More of a rant - so called friend

[whatnow47]

A bit of context. I am currently stoney broke (really, really broke) scraping together money to keep DD1 at university. I work as a carer during the week but its just not enough. I'm a keen gardener so I came up with an idea of casual gardening business (lawn mowing, hedges etc) to bring in a bit of money.

My friend of 30 years has just taken on a landscape gardening job and offered to pay me £15 per hour digging, moving rock, and a bit of wood cutting etc. I did 3 days solid, my body was sore and aching to the point of hardly being able to move, hands blistered etc. The whole experience was pretty stressful as I have come to the conclusion he is an extremely lazy, disorganised person. He then tells me he won't be able to pay me until the job is done as he is broke and funding the job on his maxed out credit cards (he even asked me to buy some equipment from wickes though I said no thank goodness). I advised him to get a deposit from the customer in order to pay some of the expenses. He asked and she agreed but nothing has come a week later.

So I asked him today what time he needs me tomorrow as I was hoping to get the job done so I can get paid. He tells me a time...then an hour later he tells me not to bother as he feels like the day off and has booked into a fancy restaurant with his family (he's supposed to be skint!). I asked him how long it will be until the job is finished and he said the customer is in no rush and will be happy if it takes until next spring.

I really need some money now and don't want to wait until spring to get my money. I feel I have been completely manipulated into free labour. I texted him and told him that I am not happy and he has taken advantage of me knowing he couldn't pay me. He has now gone very quiet and ignoring my messages.

I am close to tears as I know that its the end of our friendship and feel an idiot for allowing it to happen. He has had a history of taking advantage of me financially (in much smaller ways that I let slide) so I should have known better but I was desperate.

Thank you for letting me rant!

I think the money did come and he has lied to you. Fancy dinner at restaurant is the kind of thing people do when they have cash to splash.

If you don't care about the friend could you ask the customer if the funds are coming soon as you are waiting on payment. I know it's overstepping the mark, but at least they will know your 'friend' hasn't paid you. And you can then confront said 'friend'

Send him an invoice for the time you have worked already

If that is his business, I honestly don’t believe he is happy for the client to not make payment until next spring. People that do work for me normally except paying the same day or next day.

I agree with previous poster that you should send an invoice asking for payment. Do you have anything written down? Even if it is just text messages or emails that will help.

I agree the friendship is over.

Send an invoice for your time... There are templates you can copy. But essentially number of hours, rate, dates, etc.
If he doesn't pay - I think this is something that could be escalated to small claims court - maybe have a quick scan...
Might be worth it...
Then when he loses that you could escalate it to the high court and send the bailiffs and be on tv! (Sorry that last bit was a bit flippant - its horrible when you are in it and I don't mean to make light of it)
I've been watching it lots lately and it looks like there are routes to getting your money - unfortunately it will take some time on your part and possibly some small costs as well

Sounds highly unlikely the client would want to wait until the spring. More likely he let you do most of the work then finished himself and pocketed the money - particularly if he’s off to a fancy restaurant.

If you’ve known him for this long do you know his family? Got a lot of mutual friends? I’d be making a very public fuss about this myself.

Thanks for advice and your listening ears!

Turns out you are right! He has been partially paid for the job! He says its gone on further materials to finish the job. He says 4 more days and it could be done. He thinks I've misunderstood about spring finish (possibly true). He is also being really apologetic and blaming family etc. So now I have to weigh up whether I do 4 more days and get it done or cut my loses.

I have cupboards/freezer/fridge full and full tank of petrol, bills are paid so I could risk it and do another couple of weekends in hope he will pay out. Thank you again!

I would put the invoice through the door of where the work was done. Not in an envelope. Might prompt some action.

Send him a message (so that you have it in writing) saying:

I worked x hours on (dates) so you owe me £y which I must be paid as soon as possible. I am really not happy about doing any further hours until I know when I'm going to be paid.

