AIBU to cancel the gardener because it might be a scam, but I don't know how?

[BehemothWatermelon]

My garden is completely overgrown, so I emailed a few local companies to see if they could cut it back, got no reply.
On Thursday I used a "find a gardener" service called Bark, put in all the details, apparently they tender for business and the companies get in touch with you.
Yesterday a bloke rang me, asked what I want doing, asked if he could come look to quote at 3pm, I said yes. I was WFH so didn't Google him there and then.
He didn't turn up, rang me at 4 saying his van had broken down and he'd now borrowed one from a colleague, and could he come quote at 5, I said yes.
He turned up, wearing a logo t-shirt with the company name on, friendly, seemed to know what he was talking about.
Quoted £400 which is genuinely about what I was expecting, and said he and 2 colleagues could come on Sunday and do the work.
I was really surprised they wanted to work on a bank holiday Sunday but figured it was up to them so said yes. He said pay when work is done.
He said they couldn't do all the work in one day but they're a local firm so could come back in future to do more. OK. His accent wasn't local but people move to new areas, no problem.
I saw their van drive off and it was just a small white van, no logo.
Yesterday I googled them and can't find them anywhere. I checked Bark and there's no website linked, and the email address attached to their profile is a different name to the man I met. They have 4 reviews, all 5 star, all in August.
I can't find them on checkatrade.
For some reason I feel nervous that they're not a real company.
But if they've quoted for the work and they come do the work, does it matter?
it's only hedges, non-professional gardeners cut hedges all the time, and they can do work tomorrow which is good.
I'm a disabled woman (physically but invisibly unless I'm in a flare up)
living alone but they're not coming inside. I am going out tomorrow afternoon but I'm not worried about leaving them in my garden. What's the worst that could happen?
But something isnt feeling 100% right.
I think I'm going to text him to ask for their website info.
Should I be worried?
Should I cancel them?
(they haven't asked for a cheque so no cheque to cancel!)
(I think there's a poll added, I can't see on my phone, so
AIBU
yes - you're being paranoid and it'll be fine
no - sounds bit weird, trust your gut?

Not everyone has a website so if this is why you're concerned I really wouldn't be. Do they have a page on fb? My ex is a builder, a brilliant builder but he doesn't have a web sight and nor do a lot of builders I know.

They haven't asked for payment up front, you said he seemed to know what he was talking about, sounds legit to me.

Well they let you know they were running late which is good.

And they're not asking for money up front which is good.

Once the job is done as per the description then pay them. If they don't do it properly then ask them to finish the job before paying.

I can see why you are cautious, but it sounds like a new company, rather than dodgy one.

All companies started somewhere. New start ups tend to work all days/hours because work can be sporadic and building a client base ASAP is vital.

They have quoted reasonably, he told you his van had broken down and he'd borrowed one so the lack of logo is a bit of a red herring, and he hasn't asked for payment up front.

I'd give them a go, but if you aren't comfortable it's fine to cancel.

You haven’t paid them so I really wouldn’t worry.

Sounds fine to me.

They don't want cash up front. They quoted what you expected. They have 5 star reviews. Not everyone has a website.

I think you should have the work done on a day you are there to supervise.

And don’t pay the full £400 until the work is complete.

It’s better they come early and do all the work on one day.

At the end of the day, you’re uncomfortable, so don’t feel bad about calling and cancelling, but do it asap so they book in a jew job.

He would have had to pay money to Bark in order to get your contact details. That's how the website works.

He turned up, wore a logo'd t-shirt, was friendly and gave you a quote. I'm really not sure where you think the scam is? Just make sure you only pay them once they've done the work, but that's common sense anyway.

He said they couldn't do all the work in one day but they're a local firm so could come back in future to do more.

Is the £400 for all the work or for what they’ll do tomorrow?

if it’s for all the work I’d message and get a price for tomorrow. Don’t pay for all the work if it’s not all being done.

If it’s £400 for tomorrow then as long as your paying at the end of the day I can’t see any angle to scam you.

The guy who does my garden didn’t used to work Sundays or bank holidays but does now - so many people have cut gardeners due to costs that he now takes work whenever he can

I think as it's exterior garden work with no deposit, you're fine. I understand the reticence with things like plumbers as there'd be concerns about qualifications but anyone can technically do garden clearance.

Trust your gut, you don't feel 100%.
Plenty of scams around here with guys quoting a price then it escalates after work is done.
I also wouldn't have them working on a Sunday.

My DF was a gardner, never had a website and only advertised in the local paper and relied on word of mouth. His van also did not have his name or company name on it for fear it would get broken into if it was known it could have expensive tools inside.

I worked with him often and very big jobs with tree felling, hedges and grass strimming/ mowing etc was easily done in one day. So I don't understand how it would take them a few days with 3 people. Hedge trimming doesn't take long, lay tarpaulin underneath to catch all the trimmings as you go then easily scooped into bags. How big is your garden!?! Sometimes they make a job stretch over days to justify overpaying.

