Travellers doing landscaping work

Kencobean

Hi.
Just wondering if anyone has had Travellers do their garden before?
Now I don't care if they are Travellers or not before all the discriminatory comments come in,just wondering has anyone ever had experience with them carrying out gardening/landscape work? (West,south west)

IV been trying for weeks now to find someone to come out and give me a quote,but one after another they either don't show,don't ring or can't be arsed getting back to me.
The back garden is in bits,and with big dogs in and out from their it can be a mud bath sometimes.

So after again putting out an ad,I got a call with someone who will call next day, yes sounds like a Traveller,but to be fair most of us in Ireland do,and I don't really care if they are,I'm just worried about the job being done somewhat properly and not a huge cost..
So has anyone had them in around the SW/W

Reckless Abandonment

I don't let anyone do work around my home without checking out their previous work or know someone who's used them. I don't care about race, religion, colour. It's all about been confident in them to do the job right.

con747

I have had work done in the past by travellers and it's like anybody else, you get good ones and very bad ones. Did you advertise on the likes of www.tradesmen.ie

Still waters

As long as they're insured, tax clearance cert, registered sole trader and declaring what you pay them i can't see the problem, just know if anything happens them on your property and they aren't insured they can claim off your insurance. So the use of chainsaws, consaws or anything that needs specific training needing certs should be taken very seriously in case they injure themselves

mickdw

Do not let them near your property.
Best case you get a crap cover up job.
Worst case, you get into all sorts of trouble like them claiming 5 times the value of the job, intimidation, theft, incomplete job, injury claims, illegal dumping on your property, disposing of illegally removed asbestos from another job by burying it in your garden. The list is endless but the choice is yours.
They won't be insured or tax compliant. You won't even get their proper names.

Westernyelp

mickdw wrote:

Do not let them near your property. Best case you get a crap cover up job. Worst case, you get into all sorts of trouble like them claiming 5 times the value of the job, intimidation, theft, incomplete job, injury claims, illegal dumping on your property, disposing of illegally removed asbestos from another job by burying it in your garden. The list is endless but the choice is yours. They won't be insured or tax compliant. You won't even get their proper names.

You know these guys do you?

interlocked

Your innocence is endearing.

mickdw

Westernyelp wrote: »

You know these guys do you?

No. I gave a best and worst case and am pretty confident that if they are travellers, the outcome will fall somewhere between the 2 outcomes as suggested.

Westernyelp

mickdw wrote: »

No. I gave a best and worst case and am pretty confident that if they are travellers, the outcome will fall somewhere between the 2 outcomes as suggested.

In fairness it was all fairly worst case. but don't let that stop you. you are obviously an expert on the subject. Carry on.

Woodsie1

Westernyelp wrote: »

In fairness it was all fairly worst case. but don't let that stop you. you are obviously an expert on the subject. Carry on.

In fairness,he's not wrong.

Woodsie1

OP unless you know the travellers personally don't waste your time with them.
Everything mickdw said is true...UNLESS...you know them if you know them they'll do you a nice job, if you've no connection to them the most likely outcome is a half arsed job at best

Westernyelp

Woodsie1 wrote: »

In fairness,he's not wrong.

Ah fair enough. obviously you know these fellas. give the OP a DM and fill in the details.

Woodsie1

Westernyelp wrote: »

Ah fair enough. obviously you know these fellas. give the OP a DM and fill in the details.

Don't be getting upset there pal,I just gave the OP the advice I'd recommend publicly for all to see.

q85dw7osi4lebg

Used them once and would never use again, chopped the tress and took the remnants, along with my lawnmower!

Westernyelp

Woodsie1 wrote: »

Don't be getting upset there pal,I just gave the OP the advice I'd recommend publicly for all to see.

I remain calm. I am not upset in the slightest. it is my opinion that your advice is far too generic and therefore essentially meaningless.

mickdw

Westernyelp wrote: »

In fairness it was all fairly worst case. but don't let that stop you. you are obviously an expert on the subject. Carry on.

Well to a point yes.
I survey houses as part of my work. From experience, not all shoddy work is by travellers, far from it as there are many chancers out there but I will confidently state that where travellers have carried out a job, it is generally substandard.

Westernyelp

Harold Creamy Trash wrote: »

Used them once and would never use again, chopped the tress and took the remnants, along with my lawnmower!

This is specific and experience based advice. presuming truth.

haydeyhi

I actually created an account to warn the OP.

OP do not consider them whatsoever unless you know a few reliable people that had got them previously and were happy with their work and their price. This is basically the same for any trades person etc.

