Gardener still sending me messages

[PumpkinP]

I posted a little while back about having a gardener come to my house who kept sending me messages. I found him on Facebook after advertising on a local page for a gardener (after I found out he actually travelled almost 10 miles by public transport so hardly local!)

anyway when I first spoke to him he was sending a lot of messages. All garden related but I remember thinking from then he came across as abit full on. I badly needed the garden done so I just decided to let him come to do it. He came and did the garden and at some point couldn’t finish cutting the hedge due to heavy rain. Which I told him was totally fine and I didn’t mind, it was only a really small bit at the side of the house, there was also some other overgrown areas but I told him I could manage those myself, as I had only wanted the hedge cut.
When he told me how far he had travelled I was abit surprised as it didn’t seem worth it for the amount paid as he would have needed to pay for the train, and he also came with a friend that helped him (not sure if he paid him.)

After he left he kept sending me a lot of messages again, apologising for not completing it saying he would come back to do the rest. I told him that it was fine and there was no need. But he has began messaging me repeatedly asking if he can come back and do it! I’ve already told him that it’s been done but it hasn’t stopped the constant messages. He even had the cheek to say he can come back to finish it for £15?! So trying to charge me for something he didn’t finish. I’ve been ignoring his messages as I thought that was the best thing, however on Sunday he messaged me at 10 o’clock at night asking me if I’m a single mum?! (My children were here when he came) I did not respond to this. But yesterday he messaged me on Facebook asking AGAIN if he come back and finish it, (bare in mind I’ve already told him it’s been done) again I don’t respond but woke up to another message today telling me he can come round and do it he’s seriously creeping me out now and I’m scared to block him incase he just shows up! Aibu to just continue to ignore him?

If I were you I would send one very clear message stating you are no longer requiring his services and would like him to stop messaging or you'll report him. Then block. If he turns up just call the police

I would say thanks for the work - I am moving a significant distance so can't employ you any more (don't specify when / where). Then block him on everything.

Tell him you do not want him anywhere near your bush.

I think I might send something saying 'thanks, my partner has taken over the garden stuff now so I won't require any more paid help.' but that's a massive cop out isn't it, and you should enforce boundaries. But it works usually

I had this with a tradesperson once, it is really annoying. Once DH answered the door it totally stopped

Urgh I had this with a gardener once too. I was young and naive and it went on a bit longer he kept coming back to do more but demanded money for it.

Eventually when he told me he was doing 2 hours did ‘4’ (mainly sitting in his van) and demanded payment for 4 I grew a back bone and paid him for 2 and told him not to come back.

He phoned a lot. I ignored him. Eventually he got the message but it took ages.

Can you write him a poor review online?

You shouldn't have to rely on any mention of a man in your life but maybe in this case it would be acceptable.

I'd text back saying your DH/Partner is not happy with him keep messaging you. As stated, the work has already been done and if he continues to harass you about it you will have no choice but to report him to the police.

I remember your previous thread.

Send one message back.

"Stop texting me"

Fucking hell I remember your post. Screenshot all of his messages, save them, then block him.

Can you afford a ring doorbell or a camera out front?

Send him a message saying it's your 'husband' and the work is done, please stop messaging me. Goodness sake. If he continues to harass you, screenshot and take to the police

A couple of the messages , it’s really creeping me out. Shocking to see this has happened to others as well!

Send him one more message telling him you do not require his services, block him and if he turns up randomly just call the police. He is harassing you!

I remember your last post.
You need to be very clear and very firm.

I will not be employing you further. Your questions are inappropriate. Do not contact me again. Any further communication from you would be harassment and I will report it as such.

This guy is not going to go away. You have to be very assertive.

Worst case scenario is he carries on. If he does, you have evidence that you have clearly told him to leave you alone.

Maybe he gets drunk and sends text messages?

@Toilenstripes

Maybe he gets drunk and sends text messages?

As if that makes it ok

I would contact your local council and find out who, if anyone, this an be reported to from a business point of view. I would not hesitate in calling the police either, it is harassment and it needs to be stopped. He might just need a quiet word from his local friendly police officer.

Reply back saying non of your business and to stop messaging

I remember your last post. Can't believe this is still going on!
Tbh I'd be pretty creeped out by this now, he's bombarding you! Is there a chance he fancies you? The first message with the "hey hun" and then asking if you're a single mom.
Wtf has that got to do with gardening!

As others have stated you need to be firm now, I'd say something like "stop messaging me or I'll have no other option than to report you for harassment"

What a knob. Depending on how assertive you are feeling, I would reply. Easiest way out is that your partner has finished the job so won't need to use him again.
Maybe your FB pic attracted him? That would explain him travelling for miles by train for little profit. Is he a business (unlikely) or someone making money cash in hand?
Block him on FB and on your phone.

I don’t know if this is relevant and don’t mean to sound rude or offensive (I have a daughter with autism) but I got the impression that he perhaps has some kind of learning disability, I thought that when he came and when I spoke to him in person, I got that impression, which is one of the reasons I’m finding it difficult to be rude . I’m going to have to be blunt though as it can’t continue.

@PumpkinP

I don’t know if this is relevant and don’t mean to sound rude or offensive (I have a daughter with autism) but I got the impression that he perhaps has some kind of learning disability, I thought that when he came and when I spoke to him in person, I got that impression, which is one of the reasons I’m finding it difficult to be rude . I’m going to have to be blunt though as it can’t continue.

Honestly, pass it on to someone else to deal with. The council will know re the business side and the police will also be helpful. I wouldn't engage any further with him.

Well it is possible he does. Just answer that the job is finished, you don't need anything else and block.

I think he is just setting up his own garden business as he was telling me about leaflets he was making! Like I care, but that’s what he was sending me before he even came, at first I thought he was just starting out and desperate for costumers as he has also messaged me at 6am before asking if I know anyone that needs a gardener. But that was until he messaged me asking if I’m a single mum.

Just don't engage.

I remember your thread.

This is not acceptable.

Send this-

We don’t need your gardening service anymore. Stop messaging me. Thank you.

Then block him on everything and IF he does show up do not engage- call the police.

God, I had one of these.....my gardener was so creepy and used to send me really odd messages. I asked him to stop as it made me uncomfortable and he did for a while then would start again. He was a really good gardener so I put up with it longer than I should have done but in the end I just started ignoring him and after a (long) while he gave up.

I would send him a message clearly stating you do not want him to do your garden, he is not to send you any more messages and if he does you will report him for harassment. Then block!