My neighbour offered to help out my disabled son FOC seemingly out of sympathy for his plight. His condition is progressive and ultimately terminal.
I took him up on his offer and asked for a simple shelf to be fitted. I did say I was grateful for his offer of help and prepared to pay - because that's how I was brought up.
The shelf was fitted, it took all of 10 minutes and I thanked him. He offered to do any other jobs needed and we said we'd let him know. I did say please let me know what your costs were - actually meaning materials but to be fair I did mention labour too. I expected him to say - "oh no it's fine it only took me 10 minutes - just pay me for the materials". Instead, he said nothing (in front of my son).
Later I messaged again thanking him and mentioning the costs because I thought maybe he didn't want to say in front of my son that he'd worked for free. However, he messaged saying I owed him £30 labour and £35 for the materials. I was a little taken aback but to be fair, put it down to experience and did say I would drop the cash around to him. However, I didn't say when, intending to do it at the end of the month (a couple of weeks later).
DH was furious - not at the amount but the fact he thought he'd been greedy and taken advantage of my son's sad plight. I said, to be fair I did offer. I just didn't expect the response - thinking what I would have done in the same circumstances.
Then he messaged chasing the cash and saying the alternative was to pay via bank transfer but then he'd have to charge me tax! Clearly a veiled threat to make me pay up.
I responded saying I was taken aback as I had expected him to follow through with his gesture but if he was desperate for the cash I'd drop it round tomorrow, but needless to say, we didn't need any more work doing, and thanked him. I have no desire to fall out with him.
He came back and said he usually charges £70 per hour and there was also his fuel (deisel for a 13.5 mile round trip) and he'd charged a fraction of what he'd normally charge and so he wasn't really making much at all. He then said I could just pay the materials and copied me into the message I'd sent offering to pay.
Of course, I will pay the full amount and take full responsibility for my naivety. I couldn't give a jot about the cost, but I can't help feeling disappointed that a seemingly magnanimous gesture somehow turned into an opportunity for profit.
But am I being unreasonable?