Why take the risk? As the other poster has said they could do half an hours work, try to charge you 5k and intimidate you non stop with people calling to house, phone calls to the house and eventually cause damage to your property if you don't pay up. They will harress you until you pay up.

The below happened near a local business near me last year.

The travellers requested the owner on the phone and identified themselves as county council workers.
They said they had spare tarmacadem left over and instead of dumping they'll do the small laneway for them free of charge.The owner agreed.
Seven travellers got out the Van and put down about a 1 cm of just tar on the ground which took them half an hour. It was not a proper job and covered about only a bit of the center of the drive way.
They left and called the next day looking for 7K for the work they completed. Owner told them no.
Called three times a day harresing the owner from different numbers saying there getting there money one way or another.
After about three weeks using different phone numbers they started getting threatening saying they'll burn the business to the ground and "do you like walking". The tyres on his car were slashed outside his house.
After about two months he gave them a grand to get rid of them. When he went to the gaurds originally they just told him to ignore them.

So do what you want OP but don't take the risk. The travellers had all the local businesses scoped out whose lane ways were not in good order.

Westernyelp

mickdw wrote: »

Well to a point yes.
I survey houses as part of my work. From experience, not all shoddy work is by travellers, far from it as there are many chancers out there but I will confidently state that where travellers have carried out a job, it is generally substandard.

Informed opinion like this is much more valuable I reckon.

con747

Maybe instead of doing a travellers are all rip off merchants who will kill your youngest child unless you pay them a fortune some posts of a different direction when looking for a garden landscaper could suffice?

Woodsie1

Westernyelp wrote: »

I remain calm. I am not upset in the slightest. it is my opinion that your advice is far too generic and therefore essentially meaningless.

Gardening forum isn't the place for social justice or political correctness,it's a place for solid real world advice and that's just what the OP is getting even if you are getting upset by that.

I said simply unless you personally know them don't risk it.

Westernyelp

I realise I am probably coming across as a bit of a prick on this thread,, but the point I am making is that we have to careful about the generalisation of people. some specific examples have been given. fair enough. this should be encouraged. call out the cowboys and leave space for those who are trying to change things.

Woodsie1

Westernyelp wrote: »

I realise I am probably coming across as a bit of a prick on this thread,, but the point I am making is that we have to careful about the generalisation of people. some specific examples have been given. fair enough. this should be encouraged. call out the cowboys and leave space for those who are trying to change things.

You're not.
Look I'm friends with a few travellers and they would bend over backwards to help me out when I need,it's just that I know them and I know they will pull all sorts of scams on someone they don't give a toss about.
Obviously that's just 1 persons experience (mine) but that's how I see the OP issue.
Don't do it unless you know them.
Feck it id tell the OP to go for a pint or 2 with them first before they let them near the garden,get to know them there not that bad if your on good terms with them

Westernyelp

Woodsie1 wrote: »

You're not.
Look I'm friends with a few travellers and they would bend over backwards to help me out when I need,it's just that I know them and I know they will pull all sorts of scams on someone they don't give a toss about.
Obviously that's just 1 persons experience (mine) but that's how I see the OP issue.
Don't do it unless you know them.
Feck it id tell the OP to go for a pint or 2 with them first before they let them near the garden,get to know them there not that bad if your on good terms with them

Cool. I work with a lot of travelers who are well aware of the reputation (and the reason for it) it's tough going to make a change. you are dead right. have a pint or a cup of tea and a biscuit with them before you agree any deals. the same for anybody who might do some work for you I reckon. no offence meant here. Happy gardening.

haydeyhi

Westernyelp wrote: »

Cool. I work with a lot of travelers who are well aware of the reputation (and the reason for it) it's tough going to make a change. you are dead right. have a pint or a cup of tea and a biscuit with them before you agree any deals. the same for anybody who might do some work for you I reckon. no offence meant here. Happy gardening.

This won't work either. Anyone can bull**** over a cup of tea or a pint.

You need to research anyone doing work for you particularly when its a few days work whether through facebook pages or word of mouth.

con747

Kencobean wrote: »

Hi.
Just wondering if anyone has had Travellers do their garden before?
Now I don't care if they are Travellers or not before all the discriminatory comments come in,just wondering has anyone ever had experience with them carrying out gardening/landscape work? (West,south west)

IV been trying for weeks now to find someone to come out and give me a quote,but one after another they either don't show,don't ring or can't be arsed getting back to me.
The back garden is in bits,and with big dogs in and out from their it can be a mud bath sometimes.

