To ask neighbour to pay son more?

[SunIsOutAgain]

My neighbour asked my 14 year old to do some jobs in the garden today. Cutting the lawn, taking back some hedges, tidying etc.

He is fairly competent at these things and it took him 2.5 hours. I would expect an adult could do it in 2, but it wasn't an especially small job.

She gave him £15 and he was a bit disappointed as he was hoping for 20. He said he didn't clarify the pay before starting (obviously an error that we've now discussed for next time).

It was very hot here today, which doesn't change the value of the work but does affect how he felt when he had finished!

Is this a reasonable amount of money? Should i speak to her?

£60 an hour to cut a lawn??!!! I need to change jobs.

£15 an hour is more than minimum wage.

It was too less - but also should have been agreed beforehand.

if she ever asks again - say no and tell her it is because she paid less the last time.

I think price was fine. My older dc does same for an elderly neighbour for a cuppa and a biscuit.

Can he come and cut my hedge? I had gardener in today. I agreed price beforehand, thought it a bit steep but he quoted £200. It needed to be done definitely by Friday, preferably by Tuesday. I thought it would take about 4 hours. He was finished within 90 mins. Good job, all tidied etc, and I know he has to pay for vehicle, equipment, insurance, his workers tax and NI etc, but what a rate per hour!

15 quid for two and a half hours work?????
She is a tight arse cheeky fucker.
6 quid per hour in the sun?
There's no way any adult would work for that so she has taken massive advantage of your son.
Doesn't matter whether or not you agreed the price beforehand, no self respecting adult should take the piss out of a kid this way.

It's not an adult.

He doesn't pay any taxes I suppose.

Yes, I have paid him a bit more for 2.5 hours work and I would have been upfront about pay - but quite often young people expect too much of moonlighting.

Now i know the min wage for teenagers is £8 i have a sensible guide. I don't think he should overcharge of course.

He definately doesnt pay tax as he is a long way below the earnings threshold😀

Don't ask for more money for the work already done. Your son should treat this as a valuable learning experience to agree a price beforehand that he will be happy with and don't start working till the price is agreed

Who says it's only worth minimum wage?

I don't believe minimum wage should be based on age, if we're prepared to pay someone for a job that rate should stand regardless of their age. It should be based on skill and expirence and the job being completed to a good standard. Paying young people less just because they are young is unjust and exploitative.

The real living wage is £13.45ph outside of London.

I agree. A valuable lessons learned about contracting work!

NDN's 17 year old DS did three hours work for me last year (just odd jobs). I paid him £10 an hour which was more than NMW for his age. She rang me afterwards and told me off for giving him too much money, but I thought it was a fair amount and he seemed to be happy.

A 16-17yo could have done the work in two hours, and NMW for that age group is £8 an hour, or £16 for the whole job. Your ds14 was paid £15.

If you intervene, she may not ask him to do any jobs again and you'll likely damage the NDN relationship.

I'd leave it this time, but encourage your ds to set a price before starting work in future.

OP the minimum wage is for over 16 as there isn’t an official minimum wage for a 14 year old.

Yeah it can be a guide but the only person at fault here is your son for not agreeing the money in the first place. A good lesson to learn.

What if she had paid him £5?

"It". I think you meant he. How rude.

I pay our gardener £30ph which is v gkod value here.

The lad should have been paid £30 for the job. He may be 14 but he's still done a man's job and heavy labour is heavy labour.

It's highly unlikely he'll meet the threshold for tax.

Yes, chalk it up to experience this time. Next time your son will need to get his big boy pants on. If he feels a bit blindsided at the time of the request he can always delay by asking "what exactly do you want me to do so I can give you a price thats fair for my time." This is a polite and business way to do things and gives him time to think.

Im always saddened that the likes of neighbours and relatives seek to take advantage (particularly of young people) by trying to pay mates rates. Or even get things done for free. I have always found that offering to "give you a price" is a good way to be rid of neighbours/relatives trying to scrounge a freebie when they would pay £££ for a professional service.

"a man's job"?? @TheyGrewUp oh wow, I best stop doing 'men's work' then and pay a man to do all the gardening work that I've always done 🙄

There is no min wage for under 16s. Minimum wage starts at 16.

Well she's ripped him off hasn't she. I would expect it to be about 30 quid. However I don't think you can say anything now its done.

They have underpaid.

I think it's too late now, but if they ask again your son could say, he will do it for X amount.

Your neighbour is a tight bastard. I’d definitely mention it and advise your son to be upfront about what he charges in future. Too many people will take advantage.

I'm in central London and our gardener charges £20 an hour.

If it were a one off, I’d have given at least £20, probably £30. I had some kids offer to wash my car for a tenner but I gave them a tenner each. I love to see young teens trying to earn a bit of money.

i would be my son the extra £5 myself

I think £15 is really mean. Two young kids turned up at our door one day asking if he wanted our car cleaning for a fiver. I let them do it and paid them a tenner. £15 for a teenager who spent 2.5 hours sorting someone’s garden out is tight, I would have paid double.

Just tell her his rate is £8 per hour next time she requests work