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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU not to pay this? WWYD?

154 replies

InALonelyWorld · 27/03/2026 16:41

I just want to know if IABU here or what i should do.

I have come home from work today to a note from a gardener saying I owe them £10 for de-weeding my garden. To note my garden is mainly paving slabs/stones so there isnt much weeding that needs done in the first place so not sure how it would even be £10. However, this isnt a service i arranged, I do not know this person and I obviously was not around at home to speak to them or even give permission for them to do anything with my garden but they have gone and done it anyways.

I am a lone parent household and am now worried I will be pestered by this stranger for this money i apparently owe. I do admit I may be overreacting here, but i, like many people, am financially strained at the moment. I was recently burgled which added to my financial issues and has probably made me quite sensitive to receiving this note.

OP posts:
johnd2 · 27/03/2026 18:08

stichguru · 27/03/2026 17:37

To do someone's garden you normally set foot on their land and move stuff in or remove stuff from their garden, that's trespass and vandlisim, both of which are crimes.

Show quote history

Rubbish, trespass on its own isn't a crime at all, and "vandalism" which I assume you mean criminal damage, relies on it being without lawful excuse, and a genuine mistake would be a lawful excuse.
So both are civil matters and she should sue for the damage to the weeds in court.

JustLookingThanks · 27/03/2026 18:12

It's either he's got the wrong house number (I once had a window cleaner clean my windows even though I didn't ask him! It must have been the neighbours). Or more worryingly it could be a chancer with a premium rate number expecting to keep you on the phone and charge you £20 for the call.
I'd check on the local spotted. I think it's probably the wrong house.

5128gap · 27/03/2026 18:12

Dont pay. What they've done is illegal. Report to Action Fraud.

Catpuss66 · 27/03/2026 18:13

InALonelyWorld · 27/03/2026 16:51

The note is handwritten with what seem to be a random list of jobs they do on 1 side and "garden weeded £10 due ASAP, call x (with a contact number attached)".

I have just gone into my garden to check what has been done and there is still obvious, yet small amount of weeds there.

Edited to add- it all just seems very strange and that is worrying me.

Edited

Ring the police, especially as you are a lone woman.

Shedmistress · 27/03/2026 18:14

Arlanymor · 27/03/2026 16:58

Call 101 and get a crime number - then text the crime number to the 'gardener's' phone number and tell them that unless they stop harassing you for services that you didn't ask for then you will take it further and that the police are aware.

Or just put the note in the bin.

Shedmistress · 27/03/2026 18:14

Catpuss66 · 27/03/2026 18:13

Ring the police, especially as you are a lone woman.

Show quote history

Good grief. No dont phone the police. Just bin the note.

RawBloomers · 27/03/2026 18:19

stichguru · 27/03/2026 17:37

To do someone's garden you normally set foot on their land and move stuff in or remove stuff from their garden, that's trespass and vandlisim, both of which are crimes.

Show quote history

Trespass is not a crime. Moving things is not vandalism. To show vandalism or theft OP would have to be able to show what he'd damaged or taken, which it doesn't seem like she could.

OP should report to the police in case this is related to the burglary in some way, the guy (I assume) comes back and hassles OP for the money, or he is targeting vulnerable householders and this helps them build a case. But at the moment there's no crime to show so she's unlikely to get a crime number.

OP If he comes back tell him once that you will not be paying as you didn't request the service & don't want it and he isn't to return. Then shut the door in his face. If he comes back or is at all threatening, call the police. If you can afford it, a video doorbell is a good idea.

Arlanymor · 27/03/2026 18:19

Shedmistress · 27/03/2026 18:14

Or just put the note in the bin.

Show quote history

Each to their own. I’d rather put the frighteners on someone who tried to manipulate me.

Catpuss66 · 27/03/2026 18:20

Shedmistress · 27/03/2026 18:14

Good grief. No dont phone the police. Just bin the note.

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Please explain why she shouldn’t ring the police. I would ask their advice that’s what they are there for, also she has had someone entering her garden without permission which is a security risk.

nolongeranutjob · 27/03/2026 18:24

Someone who's a legitimate gardener will put a leaflet through your door, advertise on local fb pages or may knock at your door and ask if you want work done. Someone who's up to something (not in a good way) will decide that they're entitled to invade your property without your permission, have a good snoop round when you're not at home then send you a bill.

