AIBU not to pay this? WWYD?

[InALonelyWorld]

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.

Maybe it's the gardening/odd jobs equivalent of someone washing your windscreen at traffic lights, in the hope you'll bung them a bit of cash. Little bit of work in the hope of recompense.

Could it have been meant for a neighbour and put on the wrong house, the gardener had asked someone else to post it on his behalf maybe

For a tenner?

I would ignore it. If you are worried get a male friend with a deep voice to ring the number and civilly inform the gardener that a mistake has been made and that any further approach will be reported to the police.

Get a ring type doorbell. My doorbell has software that enables me to respond in a male voice. People selling or collecting do tend to leave quickly when I tell them we dont buy at the door.

Probably kids trying their luck.
Or a neighbour that's fed up with your weeds.

Just to add you are not being needy feeling fragile after the burglary. This is especially true if you live alone. It takes a long time for that feeling of being invaded to diminish and some people never feel the same about living in their home. Im glad you have the victim support people to advise you.

This.

@InALonelyWorld It sounds like a scam, one that could escalate, so nip it in the bud now.

It really sounds as if a genuine gardener has weeded the wrong house!

No it doesn't.

No genuine gardener is charging a tenner, are they?

Come on.

Why not?? He could have done £10 worth of work a neighbour garden

I would write him a note to say he owes me £30 for taking my weeds and I have reported him for trespassing.
Report him.

Don’t let them near your drain or roof, I would get ring doorbell

Brilliant

Photograph the note so you have a record.

Then tear it up and put it in the bin. Do not call the number or engage on any level with this.

No, not unless he is a child doing it for Cubs or something like that.

No one is charging ten pounds for weeding.

No contract, no agreement, no money. Contact your local police and let them know because it's a shakedown of sorts.

What can the police do? The note isn't threatening or demanding, there has been no crime....Are you one of the time wasters that call the police for nothing?

Could rhey have meant to do someone else's in your road?

haven’t you heard of odd job men/women.. they do a bit of this.. a bit of that.. all on a the cheep, cash in hand forgetting to inform hmrc type

You said 'the gardener'.

I was pointing out that it wouldn't be a reputable gardener doing that.

It might well be some chancer trying to scam the OP; I agree with that!

It’s possible that the neighbours mentioned to them that you live alone, and suggested that they do your garden too. Or, they have taken it upon themselves to do it for you, which is equally cheeky. Please always keep your doors locked for now at least. Have you tried ringing the phone number?

Maybe check out the phone number online "who called me?" as it may be listed and show a similar story. Defo check with neighbours, who may know of similar or have an explanation. I wouldn't pay or call them.

For me it is important to report this to the police and make sure they have the phone number for the guy etc - next note for more money could be put through the door of an vulnerable/elderly person who ends up paying

I agree @jdb9803