As an aside, £15 per hour seems a really low amount for the heavy labouring that you're doing and I can't imagine he'll find it easy to replace you.

Also if the friendship is over it's completely his fault.

Don't do any more work until you are paid for the work you have done

Tell him you want paid for your time already spent working before you work any more

Also if you're looking for work then local Facebook groups can be a great way of finding clients. Just decide what you're offering - regular grass cutting, weeding etc or one-off landscaping jobs. You'll probably be inundated.

Tell him you need a sweetener to finish the job or he is on his own...
Get yourself on Care. Com.
Jobs on there may help you out!!
I am a cleaner and get odd one off jobs there and a few gardening ones too!!

Don’t do anymore work! If he’s been partially paid , he can pay you.

He needs to pay you for the days completed so far.

It's normal for labourers on such a low hourly rate to be paid weekly, if not daily, and he knows it.
Tell him you know he's had money which he has spent on going out, and you want payment now before you do anything else. Tell him you are working odd jobs because you need the money, and you'll find work which pays on the day for the next few weekends, but that he owes you for what you've done, and you want that money now. Don't even think about working for him anymore, unless he pays you what you are already owed.
He has spoiled the friendship by trying to scam you.

Absolutely don’t do any more work until he pays you and I agree with suggestions to make it known to the customer. If it comes to it, shame him publicly on his Facebook page if he has one for his business. He has behaved appallingly. Even if he pays you now I wouldn’t do any more work without being paid at least 50% in advance because you clearly can’t trust him to pay you in arrears like normal.

What a twat. If it’s all gone in materials where has he got the money for for this fancy restaurant. I wouldn’t do anymore work for him unless you are paid for what you’ve done AND each day upfront before you start.

labourers are paid daily or weekly not at the end of the job. Don't work any more days until you are paid and then if your want to continue, demand to be paid daily.

If you were felling really angry - turn up at posh restaurant and demand payment there and then

@whatnow47

Thanks for advice and your listening ears!

Turns out you are right! He has been partially paid for the job! He says its gone on further materials to finish the job. He says 4 more days and it could be done. He thinks I've misunderstood about spring finish (possibly true). He is also being really apologetic and blaming family etc. So now I have to weigh up whether I do 4 more days and get it done or cut my loses.

I have cupboards/freezer/fridge full and full tank of petrol, bills are paid so I could risk it and do another couple of weekends in hope he will pay out. Thank you again!

Personally I'd cut my losses. I've worked for gardeners like this before who want the labour but don't want the added costs of doing it through the books. From experience gardeners tend to struggle to get money out of customers for materials because they want the job finished before they pay, if anything they just get a fraction up front but I think we both know who benefited from that fraction on this occasion. I was being messed around like this constantly and just stopped doing it in the end.

I would tell him I’m not able to work for him as I have an opportunity that will pay immediately and I’m broke. “If you can pay me now I’ll be able to continue helping you.”

In the future set these expectations up front before starting the work. Make sure they pay at least every Friday.

Get it all in writing - even text messages or whatever, discuss the hours worked and rate agreed.

If you think he’s going to try and rip you off then frame it as a question or something so he’s less on guard - did you need the same hours as last week? Was it £16 an hour we agreed?

Then invoice him for the work already done and —insist— on daily payment for any future work you do.

Don't do any more work for this "friend" until you are paid what you are owed. He's taking you for a mug. Advertise your services locally eg on Facebook. I know a few women who would prefer a female gardener.

Write an invoice so you have a paper trail. If you are a low earner don’t worry you only pay tax over your threshold.

thank you to all much appreciated x

I wouldn't do any more work for him until he pays you. There must be lots of people out there who'd love a competent gardener. Also, as you work as a carer, you must be DBS checked which is an additional positive. I got scammed by two people who offered to help clear my garden. Could you try advertising locally? And make it clear to your friend that you won't help any more until he pays for what you've done.

Invoice him for the work done. Don't do any more until he pays that invoice, simple.