So after again putting out an ad,I got a call with someone who will call next day, yes sounds like a Traveller,but to be fair most of us in Ireland do,and I don't really care if they are,I'm just worried about the job being done somewhat properly and not a huge cost..
So has anyone had them in around the SW/W

You know what, the fact the OP says "sounds like a traveller" has this whole thread throwing out all sorts.

Woodsie1

con747 wrote: »

You know what, the fact the OP says "sounds like a traveller" has this whole thread throwing out all sorts.

You know what?
I'd reckon it's the thread title more than anything else.

con747

Woodsie1 wrote: »

You know what?
I'd reckon it's the thread title more than anything else.

Agree

I was working in house and the owner gave me a loan of an a frame ladder.
The ladder was covered in muck.
He told me he had paid them to powerwash his drive so the started at the road and washed up the driveway and blasted all the muck into his garage then closed the door.
He didn't know until he had paid them.

I know of another woman who was intimidated into giving them 400 to wash a tiny drive.she has her own powerwasher.

dubrov

OP, forget about whether they are travelers or not. Make sure to check previous work and references, ideally from someone you know.

Loads of cowboys out there, travelers or otherwise

Bishop of hope

Kencobean wrote: »

Hi.
Just wondering if anyone has had Travellers do their garden before?
Now I don't care if they are Travellers or not before all the discriminatory comments come in,just wondering has anyone ever had experience with them carrying out gardening/landscape work? (West,south west)

IV been trying for weeks now to find someone to come out and give me a quote,but one after another they either don't show,don't ring or can't be arsed getting back to me.
The back garden is in bits,and with big dogs in and out from their it can be a mud bath sometimes.

So after again putting out an ad,I got a call with someone who will call next day, yes sounds like a Traveller,but to be fair most of us in Ireland do,and I don't really care if they are,I'm just worried about the job being done somewhat properly and not a huge cost..
So has anyone had them in around the SW/W

Depends on what you're looking for done op.
If gardeners aren't calling to see you it's because the weather is, so ****e and most gardens in the sw/W are far too wet to be messing in after the weather for the last month, you mention a mud bath yourself.
Get a pro in, not someone youre not sure of.
A pro will stand over his work.
If you do get a gang of travellers and a **** job done I wish you luck telling them they're not getting paid till its right.

SEPT 23 1989

Just remember the best ones will be completely booked out for months in advance because of their track record

so best to wait

Don't let the other shower onto your property

Their bridges are well and truly burnt at this stage with the population

haydeyhi

Dead horses found every few month from them in Kilkenny starved to death and ridden to death.

They might try bury a few in your garden.

Buzwaldo

The ‘ sounds like a traveller’ but is relevant. We have all heard about episodes of shoddy work and/or intimidation. Also, have heard of work being done but just an opportunity for scoping for future thefts.

But I have had quite satisfactory work done on two occasions by lads who sound like travellers - in both cases they were well settled.
One was a guy I know who did a good bit of tarmac for me, ok job, and would use him again.
Other was a guy who cold called about power washing. He had fliers dropped before, and gave me names of a few neighbours he had worked for - I checked one of these references, got him (and his son) to do the job. No regrets, grand lad, genuine people, definitely settled a while I reckon, but the twang lasts a generation or two at least. They still call occasionally to know if I want more work done, and I will use them again.

I wouldn’t disagree with previous posters either about the potential for getting burned, just I’m a bit alarmed with the severity / vitriol in some posts. Those of traveller heritage, trying to get on with a decent life have to swim against a pretty strong current of somewhat understandable bias.

To the OP, I’d be a bit wary, particularly as they’re responding to your ad. Definitely get references over the phone, and check them out before having them over.

Woodsie1

Woodsie1 wrote: »

You're not.
Look I'm friends with a few travellers and they would bend over backwards to help me out when I need,it's just that I know them and I know they will pull all sorts of scams on someone they don't give a toss about.
Obviously that's just 1 persons experience (mine) but that's how I see the OP issue.
Don't do it unless you know them.
Feck it id tell the OP to go for a pint or 2 with them first before they let them near the garden,get to know them there not that bad if your on good terms with them

Why are you friends with crooks?

Kencobean

A quick update, I had him out for a quote.
I suppose phone calls can be deceiving.
I believe he may be a Traveller or just from limerick can't tell haha,but he is an older man, respectable,was straight to it,knew what he was on about with foundation and stuff,and even advised against some thing and gave ideas, very good price considering......so I might give the man a chance,like I said I have no problem with Travellers,but want it done properly.
Last time we got in "proper" electricians and it was very shoddy work for a "big"company,and cost ALOT.so a bit hesitant with big money being paid to people since then.

