To cancel regular lawn mowing service?

[grasssss]

Both myself and DH work full time and don’t really have time to mow the lawn so we pay a gardener every fortnight.

The thing is we both work away a lot and one of us has to be in to open the back gate for them.

Last few times he has broken the small food bin and just chucks cardboard boxes on the lawn, well kicks it onto there.

We are now considering cancelling the service and just paying a handyman as and when we want it done.

We feel bad as we know it’s a family business and had mentioned that they are struggling and are very friendly people.

AIBU?

You could give him a gate key if you trust him.

Anyone at any time can cancel a service. It’s about meeting your needs when you’re paying, not theirs,

He sounds very careless. Or could it be the wind blowing stuff. I doubt a gardner would chuck cardboard on the lawn. Have a word with him before you cancel.

If he's literally just mowing the lawn couldn't you get one of those robo-mowers?

Btw, I’d prefer to pay someone as and when anyway, less cost.

We've got a number code on our gate lock, give him the code, job done.

Why on earth do you need the lawn mowing every fortnight? Are you playing bowls on it? How big is it??

I would cancel and just do it yourselves at the weekend once a month or even less. And if it’s huge buy yourself a ride on mower.

No it’s just a small garden but the minimum they offer is a fortnightly service.

I have actually seen the son kick cardboard boxes onto the lawn.

I think I will cancel and just get a handyman to do it as and when required.

Get a robot, lawn looks way better, and I haven't touch my old mower for four years.

There's lot of choice now, and they have come down in price hugely.

Cancel, you arent happy with the overall service.

Mine needs doing weekly in the growing season, although recently that's only been spring and autumn because it basically dies in the summer due to lack of water.

I agree, cancel if you aren't happy. Why is he taking his son along too?

I also agree with getting a bolt with a keycode on it. You can give the code to the next gardener and if they leave, you just change the code. Better than using a key type lock.

If you’re unhappy with the service, cancel. You’re under no obligation to hire them.

It’s a family business with father and son.

They do my neighbours at the same time and I always get the son doing mine who will just kick and throw stuff everywhere.

I have contacted another gardener that I know who is happy to mow the lawn as and when required instead of being tied down to a day every 2 weeks which I think will work better for me.

They said they require a months notice, is this the norm? Seems abit excessive to me?

I’ve never given notice.

I emailed the genders wife who is responsible for all the admin work and she said it’s on their website that they require a months notice.

I don’t really want to be paying for a service I no longer want.

Presumably they will continue to mow until the month is up so you will be getting something.

Can you just book the days you want? Look at your diary and book ahead

We need help with our gardening, doing routine work about 3 hrs a week. What I know for sure is that reliable skilled gardeners who are trustworthy and do a good quality job are always in demand. They won't be interested in people picking up the phone and expecting them to just turn up as and when. It wont happen.

They need regular business to stay in business, and an amount of work to make it worth their while travelling to the job. That's why we've had our gardener for many years because we treat them well and are realistic that they can choose not to work for us so we don't take them for granted.

If they aren't doing a good job that's a completely different matter and so yes tell them once about things you're not happy about give them the chance to improve and if they don't, tell them you don't want their service. Nothing more frustrating that people who take your money but don't deliver the service!

What they do is cover certain areas 1 day every 2 weeks and my area is Friday every fortnight.

No time is given just that it can be anytime from 7am - 6pm and to keep the back gate open.

These mowing services are a rip off. My bestie's neighbour has them in every other week all summer. So hot the grass has barely grown. They're at work when the come, and they charge to take away the clippings, however you can see where they've just dumped them behind the hedge.

I agree. I get mine to do other stuff because the grass does not need that much mowing (he’s not particularly happy about it but that’s tough).

If you're cancelling because they're not doing a satisfactory job you don't need to give a months' notice. Service not as described, fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality > Consumer Rights Act 2015.

They are insisting I pay for another months worth of work.
I have never signed a contract with them so I am not sure why he is so adamant he needs a months notice.

And now he is insisting that he needs to hear it from me in person, absolutely crazy.

Just don't have to have signed anything to be bound to their terms.

I suggest paying them, and canceling the contract.

YANBU to cancel for any reason. But most people who work full time manage to mow their own lawn. It's a 15 minute job.