A pensioner from Shaw says she feels 'depressed' and 'ripped off' after spending 'hundreds' for a gardener who she says 'hasn't done anything'.
Margaret Evans said she contacted D&D Gardening on the recommendation of a friend to remove and treat weeds in her front and back gardens.
However, while Margaret's friend was happy with the work that was carried out at his home, Margaret said she's been left "feeling depressed" as weeds have reappeared two weeks later.
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Margaret said she feels "ripped off" and is adamant she handed over £500 in cash in an envelope to the gardener, however, D&D Gardening say the job was quoted at £300.
Margaret says she was not given an invoice and D&D Gardening did not provide one when contacted by The Oldham Times.
The company also told this paper that their gardener used weed killer as per the guidance and has been operating for 15 years with a "very good reputation".
The business is also not to be confused with another gardening company, based in Oldham, which has changed its name from D&D Gardening Maintenance and Landscape Services to D&D Holts.
The situation arose when two gardeners carried out the works on Margaret's garden on Wednesday, August 21, for around two and a half hours which included weed removal, weed treatment and the removal of three trees.
The company claims it met this obligation as the gardener removed the weeds from inside the paving joints and re-sanded the surfaces.
However, at 80 years old with heart problems, the pensioner struggles to get around and says she had requested the gardeners to remove heavy items, including a steel frame that was once used for a rose tree and several potted plants.
Margaret also said the weeds are already "coming up" again through the cracks - and claims she found the items that had been removed from her garden "dumped" in a bush behind her property.
D&D Gardening disputed this in a statement which read: "I advised Margaret that a sealant is required on top of the paving to seal everything in to stop the weeds returning.
"Margaret refused this additional service, so I advised Margaret to use a weedkiller every fortnight up until mid-November to prevent weeds from returning."
The spokesperson added: "As for any plant pots and metal waste, I made Margaret aware I do not take any of this waste as I only have a green waste carrier's licence and can only take green waste as the law states.
"I made Margaret aware that the plant pots were positioned on the grass beyond her gates and she assured me her son would dispose of them."
However, Margaret claims she "didn't say that at all", adding: "My son could take the cuttings bit by bit. He couldn't take that.
"I never refused a service or told him what he shouldn't do. I wanted him to do all [the garden].
"The only thing he told me to do was to get bark."
Margaret said she paid a further £36 for bark chippings to prevent the weeds from growing back.
Her concerned neighbour, Damien Munday, 58, said he was "mortified" when he heard how much Margaret had paid.
The neighbours, who have been friends for four years, also said the company left the garden "covered in sand".
Margaret said: "I left him to it.
"I presumed it was ok, he told me the sand would all blow away.
"My son was outraged, he was furious, when I told him - and I only said I'd paid £300."
Damian added: "It looked like Blackpool beach.
"When she told me how much she paid, I said 'You're joking'.
"I'm not a gardener but I'm sure you're supposed to put fine cement down the cracks to stop weeds.
"I know it's an endless battle but he should have filled the cracks in because now, the dandelions are in full bloom again.
"By rights, he should have put the bark down himself.
"He just had a strimmer and sand."
D&D Gardening said it did not provide Margaret with a quote for jet washing as it doesn't offer the service to customers who don't have garden tap "and Margaret does not have an outside tap" - to which Margaret disagreed as she says she does have an outdoor tap.
Margaret claims she later found the steel frame and her potted plants "dumped" behind her back gate, stating: "There was a plastic tree I asked him to take, he's left that. The steel is in the bushes.
"He was supposed to do the weeds so that they don't grow again. He's not put weed killer down.
"I asked him to do the weeds growing at the front, on the footpath, but he hasn't.
"He's not treated the [tree] stubs.
"I thought he'd even clean it a bit.
"He hasn't done anything.
"I've got a bin full of rubbish that is too heavy for me. I can't pull it."
D&D Gardening responded: "In the back garden there were tonnes of weeds from the paving and also the flowerbed, as well as three trees.
"This was all removed.
"I put a treatment of weedkiller down following the PA1 & PA6 guidelines before any re-sanding was done and also treated the stumps as I advised I would do, as I do not remove stumps."
Margaret, who has had a tough time since losing her husband and pet dog, added: "I've got COPD so I can't walk far or lift heavy things.
"I can't do the gardening."
She added: "I just needed it all doing and have it nice so I don't need to worry.
"I feel depressed and ripped off - it came out of my pension pot. It was a treat.
"I'm back to square one with it."
Margaret also said she has not attempted to contact D&D Gardening or raise a complaint as she said she wants to avoid "confrontation".
She added: "I just want to warn others because how can they get away with it? How many more people?
"I've realised I'm not going to get my money back, but I just want people to know."
In response, D&D Gardening said: "The reason Margaret did not contact me is because she knows what we agreed and I think her neighbours started complaining and she put it all on my company.
"I cannot help anybody if they choose not to communicate with me.
"My company has been in operation for 15 years and I have a very good reputation.
"I will not tolerate being made out to be a cowboy who takes advantage of anybody."
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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