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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Someone has cut my grass and now wants money

384 replies

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:07

I'm working from home today today and heard the noise of a lawn mower out the front. I didn't really give it much thought and just moved into one of the back rooms.

I've just had a young bloke knock on the door and he explained that he's accidentally 'done my garden' instead of my neighbours. We live in a semi and it's the neighbour we are attached to. Our front gardens are separated by a knee high wall. Neighbour is out (car is gone and they aren't answering their door so I assume they're out) but the lad wants paying for cutting my grass. Since neighbour pre-paid him and they're aren't in, he's now saying that I owe him money because he has provided me with a service.

Neighbours garden is just grass surrounded by the wall. My garden is a bit more wild with plant boarders all around and a couple of small trees and bushes. The lad has cut my grass, trimmed the edges, tidied some of the bushes etc. It's obviously a bigger job than what he was hired for.

I don't want to pay because I didn't ask him to do this. Nor am I too happy with the job he's done anyways. He's saying that his time needs compensating and if our houses were clearly marked then the mistake wouldn't have happened. He's also saying that since I'm home and could hear the lawn mower, I should have said something instead of 'letting' him carry on 'doing my garden'.

AIBU?

OP posts:
NHStyptypey · 22/03/2023 14:17

Our neighbour always mows their grass. If I heard a mower from out the front I'd assume it was him!

UndercoverMam · 22/03/2023 14:18

So has he now cut your neighbours lawn too or just left?

Because he sounds like a chancer who probably tries this on a lot

Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:19

NHStyptypey · 22/03/2023 14:17

Our neighbour always mows their grass. If I heard a mower from out the front I'd assume it was him!

There are about 30 front gardens on this street so literally could have been anyone! Half the people here are retired and so do mow their lawn midweek so it's very not unusual to hear a mower on a non-rainy day.

OP posts:
Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:19

UndercoverMam · 22/03/2023 14:18

So has he now cut your neighbours lawn too or just left?

Because he sounds like a chancer who probably tries this on a lot

He's done hers as well

OP posts:
strawberry2017 · 22/03/2023 14:20

If I was you I would post on your local Facebook page warning people, this is a scam that some people could easily get taken in by!
He's a cheeky f**k trying to blame you and your house for his mistake.

Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:21

Thing is, we live in a smallish town where most local business is word of mouth (often referrals on the dreaded facebook) so, if he is local, he'd be stupid to try this on because he'd know he'd be found out.

OP posts:
BillyNoM8s · 22/03/2023 14:23

I'd tell him I charge a £1000 service fee for opening my front door. He's welcome to deduct his bill from that and settle his remaining balance.

pizzaHeart · 22/03/2023 14:25

It could be genuine mistake but tbh there might be millions of reasons why you preferred to do it yourself. You could pay him some money (maybe a bit less then he was asking) if you were impressed but if you were not.. that’s the end of conversation
He was too argumentative by the way. It was his fault and his alone.

Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:25

I'm enjoying these suggestions btw. Though now I am stalking through the local fb page to see if I can find any gardener posts.

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 22/03/2023 14:25

I can't believe the responses. What a nasty nasty world we live in. Here's a young lad who is cutting grass for a bit of pocket money, who made an understandable mistake that ultimately benefited you.

Are you that heartless that you can't give him at least something? I wouldn't have thought twice just because it's a nice thing to do to a young hard working lad.

HaggisBurger · 22/03/2023 14:26

vivainsomnia · 22/03/2023 14:25

I can't believe the responses. What a nasty nasty world we live in. Here's a young lad who is cutting grass for a bit of pocket money, who made an understandable mistake that ultimately benefited you.

Are you that heartless that you can't give him at least something? I wouldn't have thought twice just because it's a nice thing to do to a young hard working lad.

He was really hoping a daft eejit like you would open the door wasn’t he?

Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:27

He's a hairy arsed bloke not some teenagers with hopeful eyes and dreams of xbox games.

OP posts:
Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:28

I could give him a glass of water and a stale donut I suppose. Don't have anything else in that I'd be prepared to part with and like heck am I walking to the nearest cash machine to pay someone for something I didn't ask for.

OP posts:
Doesthepopeshitinthewoods · 22/03/2023 14:29

“Are you serious? You want me to pay for your ineptitude because you got the wrong house? Ha! No.”

jizzlord · 22/03/2023 14:29

vivainsomnia · 22/03/2023 14:25

I can't believe the responses. What a nasty nasty world we live in. Here's a young lad who is cutting grass for a bit of pocket money, who made an understandable mistake that ultimately benefited you.

Are you that heartless that you can't give him at least something? I wouldn't have thought twice just because it's a nice thing to do to a young hard working lad.

You sound like a scammer's dream

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 22/03/2023 14:31

I'll probably pay but I'll make it clear it was a one off.

Then again I don't have a lawn that needs cutting.

premicrois · 22/03/2023 14:31

vivainsomnia · 22/03/2023 14:25

I can't believe the responses. What a nasty nasty world we live in. Here's a young lad who is cutting grass for a bit of pocket money, who made an understandable mistake that ultimately benefited you.

Are you that heartless that you can't give him at least something? I wouldn't have thought twice just because it's a nice thing to do to a young hard working lad.

It's a scam Hmm

lazycats · 22/03/2023 14:32

He's a chancer if not an outright scammer, much like unsolicited people who wipe your windscreen at traffic lights.

GiveOverRover · 22/03/2023 14:33

vivainsomnia · 22/03/2023 14:25

I can't believe the responses. What a nasty nasty world we live in. Here's a young lad who is cutting grass for a bit of pocket money, who made an understandable mistake that ultimately benefited you.

Are you that heartless that you can't give him at least something? I wouldn't have thought twice just because it's a nice thing to do to a young hard working lad.

aaaand this is why it's worth trying to scam people, because there is always one in however many that will fall for it and make it worthwhile.

He's either devious, or daft. Either way, don't give him any money.

Original poster
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/03/2023 14:34

lazycats · 22/03/2023 14:32

He's a chancer if not an outright scammer, much like unsolicited people who wipe your windscreen at traffic lights.

I thought that was a thing of fiction tbf.

OP posts:
TheGoogleMum · 22/03/2023 14:34

Yeah I wouldn't pay for a service I hadn't asked for. Maybe if I was really happy with what he'd done and had been thinking about getting someone to do it anyway but that wasn't the case here

britnay · 22/03/2023 14:36

We have a wildlife friendly garden, so would not be impressed with someone cutting our lawn.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 22/03/2023 14:37

britnay · 22/03/2023 14:36

We have a wildlife friendly garden, so would not be impressed with someone cutting our lawn.

This!

Pompom2367 · 22/03/2023 14:37

I wouldn't pay

Username24680 · 22/03/2023 14:38

I wish someone would “accidentally” cut my grass and tidy my garden 😩 it’s my least favourite job 🤣

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