As pp suggested, maybe they are just starting out so not efficient yet or sure of timescales for jobs which could justify how long they've suggested.

Are you worried they will butcher your hedges?

I wouldn't be worried about the white van, same with my gardener. But logod tee shirts count for nothing, as do 5* reviews.

The main thing that would concern me is whether you're clear what the quotes for.
Are you paying £400 for the job to be done partially on Sunday or over a couple of days? And who is disposing of the waste?

With a small gardening business a lot of people won't bother with a website and instead rely on word of mouth. I called a man whose number I'd been given to do some work on a tree in my front garden. He came to see it while I was away. Gave me a price to pay once the work was done. Didn't turn up on the day agreed because it was raining hard, but I came home late the next day and the tree was down and the debris gone as requested. I paid him by BACS the next day. All good. I never saw him and still only know his name was Bob.

Your guys are probably earning a bit of extra cash over the BH weekend. Text or message or email them summing up what's been said: specifying what work you want done, what doesn't need doing, saying that they've agreed to take all the hedge trimmings away and dispose of them responsibly and leave the garden tidy (if that's what you want) and you will pay them £XXX the day after the job is completed. End it with, 'Please let me know if these details are acceptable to you.' Once they've said yes you have a contract.

I would be there when the job's being done if possible, even if it's just for the first or last hour or so. You can have a chat with them, establish that they know what you want, get the number of their vehicle and discreetly take some footage on your phone so that if something does go wrong they can be identified.

Bark are very dodgy, I know a few people who have been burned using companies through them. Faks 5 star reviews and do nothing when people have reported the veracity of the reviews.

In saying that, it doesn't necessarily sound like these gardners are dodgy.

Confirm with them that they will be removing the waste and any firms carrying waste in the course of their business should be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency. Make reasonable checks that they will be taking the waste to a site licensed to accept it and not to the nearest lay-by to fly tip.

PLEASE CANCEL.

The scam is this: they say they will do the work for X then they get started and do all sorts of stuff you didn’t agree. Then they tell you it will now be Y. Aggressively and chase you for it. You can’t complain cos the company doesn’t exist - who are you complaining about?

Only use a local, registered limited company. There will be plenty.

TRUST YOUR GUT. You don’t need your garden done as much as you need peace of mind.

You've all reassured me, thank you.
He quoted £400 for 3 people for one days work tomorrow, not for tomorrow and some future date. So I'll only pay if it's all done.
I haven't been asked to pay upfront which is good.
They are disposing of the waste.
I did think it made sense the van didn't have a logo as he said his van had broken down too, and it makes sense it's not got a logo to prevent tool theft too.
Agree the t-shirt doesn't authenticate, anyone could get a t-shirt.
Texting him saying what he's agreed to do is a good idea, thank you.
Yes my garden is quite big, and it's so overgrown that I don't think it could be butchered! my conifer hedges are about 5m tall, it's like a jungle!
I moved in here excited to do the garden but had a health relapse so it got away from me. if it's all cut back I can get started next year!
And like you say, anyone can cut hedges, it's not a difficult job, just something I can't do if the hedges are 5m tall!

oh no those last replies just came in as I posted!

They may not be “professional” but if they do the work to a decent standard and you pay them at the end of the job then I do not think there is a scam going on.

If you are concerned about your personal safety that’s another matter. By all means cancel. Could you have a friend or relative with you in the house when while they are there?

the building company I used has no social media, isn’t listed on any professional websites and doesn’t have their own. I parted with 70k (6k upfront!) over the course of a few months, however I never once got a bad feeling and met the boss several times beforehand. He always turned up on time, communicated well and advised me without any cash parting hands.

ultimately I say trust your gut but if you’re paying once finished I don’t see the harm.

Likely a guy starting alongside his day job, just getting new business off the ground. Hence wanting to work Sunday.

I think it's like expecting a cleaner (as opposed to an agency) to have their own site and logo'd vehicle etc. It's just a guy doing garden clearance. When they get to be a more official company, they often don't want to do those smaller jobs. As he's not asking for cash upfront, I don't see what the risk is, and it'd be a bit shit to cancel now when they've been over and planned to do the work tomorrow. If they were more established, they'd charge you for cancelling. Personally I'd go ahead, but depends how anxious you are. You could always have a friend over when they're here if you worried about being asked for more money on the day or something (struggling to think what the issue might be).

Personally, I think £400 for three people for a day’s work sounds too little based on the amount of work you’ve said needs doing.

I would be suspicious that they will demand extra on the day, not have a waste licence and try to pull some sort of stunt, like leave an expensive piece of ‘broken’ equipment in your garden overnight. It will get ‘stolen’ then they will demand money for it.

I would be suspicious that they would do some of the work tomorrow , ask for payment with promise to return and then never return leaving you with a half done garden and the cuttings to dispose of. 400 sounds very cheap for 3 men and a lot of work

I think you might have hit it on the head. Trying to get a small business off the ground, while working elsewhere or maybe doing both part-time.

I don't see much risk if they are asking for money on completion.