If they're challenged by a neighbour or if you arrive home they'll pretend to be offended, especially if asked to leave as they claim to be helping you. Report online to the police, and post on local fb pages to see if anyone else has had the same thing as they may have cctv footage.

Cherrysoup · 27/03/2026 18:24

MissingTrees · 27/03/2026 16:58

Ignore it. It is either a mistake or someone trying it on.

Years ago a window cleaner put a bill through the door for cleaning our windows. We hadn't asked him to do it so ignored it. When he turned up for payment we told him so. It turned out he was supposed to clean next door's windows.

Given the very low amount, £10, I would assume it's that type of mistake. It isn't worth bothering to hassle someone over £10.

We had the same! Attached neighbour had told him it was the house in the corner. Both houses are obviously in the corner. He turned up, I told him he’d got the wrong house so I wasn’t paying, not my problem. 🤷‍♀️

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 27/03/2026 18:29

Shedmistress · 27/03/2026 18:14

Good grief. No dont phone the police. Just bin the note.

Show quote history

It's a scam. There's nothing wrong with phoning the police in this situation.

Tacohill · 27/03/2026 18:30

Definitely do not pay!!

If they knock on your door then say no one in your home (careful to not say you live alone) hired a gardener, so they must have got the wrong house.

It is likely an honest mistake and there’s nothing for you to worry about but I can see why you’d be a bit worried.

Swiftie1878 · 27/03/2026 18:31

InALonelyWorld · 27/03/2026 16:51

The note is handwritten with what seem to be a random list of jobs they do on 1 side and "garden weeded £10 due ASAP, call x (with a contact number attached)".

I have just gone into my garden to check what has been done and there is still obvious, yet small amount of weeds there.

Edited to add- it all just seems very strange and that is worrying me.

Edited

It’s a scam. Report to the police.

IPM · 27/03/2026 18:33

I wouldn't think anything other than they've popped it through the wrong door 🤷‍♂️

Crumpled86 · 27/03/2026 18:34

Do you have a Facebook page for your local area or estate? If you do it might be worth posting there? I would do so just to see if anyone else has had the same thing.

Ella31 · 27/03/2026 18:34

Did they leave a number? Can you google it to see if anything pops up. Cant imagine any reputable gardener coming out for a tenner though.

wherearethesnacks · 27/03/2026 18:37

Someone posted about this same situation a few months ago but it was more than £10. You might find the post if you search.

Sartre · 27/03/2026 18:37

Get a ring doorbell please! Basic security. I’m not even single and I have one for this literal reason, so I can see if anyone’s been fishing around my house when I’m out OR can just see who is knocking if I am alone (I don’t answer to chuggers / sales people).

If your house is terraced or the semi detached ones with a shared drive, it’s plausible it went through the wrong door I guess.

Anonanonanonagain · 27/03/2026 18:39

You have recently been burgled and now you have a note from a person admitting they have trespassed on your property and admitting that they are willing to extort money off you for doing so. Ring the police and have this logged. It is obvious you do not respond to the note but do keep it just in case.

Climbingrosexx · 27/03/2026 18:40

I would report it to the police, even if they can't do anything straight away you will have a reference number. Needs nipping in the bud now.

If you don't have a ring doorbell see if any of your neighbours do, also ask around your neighbours to see if they have had any issues or maybe they arranged this and no one turned up at theirs. Hopefully its a genuine mistake

MyBrightPeer · 27/03/2026 18:40

Don’t pay and I would actually report it to the police. This happened to my grandma a few years ago - a few people on her street had “their roof fixed” by a roofer who then gave them a bill for thousands. Some paid as they were vulnerable and scared. By some miracle, she realised something was wrong and called the police and they were able to pursue the guy.

You didn’t ask for this service and you don’t owe them any money.

Purplebunnie · 27/03/2026 18:43

As other PP have said report to the police. A vulnerable person may end up getting taken for a lot of money

rightoguvnor · 27/03/2026 18:44

No legitimate gardener/handyperson would charge so little. It’s a try-on. Don’t open the door if they come knocking, just shout from a window you came to the wrong house mate. Any more, ring the police and tell them they’re demanding money with menace.

Easterbunnyishotandcross · 27/03/2026 18:46

Prob some little dc chancing it!!
Way too much terror evolving on this thread...
Imagine being a police operator taking a call about an note from a gardener trying to extort a tenner...

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