If we do go with them il post an update

dinnybyrne

Westernyelp wrote:

I remain calm. I am not upset in the slightest. it is my opinion that your advice is far too generic and therefore essentially meaningless.

Westernyelp wrote:

I realise I am probably coming across as a bit of a prick on this thread,, but the point I am making is that we have to careful about the generalisation of people. some specific examples have been given. fair enough. this should be encouraged. call out the cowboys and leave space for those who are trying to change things.

Why do we have to be careful about generalisation? Should the OP suffer just because there is a 1 percent chance he won't get the usual traveller. People like you boil my blood

Lumen

dinnybyrne wrote: »

Why do we have to be careful about generalisation?

Are you interested in the answer or is that a rhetorical question?

Wildly Boaring

Kencobean wrote: »

A quick update, I had him out for a quote.
I suppose phone calls can be deceiving.
I believe he may be a Traveller or just from limerick can't tell haha,but he is an older man, respectable,was straight to it,knew what he was on about with foundation and stuff,and even advised against some thing and gave ideas, very good price considering......so I might give the man a chance,like I said I have no problem with Travellers,but want it done properly.
Last time we got in "proper" electricians and it was very shoddy work for a "big"company,and cost ALOT.so a bit hesitant with big money being paid to people since then.

If we do go with them il post an update

OP said gardening. This post says foundation.
Don't get anyone in this country to do anything without seeing previous work.
Don't let anyone work on your premises with seeing their insurance and reading it to see that it covers the type of work involved.

Kencobean

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

OP said gardening. This post says foundation.
Don't get anyone in this country to do anything without seeing previous work.
Don't let anyone work on your premises with seeing their insurance and reading it to see that it covers the type of work involved.

I'm getting rid of all the grass and putting a patio + gravel/stones in instead....hence why I just mentioned foundation in that post.

It was just a quick question to see if anybody had work done

I'm not trying to knock the travellers, but often times they are aware that they're not liked, and will generally make an effort to send the most professional looking/sounding out to agree a job, and then the 'normal' travellers follow afterwards to do the actual job itself.

My experience with them is not direct, as I never used them, but a nearby friend of a friend got them to do gutters and cleaning and power washing before. He said they were professional and courteous and he thought they were grand.

But he did say it wasn't an anjoyable experience - anytime someone asked to use the toilet or wanted a drink of water, he said he was on-edge waiting for stuff to disappear or go missing from the house. Said he couldn't relax at all, but he doesn't actually think they stole anything.

So I suppose a lot of it simply comes down to what you have in your own head before they start.

There are so many horror stories that I genuinely don't know why they even bother anymore with this kind of work, considering the dreadful reputation they have. I know I wouldn't use them, but i admit that's probably a bit unfair, and I do legitimately sympathise with the good travellers out there who are stigmatized through no fault of their own.

But their reputation is well-earned, so..

Titclamp

The age of equality. Makes you a sitting duck.

Bishop of hope

Kencobean wrote: »

I'm getting rid of all the grass and putting a patio + gravel/stones in instead....hence why I just mentioned foundation in that post.

It was just a quick question to see if anybody had work done

There's a lad here beside me does that but wouldn't be a gardner so your post was misleading.
Not near you so wouldn't matter, but you might have missed a few recommendations over that.

harr

Harold Creamy Trash wrote: »

Used them once and would never use again, chopped the tress and took the remnants, along with my lawnmower!

Did better than a neighbor of mine not only did they take the lawnmower out of the shed but they took shed and all

Kencobean

Bishop of hope wrote: »

There's a lad here beside me does that but wouldn't be a gardner so your post was misleading.
Not near you so wouldn't matter, but you might have missed a few recommendations over that.

Is that not landscaping 🙄
I put it in here cause it was the most relevant thread

Kencobean

harr wrote: »

Did better than a neighbor of mine not only did they take the lawnmower out of the shed but they took shed and all

Haha sorry, I know it's bad,that did make me laugh though

Bishop of hope

Kencobean wrote: »

Is that not landscaping 🙄
I put it in here cause it was the most relevant thread

Fair enough. And I wish you luck with your job.

Just be careful if you have soil to be removed as to where they tip it, if it's tipped illegally you will be responsible for that.

elperello

If no neighbours, friends or relations can recommend someone to do the work you might try asking at the local garden centre if they can give you a contact.