Did you already pay your half? And have you spoken to the neighbors regarding your concerns?

I can't even imagine a neighbor asking for someone else to pay for part of the work that THEY want done to enhance their property. That level of rudeness is beyond comprehension. At the same time, your husband agreed and you are between a rock and hard place now. I would suggest that you request a copy of the tree bill and tell them you will pay your portion in the Spring as promised. Hopfully others will learn from this and perform more due diligence in a similar situation. While there is no reason to be offensive when a neighbor asks for a favor, it is not your responsibility to placate them either. No is sometimes a very appropriate answer.

We have not - the lady emailed my husband about payment - he responded back asking how they wanted to split it, as he originally assumed one of the trees was entirely on their property. She responded back with a plat map and said that the tree was entirely on our property so they wanted to split it 50/50. This is after all the work's been done (my husband and I were both at work while they were here - given the short notice on their end.)

I'm considering not responding yet, I've hired a landscape designer to come out and do a sketch of some ideas for privacy trees (that would look better than the trees that were there, now that their fence is in), and proposing that they split the cost with us.

But quite honestly, I'm not sure what else we can say to them so we haven't said anything yet.

I've also learned from this situation...from now on, I need to be included in ALL home-related matters before decisions are made!

Can you tell them that tree work is not in the budget until spring? "I'm sorry, I thought we'd been clear on that."

As far as the tree being on your property: Why would a contractor remove a tree from your property without your approval?

Agree with phun. A contractor went onto your property, removed your tree when you were not home, and had no written permission from you to do so?

Sorry you find yourself in such a predicament. Good luck, and please let us know if and how this is resolved.

Okay this is at best a he said / she said problem . Your statement to not decide and pay until spring if written and signed is binding so don’t pay until spring if not any signed agreement IMO they can whistle “dixie” until spring and then you can decide to be fair and pay your 1/2 or not. As for you getting them to pay 1/2 for replacement trees that is a whole other subject and next time get it written and signed for sure.

Technically they had our permission. As a nice gesture, via email, my husband OK'd their plans to take the trees down and put up the fence (our town requires approval for this sort of thing)...although, he didn't really think through the consequences for our yard. His last email to them regarding the timeframe and costs was "we would like to do this in the spring." And here we are.

I wanted to make sure we were in the right before making a big stink about things, but it sounds like we are and should push back on them about it. Would be nice to use that money for window treatments instead!

If you are looking at using a landscaper to redo the area where the trees were removed and were thinking of asking them to pay half, I would get the quote for the work. I would forward a copy to them setting out their half, minus the half you were going to pay for the tree removal. They probably won't pay, but likewise I wouldn't be inclined to pay for the tree removal. Your neighbors have created an additional landscaping expense for you by removing your trees. Sometimes you have to push back and show these people they can't ride rough shot over you (which they have done so far). They seem to be very underhand and taking advantage of your good nature. Never agree to anything on the spot - tell them you will think about it and get back to them. Also don't think of your curtains or whatever you get as simply a privacy measure, think of them as a way to enhance your home - you will feel better about it that way. Just use this situation as a positive - you are now aware of your neighbors' true colors.

I’m wondering why they couldn’t replace their fence without needing to remove *your* healthy trees that weren’t in any danger of damaging either home. And to ask you to accommodate their plans by paying half when they should have found a way to do the new fence without cutting *your* healthy trees, on top of moving forward short notice despite your husband agreeing tentatively with the stipulation of not doing the work until Spring - it’s November, they should have waited if they wanted to split the costs and didn’t wait, if it were me I’d tell them no. Just because they were in a rush doesn’t mean you have to rush to the bank for them.

If it were me I’d decline to pay for the removal of trees because you now have to pay for replacement trees or window treatments - whether the neighbors get mad or not. They should have waited till Spring and confirmed the details as being something you guys were absolutely certain that you were comfortable splitting the expense of IN WRITING and in person with both of you.

how bout just standing up for yourself? you said Spring, verbally and in the email. print it out, underline it, and say, "It aint Spring ! I'm not paying". Then complain about the fence not being up to your standard or what you thought it was, and the fact that you now have to replace the trees that they cut. Ask them how they'd like to split the payment for that.

Look, stop pussyfooting around. go talk to the dang people and explain exactly what you've written here. sheesh. ignoring her won't make it go away, and will prob piss them off. People only take advantage of you if you let them. you and your husband put on your big pants and go over there and have a face to face. Tell her, No, you're not paying for half because A. it isn't Spring, and B. you didn't approve the fence selection and aren't happy with it, or w/the trees gone that were on your property. (Or whatever it is that you didn't agree to)

If your husband over stepped and acquiesced to everything, then suck it up and do what was promised (except paying early). That isn't fair to them if he agreed w/everything. But, you can point out the discrepancies, in person with them, and see if you can come to an adult decision.

People will do what you allow them to get away with. Stick to your guns and pay them in the spring. Be wary of them as you know, because who emails someone at 11pm on a Sunday night to tell them about something at 9am the next morning....Pleazzzz.....they are not to be trusted.

You let yourself get into the mess, sorry. Hopefully the lesson of not going into things blindly will stick though.

You had the responsibility to check the plans properly, and settle in writing precisely when the job would be done, when payment would be made, and what portion of the payment you each would contribute. So you have no recourse as to those aspects unfortunately.

The only thing you can do is let them know you'll pay them in the spring as initially agreed. And invest in window coverings and new trees for yourself. Don't get into any further deals with them on trees or anything else.

Communication is not only about saying your piece. It's also about making sure the other person understood your piece fully, and you have theirs.

If you do give them the payment - in the spring - tell them to provide an itemized bill for ONLY the cost of the tree removal. I wouldn’t trust them to not try and pull a fast one hoping you’ll split the cost for THEIR fence and the tree removal without questioning it.