.

The work came to £150 and my gardener neighbour carried it out.

We agreed to give the gardener our half separately and I duly gave him £75 on the day that it was completed.

My neighbour still hasn’t paid him and this is now over a month.

My gardener neighbour has been moaning to me that she still hasn’t paid and in the latest conversation he hinted that I should give him the remaining £75.

WWYD here? I’m tempted to tell him to leave me out of it all together. I could give him the other £75 but the principle of the matter is that my other neighbour is a CF who should have paid this guy over a month ago.

WWYD? AIBU to ask him to leave me out of it?

OP posts:
Sh0na · 31/12/2019 12:23

I wouldn't hand it over. The gardener knows you paid your half. The gardener knows who the other half is to be from.

Do nothing for the time being.

BlouseAndSkirt · 31/12/2019 12:25

If you engaged the gardener to do all the work, you made the arrangements, agreed the price etc, then I can see the gardener’s POV.

If each neighbour spoke with the gardener about their jobs and half of the payment, YANBU.

MatildaTheCat · 31/12/2019 12:25

It depends.

If you commissioned the work and privately agreed with CF neighbour that you’d split the cost then your contract to pay £150 is with the gardener. CF then owes you the money.

If you both commissioned the work and gardener agreed to charge you £75 each then CF owes gardener the money and YWNBU to ask to be left out of it.

What does CF actually say?

Original poster
discoinfernoooo · 31/12/2019 12:28

CF and I agreed that the work needed done and I spoke to the gardener as we both know him (and I happened to see him first) He told me the price and I spoke to CF and we agreed that we would go ahead with it and that we would pay him separately.

I then relayed this to the gardener who agreed that he would collect the money separately.

Does this make me liable?

OP posts:
BaolFan · 31/12/2019 12:31

Nope. The gardener agreed to collect the cash from you separately. He shouldn't have agreed to it if he wasn't prepared for the risk of one of you choosing not to pay. Nothing to do with you as you have paid your share.

Original poster
discoinfernoooo · 31/12/2019 12:33

I really hate cheeky fuckers.

He’s done a lot of work for me in the past and now I’m concerned that he won’t do anything again for me because this woman has decided she doesn’t want to pay even though I’ve paid my share Sad

OP posts:
OneForMeToo · 31/12/2019 12:33

Sounds like the gardeners contract was with you tbh. He never met or spoke to the other person regarding the work. He could try small claims court against the neighbour.

I’d prob pay up and never speak to shitty neighbour again.

purplecorkheart · 31/12/2019 12:38

If you engaged him for the work then sadly you do owe him. Your arrangement with your neighbour is not his concern. You need to pay him and chase your money from your neighbour.

tikitent · 31/12/2019 12:38

Just wondering if your neighbour felt bullied into agreeing to split cost when actually she feels that you should be the one paying (e.g. if it's your hedge on your land).

Peppapeppapeppapeppa · 31/12/2019 12:40

Can't you just remind the other neighbour? A month isn't that long in the grand scheme of things and especially with Christmas and everything they've probably been preoccupied.

You've just reminded me we owe our neighbour £90 for something very similar. I can't remember when she asked for it but it was ages ago and I just clean forgot. I'll take it round now.

maddening · 31/12/2019 12:41

Has cf said they won't pay?

GrannyBags · 31/12/2019 12:42

They are adults let them sort it.

Doman · 31/12/2019 12:42

Could it be an honest mistake on your neighbour's part and they've simply forgotten? Has anyone reminded them?

Beautiful3 · 31/12/2019 12:44

Gardener agreed to collect the money from you separately, so gardener needs to chase it up (not you).

haukeli · 31/12/2019 12:46

He agreed to collect the payment separately so he should chase it up with the neighbour. However, I would also go round and remind the neighbour that they need to pay up ASAP.

And never make an arrangement like this with this CF neighbour ever again.

Sparkle567 · 31/12/2019 12:47

I wouldn’t pay but I would knock on the door and mention that the gardener isn’t happy about not being paid and could she pay up as he might stop working for you otherwise

Thehop · 31/12/2019 12:49

“It’s terrible she hasn’t paid. Well now you know to only do work for people you know pay on time. Glad I’m not in the bad books, I need x and y doing next year!”

Original poster
discoinfernoooo · 31/12/2019 12:49

@tikitent

We were/are two adults discussing work that needed done. I doubt she felt bullied into it.

OP posts:
BlackCatSleeping · 31/12/2019 12:50

I wouldn’t pay but I would knock on the door and mention that the gardener isn’t happy about not being paid and could she pay up as he might stop working for you otherwise

I agree with this. Christmas is a tough time for people, so maybe the neighbor is just broke. Talk to her and see what is going on.

Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 31/12/2019 12:50

Go round to the neighbour and say hi doreen..just seen tom the gardener he has asked me to pop round to remind you about the outstanding balance from the garden works...I said I knew you wouldnt mind me calling as its probably an oversight what with christmas and what have you...would you mind he says dropping it off through his letter box ...thank you doreen saves me getting anymore calls! Cheerily bright and breezy then leave!

BaolFan · 31/12/2019 12:50

People saying that the contract was with the OP and that she needs to pay, are missing the point that the gardener knew he was being paid individually - and crucially he accepted this and said he would collect from them separately.

OP does not owe him anything. However for the sake of good relations I'd go round and give your neighbour the hard word about coughing up what she owes. I'd face the gardener about it and say that you've also chased her, tell him that you're sorry he's not been paid by her and that you hope it won't stop him from taking work from you again (after all you have paid your share).

Small claims court filing cost is £25 online so only worth it if you want to pursue £50 as a point of principle.

AgeShallNotWitherHer · 31/12/2019 12:50

I'd pay to keep the peace and the services of the gardener neighbour. Also - would the CF neighbour have engaged the gardener independently or was it your suggestion because you had used him before?

If I were the gardener I would think of you as being the client even if I had agreed to collect the money from you as individuals.

Put a note through CF's door saying that you have paid the gardener and now she owes you.

HumousWhereTheHeartIs · 31/12/2019 12:54

Your neighbour is maybe finding things tights after Christmas and will pay once he/she are paid. Maybe they are embarrassed.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/12/2019 12:54

the gardener ... agreed that he would collect the money separately

In that case, since he knew about this upfront and agreed to it, I don't think you're liable at all. I also can't really see a reason for him to refuse you future work (providing it doesn't involve CF of course)

He's quite right to want his money, but not to just approach what he sees as the easiest target for getting it

DarlingNikita · 31/12/2019 12:57

Go round and breezily let the neighbour know that the gardener is asking after their share of the money. Tell the gardener you've mentioned the money to the neighbour, and leave it at that. ignore people on here saying they’d just pay it Hmm

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